Featured Author: Munawar Ali Karim
Munawar Ali Karim is a combatives instructor, natural movement coach, Montessori educator and martial artist with an interest in history and sacred tradition. He is the author of Liberty's Jihad: African Muslim Slaves and the Meaning of America, a 'compelling and illuminating' [...] 'work of historical criticism' (Kirkus). He holds undergraduate degrees in Law and Japanese and a postgraduate degree in Modern History. He began studying martial arts at the age of 12 with a Shotokan Karate master who also taught a hybrid style derived from Hung-Gar Kung-fu and Southern Praying Mantis (Chow-Gar). In his early twenties Munawar was invited to work for the Japanese government as an International Relations Specialist.
Living in a small town in the Kiso Mountains along the nakasendo—the old road between Edo (Tokyo) and Kyoto—Munawar studied Shorinji Kempo whilst deepening his understanding of ninjutsu, samurai and sufi teachings. On returning from Japan, Munawar continued to pursue the martial arts including Shaolin Kung Fu (under 33rd generation Shaolin Monk Shifu Zheng Ke Wang), Wing Chun (under Sifu Loukas Kastrounis) and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (Gracie lineage).
Featured Author: Loukas Kastrounis
Loukas Kastrounis is a third-generation direct descendant of Great Grand Master Yip Man through Sifu Wong Shun Leung. He learned the Wing Chun system with Master Nino Bernardo at the now legendary "The Basement" school of Wing Chun in London. Master Wong was better known as Gong Sau Wong—king of talking with the hands—and was Bruce Lee's foremost Wing Chun teacher. Throughout the 50s and 60s Wong was undefeated in all of his challenges and recognised as one of Yip Man's best students and as the foremost instructor of the legendary martial artist and film star Bruce Lee. Master Nino Bernardo was one of the few who had completed the Wing Chun system in Hong Kong under Wong Shun Leung. Loukas was also taught Kali by Nino Bernado (whose Kali lineage comes directly from world-famous Bruce Lee student and Kali master Guru Dan Inosanto).
Loukas has been teaching Kali and Wing Chun to beginners and seasoned martial artists alike since 1992. Many advanced teachers and practitioners of Wing Chun, Karate, Taekwondo, Aikido, Kali, JKD and boxing have taken instruction from Sifu Loukas. He has also provided specialist instruction to security firms, bodyguards, and law enforcement officers, including the military.
Latest News
New YMAA title Wing Chun In-Depth: Skills for Combat, Strategies for Life by Munawar Ali Karim & Loukas Kastrounis was featured in...
James V. Morganelli, author of...
Wing Chun Illustrated gave a glowing review to the new YMAA title Wing Chun In-Depth: Skills for Combat,...
World Tai Chi Qigong Day is celebrated on the last Saturday in April. This year, that falls on Saturday the 29th. Here are some of the activities being led by a few of our YMAA authors.
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Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming is scheduled for the following seminars in 2023.
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