Sifu Seth Davis - Director, Chief Instructor
(Below is Sifu Davis at left with his teacher Master Kaneiki, 2011.)
Sifu Davis has trained in
martial arts both here and in Japan since 1990. He began with Okinawan GoJu Ryu Karate, and has learned Shaolin Gongfu, Kendo (Japanese fencing), kali, Aikido, and other disciplines. From 1999-2002 he had the good fortune to study Kuo Yu Cheung's Yang Style Taijiquan (T'ai Chi Chuan) intensively as an apprentice student of Kaneiki, Iwao Sensei in Kagawa,
Japan. In 2002, Sifu Davis was awarded a black sash and Instructor grade for Taiji-Gongfu. He founded Ziran Martial Arts in January, 2004
in
Highland Park,
New Jersey. It is Sifu Davis's goal to guide students how to explore taijiquan and the martial arts inquisitively and creatively in order to meet their personal goals and to aid in the growth of the art as a whole. He continuously strives to provide the best possible instruction in a safe and enjoyable environment. Sifu Davis holds a BS in Ecology and East Asian Studies. He is a NJ Certified Teacher of Japanese, which he teaches full time in a public high school. He also persues graduate research in Asian Studies at Seton Hall University.
As of July 2009, Sifu Davis was granted Shihan Grade- Full Teaching Licensure for Gu style Taijiquan, with advanced black sash status, and was officially entered into the lineage of Master Kaneiki as a first tier disciple in the Mueimon Association. In August 2011, Sifu Davis's Shihan licensure was extended to encompass Shaolin Quan and Gamsan Taijiquan as well as additional techniques and methods practiced in the Mueimon Association.
Sifu Davis continues to study with these and other notable teachers:
Kaneiki Iwao Sensei-Gu Branch Yang Style Taijiquan, Shaolinquan, Gamsan Taijiquan, Musoryu
Greg Pinney Sifu- Chen Style Taijiquan
Scott M. Rodel
Laoshi- Yang Michuan Branch Chinese Swordsmanship
Jerry Zimmerman Sensei - Aikido (aikikai)
Sachiko Yamauchi-Prough Sensei- Naginata (atarashii naginata)
Scott Bendell Sifu -Wudang Daoist Bagua and Qigong
Sifu Davis would also like to acknowledge and thank his first martial arts teacher:
Rick Rhorman Sensei - Okinawan Gojuryu Karate
Thomas Posey- Co-Instructor/ Personal Trainer
Thomas has practiced martial arts religiously since his childhood. He became an apprentice at Ziran Martial Arts in 2007 and now serves as a co-instructor, sharing his unique experience in a wide range of empty hands self -defense skills and adaptive combat methods. In June, 2011, he was licensed as Shidoin (Teacher), at Ziran Martial Arts. He is a NJ licensed personal trainer and works for the city of Rahway at the Rahway Recreation Center. He is certified by Sifu J. L. Williams to teach Yitsung Shaolin Chuanfa and is also a certified Oriental Sports Trainer through the National Certification Commision of Acupunture and Oriental Medicine(NCCAOM). Thomas is qualified to teach Arthritis Taichi as established by Dr. Paul Lam. He has taught classes in Taichi for health at RWJ Health and Wellness Center in Scotch Plains and at other facilities for rehabilitation and for senior citizens. Thomas is available for personal instruction in both Shaolin Chuan Fa and Taijiquan.
At Right:Thomas Posey plays at push hands with his teacher, Sifu Seth Davis.
Brian Szura - Assistant Instructor/ Apprentice
Brian began his practice of Taijiquan in 1993 while he was a student at Rutgers. He has been practicing diligently ever since. He joined Ziran Martial Arts in 2004. Shortly thereafter he became an apprentice student and assistant instructor. Brian has traveled and represented the school at demonstrations, tournaments and trainings both in the USA and in Europe and has excelled both in swordplay and in his taijiquan studies. Brian is also an accomplished musician and a full time ecologist.
