Black Belts of Zen Martial Arts

Yip Baowei (Phil Yip), Hanshi - 10th Dan - 1st-generation ZMA

• Achieved black belts in Taekwondo, Karate, and Judo

• Founded the Zen Martial Arts system in 1980

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

• Achieved Hanshi (Grandmaster) title in 2004 when his student, Richard Stillwagon, had students who achieved shodan: Greg Di Loreto, Johanna Windisch, Clem Hong

• Achieved jūdan in 2018 when Greg Di Loreto's student, James Swartwood, achieved shodan

Richard Stillwagon, Hanshi - 7th Dan - 2nd-generation ZMA

• Received shodan from Grandmaster Yip in the 1990s

• Founded the Living Arts system and introduced Wing Chun, Arnis, and other weapons practices into Zen Martial Arts

• Earned his Hanshi (Grandmaster) title when his student, Master Di Loreto, had his student, James Swartwood, achieve 1st Dan on August 18th, 2018

Diane Miller, Renshi - 6th Dan - 1st-generation ZMA

• Co-founded the Zen Martial Arts system in 1980

• Trained closely with Grandmaster W. P. Yip

• Taught for 15 years, putting special attention toward teaching children classes

• Passed away due to cancer in 2018

• Recognized as an honorary 6th-degree in memory of her contributions

Greg Di Loreto, Kyoshi - 5th Dan - 2nd-generation ZMA

• Received shodan from Yip and Stillwagon on August 23, 2004

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

• Sandan achieved in 2012

• Renshi (Polished Master) title achieved on August 18th, 2018, when James Swartwood earned shodan

• Godan achieved on November 7th, 2020

• Kyoshi (Experienced Master) title achieved on June 8th, 2024, when Troy Swartwood and Paul Vahey entered the dan ranks

Clem Hong, Renshi - 4th Dan - 2nd-generation ZMA

• Received shodan from Yip and Stillwagon on August 23, 2004

• Sandan achieved in 2012

• Yondan and Renshi (Master) title achieved in 2019 when Doug Hartz earned shodan

James Swartwood (Li Xiuyuan), Renshi - 4th Dan - 3rd-generation ZMA

• Created the junior belt curriculum in 2016

• Received shodan from Di Loreto on August 18, 2018

• Achieved JFANW (Japanese Jujitsu) black belt in 2018

• Nidan achieved in June 2019

• Sandan achieved on September 5th, 2020

• Introduced Jujitsu and Judo practices into the Zen Martial Arts, 2022

• Yondan achieved on May 18th, 2024

• Renshi (Master) title achieved on August 17th, 2024 when Gianna Di Loreto earned shodan

