Our Senior Brothers
Elewis
I started my Martial Arts training in Detroit Michigan in 1995 I was introduced to MMA, Jeet Kune Do and combat grappling by my Brother Robert Marku. My First teacher in martial arts. When I moved to Florida in 2001 I found Authentic Wing Chun Kung Fu Academy been here ever since this is Home Away from Home. To make things work, you have to be equipped to get it done. Our school builds your body to deal with environments whether it's physical, mental work or home. Becoming a better human being is our goal. Extremely grateful for my Kung Fu family.
Errol
My father took me to a Bruce Lee movie when I was young. That was my introduction to Martial Arts. I was fascinated. I have twenty seven years experience with multiple art forms. I earned a black belt in Shotokan Karate in about four and a half years while studying Aikido simultaneously and earned a brown belt in that in approximately three and a half years.
One of my fellow karate practitioners introduced me to Wing Chun and I have been practicing it for twenty seven years. At that moment I had an epiphany. Wing Chun felt like a combination of Aikido and Karate.
During Wing Chun training, we were introduced to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu which I have a blue belt in and have been practicing for fifteen years.
I have completed seven marathons, six olympic distance triathlons and one sprint.
I enjoy pushing myself to see how far I can go and put myself into things where I am outside of my comfort zone. I find myself attracted to things that challenge me physically, psychologically, intellectually and spiritually.
Gilbert
I started Tae Kwon Do at the age of 5 in the Dominican Republic. After moving to the US, I eventually settled in Broward County and continued practicing. I crossed paths with my Wing Chun brother Elewis, who was practicing Jeet Kune Do and did circles around me. My Wing Chun learning began in 2005 and now I'm doing the circles.
I hold a black belt in Tae Kwon Do and am a 10th Planet Purple Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. I started tattooing in 1996 and opened my own studio in 2010.. I have done jobs for Victory Motorcycles, am a licensed Lucas film artist, am sponsored by H2ocean, Garden of Life, Cam and I am ink.
Erick
I started training Wing Chun in 2008 under Sifu Jon Linder when I was 23 years old. Over time, I worked my way up and became an assistant instructor in 2016, helping newer students get started and develop their foundation. Sifu Linder also introduced me to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. While I don’t hold a formal belt, I picked up the basics—things like common locks and ground escapes—which helped round out my understanding of self-defense, especially if a fight goes to the ground.
I’ve learned the three empty-hand forms—Siu Nim Tau, Chum Kiu, and Biu Jee—and have also started training in the Wooden Dummy form.
For me, it’s about staying connected to the art, continuing to grow, and passing along what I’ve learned when the opportunity comes up.