Black Belts of Zen Martial Arts
Table of contents
Grandmaster W. P. Yip - 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
Master Diane Miller - 8th 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 8th-degree in memory of her contributions
Grandmaster Richard Stillwagon - 8th 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
Master Greg Di Loreto - 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 (Master) title achieved on August 18th, 2018, when James Swartwood earned shodan
Godan achieved on November 7th, 2020
Master Clem Hong - 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
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
Sandan as recognized by Di Loreto and Swartwood
James Swartwood - 3rd Dan - 3rd-generation ZMA
Received shodan from Di Loreto on August 18, 2018
Achieved JFANW (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
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 - Pending 2nd Dan - 3rd-generation ZMA
Received shodan equivalent rank from Di Loreto in 2020
Nidan equivalent rank achieved on January 31st, 2022
Full black belt test pending
Paul Vahey - Pending 2nd Dan - 3rd-generation ZMA
Received shodan equivalent rank from Di Loreto in 2020
Nidan equivalent rank achieved on January 31st, 2022
Full black belt test pending
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
Honored Instructors Outside of ZMA
Al Smith - Taekwondo - 1st-degree black belt ITF
Daniel Won - Taekwondo - 2nd-degree black belt ITF
Daryl Willis - Tai Chi - 6th Duan Wei rank, 20th-generation Taijiquan practitioner, Disciple of Grandmaster Chen Xiaowang
Evan Bucy - Aiki-jijitsu - JFANW black belt
Chris Moses - Budo Tanren, Shinto-Ryu, Aiki-jujitsu - Yondan Shinto Ryu, Sandan Aikido, Founder of JFANW
Jeremy Hulley - Shinto-Ryu, Aiki-jujitsu - Yondan Shinto Ryu, Sandan Aikido, JFANW black belt
John Peng - Aikido - Yondan
Ben Masaoka - Hung Gar, Budo Tanren - JFANW black belt
Steve Sakahara - Budo Tanren - JFANW black belt
ZMA Students Close to Achieving Black Belt
Gianna Di Loreto - 1st Kyū - 3rd-generation ZMA
Chad Young - 2nd Kyū - 3rd-generation ZMA
Michelle Young - 3rd Kyū - 3rd-generation ZMA
Becca Price - 3rd Kyū - 3rd-generation ZMA