Johanna Windisch - 3rd Dan - 2nd-generation ZMA

• Received shodan from Yip and Stillwagon on August 23, 2004

• Sandan achieved in 2012

• Competed internationally with bo staff forms

Kelsea Stillwagon Coths - 3rd Dan - 3rd-generation ZMA

• Received shodan from Stillwagon​

• Sandan achieved in 2012

Andrew Frost - 3rd Dan - 2nd-generation ZMA

• Received shodan from Yip in the 1990s

• Recognized as sandan by Di Loreto and Swartwood

Chris McMonnies - 3rd Dan - 2nd-generation ZMA​

• Received shodan from Yip in the 1990s

• Arnis Instructor under Kelly Worden

• Recognized as sandan by Di Loreto and Swartwood

Nate Coths - 2nd Dan - 3rd-generation ZMA

• Transferred into ZMA with nidan as recognized by Stillwagon

Doug Hartz - 2nd Dan - 3rd-generation ZMA

• Received shodan from Hong in 2019

• Achieved nidan on December 16, 2020

• Instructor of Moo Duk Kwan Taekwondo

Troy Swartwood - 2nd Dan - 3rd-generation ZMA

• Received shodan equivalent rank from Di Loreto in 2020

• Nidan equivalent rank achieved on January 31st, 2022

• Earned official nidan rank on June 10th, 2024

Paul Vahey - 2nd Dan - 3rd-generation ZMA

• Received shodan equivalent rank from Di Loreto in 2020

• Nidan equivalent rank achieved on January 31st, 2022

• Earned official nidan rank on June 10th, 2024

Pete Hokensen - 1st Dan - 2nd-generation ZMA​

• Received shodan from Yip in the 1990s

Matt Quall - 1st Dan - 2nd-generation ZMA​

• Received shodan from Yip in the 1990s

Leonard Floyd - 1st Dan - 2nd-generation ZMA​

• Received shodan from Yip in the 1990s

Chris McMonnies - 1st Dan - 2nd-generation ZMA​

• Received shodan from Yip in the 1990s

Gus Garcia - 1st Dan - 2nd-generation ZMA​

• Received shodan from Yip in the 1990s

Len Lonning - 1st Dan - 2nd-generation ZMA

• Received honorary shodan from Yip in the 1990s for his warrior spirit

Miriam Michaels - 1st Dan - 3rd-generation ZMA

• Received shodan from Stillwagon in 2020

Matthew Johnson - 1st Dan - 3rd-generation ZMA

• Received shodan from Stillwagon in 2023

Gabriel Darnell - 1st Dan - 3rd-generation ZMA

• Received shodan from Stillwagon in 2024

Gianna Di Loreto - 1st Dan - 4th-generation ZMA

• Received shodan from Greg Di Loreto and James Swartwood on August 17th, 2024

Honored Instructors Outside of ZMA

Kelly Worden - Datu (grandmaster) - Arnis
- Honored by W. Phil Yip for close friendship and practice

John Chung - 9th-degree black belt - Taekwondo (ITF)
- Lineage: Jhoon Rhee, Nam Tae-hi (who served as captain under General Choi Hong-hi)
- Honored by W. Phil Yip for expertise in traditional forms and excellence in demonstration

Daryl Willis - 6th Duan Wei - Tai Chi
- 20th-generation Taijiquan practitioner
- Disciple of Grandmaster Chen Xiaowang
- Honored by Greg Di Loreto as his instructor in Tai Chi

Al Smith -  1st-degree black belt - Taekwondo (ITF)
- Honored by Greg Di Loreto for helping teach in ZMAINW pre-2010

Daniel Won - 2nd-degree black belt - Taekwondo (ITF)
- Honored by Greg Di Loreto for helping teach in ZMAINW pre-2010

Evan Bucy - JFANW black belt - Japanese Jujitsu
- Also holds 1st Dan in Aikido
- Honored by James Swartwood as his instructor in Japanese Jujitsu

Chris Moses - Yondan Shinto Ryu - Japanese Jujitsu
- Also holds 3rd Dan in Aikido
- Founder of JFANW
- Honored by James Swartwood as his instructor in Budo Tanren

Jeremy Hulley - Yondan Shinto Ryu - Japanese Jujitsu
- Also holds 3rd Dan in Aikido and is recognized as a black belt in JFANW
- Honored by James Swartwood as his instructor in Shinto Ryu

Ben Masaoka - JFANW black belt - Hung Gar
- Honored by James Swartwood as a secondary instructor in Budo Tanren

Steve Sakahara - JFANW black belt - Budo Tanren
- Honored by James Swartwood as a secondary instructor in Budo Tanren

Sean Kim - 4th-degree black belt - Taekwondo (Kukkiwon WT)
- Honored by James Swartwood for experience in Kukkiwon Taekwondo and activity in ZMA

Lauren Kim - 4th-degree black belt - Taekwondo (Kukkiwon WT)
- Honored by James Swartwood for experience in Kukkiwon Taekwondo and activity in ZMA

ZMA Students Close to Achieving Black Belt

• Chad Young - 1st Kyū - 4th-generation ZMA (~2025)

• Michelle Young - 2nd Kyū - 4th-generation ZMA (~2027)

• Becca Price - 2nd Kyū - 4th-generation ZMA (~2027)

• Azalea Young - 3rd Kyū - 4th-generation ZMA (-2029)

• Jake Dameron - 5th Kyū - 4th-generation ZMA (~2030)