[Founder of ZMA] Grandmaster W. P. Yip - 9th-degree black belt - 1st-generation ZMA

• Achieved black belt in Taekwondo, Karate, and Judo

• Progressed up the ranks through teaching and competing internationally in Taekwondo

• Founded the Zen Martial Arts system in 1980

• Taught the Zen Martial Arts system for over 35 years and trained many others to mastery

• Awarded 9th-degree black belt as an acknowledgment for the massive amount Dr. Yip has achieved

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[Co-founder of ZMA] Grandmaster Diane Miller - 8th-degree black belt - 1st-generation ZMA

• Trained closely with Grandmaster W. P. Yip

• Co-founded the Zen Martial Arts system in 1980

• Taught for 15 years and trained many to mastery, putting special attention toward teaching children

• Passed away due to cancer in 2018, recognized as 8th-degree in memory of her contributions

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Grandmaster Richard Stillwagon - 7th-degree black belt - 2nd-generation ZMA

• Black belt and master title

  • Received his black belt and master title from Grandmaster Yip​

• 2nd black belt

  • Continually progressed his martial and combative skills a notable amount​

• 3rd-7th black belts​

  • Founded the Living Arts system

  • Taught many others, some of which achieved mastery

  • Organized many martial arts tournaments and training camps outside of his normal teaching

  • Trained outside of the Zen Martial Arts and incorporated much in our system

• Grandmaster title (August 18, 2018)

  • Awarded when his student, Greg Di Loreto, had their own student, James Swartwood, earn their master title in the Zen Martial Arts system.​​

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Master Greg Di Loreto - 5th-degree black belt - 2nd-generation ZMA

• Black belt and master title (August 2, 2004)

  • Received his black belt and master title from Grandmaster Yip and Grandmaster Stillwagon​

• 2nd and 3rd black belt​ (2012)

  • Organized the Zen Martial Arts and Living Arts system into a single curriculum

  • Founded his own school under the Zen Martial Arts name​

  • Taught multiple students up to intermediate belt level

  • Organized a martial arts tournament

  • Studied some outside of the Zen Martial Arts system

• 4th and 5th-degree black belt ​(November 7th, 2020)

  • 8 years of teaching and running a school since previous promotion​

  • Additional studies outside of the Zen Martial Arts system

  • Trained a student to mastery and through to 3rd-degree black belt, three other students to brown belt, and many other students to intermediate belt levels

  • Took over as the active head of the Zen Martial Arts legacy

  • Oversaw a successful transition to online classes at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic

  • Solidified and documented the details of each required form in our system up to black belt

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Master Johanna Windisch - 3rd-degree black belt - 2nd-generation ZMA

• Black belt and master title (August 2, 2004)

  • Received her black belt and master title from Grandmaster Yip and Grandmaster Stillwagon​​

• 2nd and 3rd black belt (2012)​

  • Extensive skill with the bo staff

  • Competition experience

  • Considered the active record keeper for the Zen Martial Arts system​

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Master Clem Hong - 3rd-degree black belt - 2nd-generation ZMA

• Black belt and master title (August 2, 2004)

  • Received his black belt and master title from Grandmaster Yip and Grandmaster Stillwagon​​​

• 2nd and 3rd black belt​ (2012)

  • Taught at Grandmaster Yip's school​

  • Continued dedication to the Zen Martial Arts system

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Master Kelsea Stillwagon - 3rd-degree black belt - 3rd-generation ZMA

• Black belt and master title

  • Received her black belt and master title from Grandmaster Stillwagon​

• 2nd black belt​

  • Taught at Grandmaster Stillwagon's school​

  • Notable proficiency in the martial arts

• 3rd black belt​ (sometime 2012-2017)

  • Continued teaching and studies in the Zen Martial Arts, Living Arts, and other systems​

• Unrecognized accomplishments:​

  • Starting a martial arts school with her husband​

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Master James Swartwood - 3rd-degree black belt - 3rd-generation ZMA

• Black belt and master title (August 18, 2018)

  • Received his black belt and ​master title from Master Di Loreto

• 2nd-degree black belt (June 2019)​

  • Increased skill within the Zen Martial Arts​ system

  • Taught at Master Di Loreto's school

  • Created and organized the Junior Belt System

  • Studies outside of the Zen Martial Arts system, including Jujitsu at Seattle School of Aikido

• 3rd-degree black belt (September 5th, 2020):

  • Further study outside of the Zen Martial Arts system including many martial arts styles​

  • Teaching at Seattle School of Aikido

  • Additional teaching at Master Di Loreto's school, including running it alone for a couple of months

  • Contributions to the structure of the Zen Martial Arts black belt system

  • Continued vigor and exuberance in the betterment of the school, students, and system

• Will test for 4th-degree black belt and Renshi title in September 2022​​

  • Founder of ZMA Tarnu, a child of the Zen Martial Arts system

  • Continued teaching in Master Di Loreto's school and externally

  • Restructured the Zen Martial Arts grappling system

  • Organized a Zen Martial Arts self-defense curriculum, which he has taught in workshops at UW

  • Developed gray belt "no-test" system

• Needs to train a student of his own from white to black belt before being eligible for 5th-degree

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Master Doug Hartz - 2nd-degree black belt - 3rd-generation ZMA

• Black belt, 2nd-degree black belt, and master title (December 16, 2020)

  • Received his black belt and ​master title from Master Clem Hong

  • Noteworthy dedication to his training

  • Instructor of Moo Duk Kwan Taekwondo

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Pete Hokensen - 1st-degree black belt - 2nd-generation ZMA​

• Received his black belt from Grandmaster Yip

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Matt Quall - 1st-degree black belt - 2nd-generation ZMA​

• Received his black belt from Grandmaster Yip

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Leonard Floyd - 1st-degree black belt - 2nd-generation ZMA​

• Received his black belt from Grandmaster Yip

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Andrew Frost - 1st-degree black belt - 2nd-generation ZMA​

• Received his black belt from Grandmaster Yip

• Led Grandmaster Yip's school for a while

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Chris McMonnies - 1st-degree black belt - 2nd-generation ZMA​

• Received his black belt from Grandmaster Yip

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Gus Garcia - 1st-degree black belt - 2nd-generation ZMA​

• Received his black belt from Grandmaster Yip

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Students close to achieving black belt:

• Troy Swartwood - 2nd-degree brown belt - 3rd-generation ZMA - Training in Master Di Loreto's school

• Paul Vahey - 2nd-degree brown belt - 3rd-generation ZMA - Training in Master Di Loreto's school

• And other brown belts from other Zen Martial Arts schools