Steffan de Graffenried

Steffan de Graffenried was born in Decatur, Alabama in 1964. He began his martial arts training shortly after seeing the first episode of Kung Fu the TV series in 1972 at the age of 8. Because there were no Kung Fu studios in the area he opted to learn the only martial art style he could find: Judo.

At age 15 he began to study what is known now as "Old Style Taekwondo". After earning his 2nd degree Black Belt in this art, he finally found a legitimate Kung Fu instructor -- Master Jamie Hooper. While continuing his study of Korean Martial Arts and earning the rank of 4th Degree Master in Tang Soo Do, he studied Choy Li Fut Kung Fu, Bajiquan, Piguazhang, Baguazhang, Northern Shaolin, Cha Chuan, Hung Gar and 7 Star Praying Mantis with Master Hooper.

When Master Hooper began pastoring a Christian church in 1992 he had little time for teaching and so Grandmaster Doc-Fai Wong (Master Hooper's teacher) asked Master Hooper if he could take Mr. de Graffenried as his own disciple. Master Hooper agreed and Sifu de Graffenried has been a close disciple of Grandmaster Wong since. He continues his lifelong endeavour of Martial Arts study, specializing in Grandmaster Wong's systems of Choy Li Fut and Yang Family Tai Chi Chuan and the Bajiquan and Baguazhang from the lineage of Grandmaster Liu Yun Qiao.

He is the author of the book Anatomy of Yang Family Tai Chi available on amazon.com.