Sifu Robert Daniels

The Seattle area branch is operated by Sifu Robert Daniels. It opened on April 13, 1999, in Renton, WA; moving to Redmond, WA in October 1999. It is an authorized satellite school of the Wing Lam Kung Fu / Enterprises, Inc., headquartered in Sunnyvale, CA. Led and governed by Grandmaster Kwong Wing Lam, the Wing Lam Kung Fu Federation certifies all its instructors and satellite Wing Lam schools. One of the first satellite schools was opened by Sifu Robert Daniels in November, 1993, in Memphis, TN. While Sifu Daniels' students had turned this school into a club in June of 1997, authorized by Grandmaster Lam, Sifu Daniels expanded the franchise to the Seattle area.

Sifu Daniels now teaches all classes personally in Redmond. Please note that this is the only area branch; there is no Wing Lam school in Seattle, only in Redmond. Call us and learn more!

Sifu Robert Daniels is personally trained and certified under Grandmaster Kwong Wing Lam. He has been practicing for 30 years, and has instructed for 27 years. Sifu Daniels specializes in three traditional Chinese martial arts: Northern Shaolin, Southern Hung Gar Kung Fu, & Sun Style Tai Chi. He also specializes in Defensive Tactics - Law Enforcement curriculum which was created solely for law enforcement personnel.

Mr. Robert Daniels was born in Mt. View, California, in 1962. He had a yearning to learn the martial arts. At an early age, he would emulate Bruce Lee as "Kato", from the "Green Hornet" TV show. At the age of 13 in 1975, he had the honor of beginning training in the Northern Shaolin Kung Fu system under Grandmaster Wing Lam, at the original Sunnyvale, California kwoon (school). By 1979, Mr. Daniels had included Southern Hung Gar & Wing Chun Kung Fu into his training, and Grandmaster Lam authorized him to teach Shaolin. During his full time training under Grandmaster Lam (1975 - '87), Mr. Daniels performed - with other classmates - over 20 Kung Fu demonstrations & several Lion Dance demonstrations to help promote the Lam Kwoon. Mr. Daniels entered college with a Criminal Justice major, but through unforeseen circumstances and his work experience he found another career - film & video production. During the period after graduating high school (1980 - '87), Mr. Daniels learned defensive tactics basics, through teaching law enforcement officers and participating in ride alongs. He found a rich source for the curriculum in Shaolin & Hung Gar tactics, since both are extensive in grappling.

Mr. Daniels moved to Los Angeles in May of 1987, where he worked full time in film and television as an actor/stuntman/fight choreographer through 1990. He worked on such projects as "Star Trek: The Next Generation", "Alien Nation", "Scrooged", and "They Live". Mr. Daniels was fortunate to work with some of the finest actors, producers, and directors in the business, such as Richard Donner, Clint Eastwood, Robert DeNiro, Mel Gibson, Richard Gere, John Carpenter, and Joel Shumaker. Meanwhile, Mr. Daniels visited the Lam Kwoon often to keep his Kung Fu training polished. During a nine-month period, Mr. Daniels shared a house with a student of Dan Inosanto's. He exchanged Kung Fu lessons for Jeet Kune Do and Filipino Kali concepts.

In December of 1990, Mr. Daniels relocated to Memphis, Tennessee to develop a new business, Black River Productions. Black River Productions specialized in special interest videos (including helping Grandmaster Lam to start production on his current videos), and feature film screenplay writing and development. Although he had no intention of teaching Kung Fu at the time, Mr. Daniels was asked to conduct classes. In January of 1991, Mr. Daniels (now with the title of Sifu) established the Northern Sil Lum Kung Fu Academy, then later (November, 1992) began a partnership with Sifu Steve Fristoe, who was another student of Dan Inosanto's, to establish the Academy of Traditional Martial Arts. Sifu Daniels would again exchange Kung Fu Lessons for Jeet Kune Do and Filipino Kali concepts. Sifu Daniels would also attend Sifu Francis Fong seminars (another Jeet Kune Do & Kali student of Dan Inosanto's) on Wing Chun and Filipino Kali. The next year was right for Sifu Daniels to expand, so on November of 1993, he opened up the first official satellite school of the Wing Lam Kung Fu School/Federation*, in Memphis. He also began a close relationship with Memphis Law Enforcement, participating again in ride-alongs, and training officers. Traditionally in Kung Fu you go to the next level when you have mastered what you have learned. Grandmaster Lam kept to the old rule and officially test and certified Sifu Daniels for the opening of the new kwoon. Testing and reviewing is an never ending process, to keep the information pure and intact. Thousands have lived and died so that this information can be passed down through the generations.

Sifu Daniels established Progressive Tactics of Memphis in March of 1994, and began teaching a Defensive Tactics class solely for law enforcement officers as a way to give back to the community. Its coursework is comprised of the best and most concise information from the vast knowledge and background in the martial arts, along with collaboration from many law enforcement personnel. Participants in the course included; Memphis and surrounding city Police Officers, two Defensive Tactics Instructors from the Memphis Police Academy, Police Academy Cadets, Drug Agents for the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, and Shelby County Police Officers. Free seminars were also conducted to the aforementioned, as well as at the Federal Correctional Institute in Memphis. Sifu Daniels has received letters of thanks for supporting the law enforcement cause and implementing innovative ideas for defensive tactics training, from President Bill Clinton, Vice President Al Gore, and TN Senator Fred Thompson. In October 1995, Sifu Daniels graduated from the Memphis Citizen's Police Academy. Then in January of 1996, he finished qualifications (which includes firing range - Shelby County Sheriff's range - qualifying at 92.6% from ranges 5, 7, 15, & 25 yards, with 50 bullets; 2 firearm safety classes at the University of Memphis State & Shelby County Sheriff's), to receive his Tennessee concealed gun permit. In the summer of '96, Sifu Daniels would continue his training with Grandmaster Lam in Sun Style Tai Chi. Again, Sifu Daniels would perform, now with his students, over 10 Kung Fu demonstrations, which included 2 interviews on public access TV, to help promote the Memphis Lam Kwoon. Grandmaster Lam also helped in promotions as he conducted three seminars ('95, '96, & '97) at the Memphis Lam Kwoon, as well as conducting official certifications for the students.

Leaving the Memphis kwoon to his senior students, Sifu Daniels and family relocated to the Seattle area, in June of 1997. The move was to further his career as a teacher, to again promote his film projects - with the new Black River Films - and to be closer to family who live on the west coast. Through Progressive Tactics, Seattle, Sifu Daniels has conducted three seminars for Bounty Hunters, as well as Bounty Hunting for a three-month period, in the fall/winter of 1997. Meanwhile, Sifu Daniels has volunteered 100 hours to the Washington State Criminal Justice Academy, where he participates as a mock scene actor for the cadets training. Even though Sifu Daniels had considered becoming an officer, (tested and passed - Seattle PD and local town reserves), he knew it would be a waste of his knowledge not to teach what he knew. Washington State Policy dictates that an officer has to be on the streets for at least two years before one can transfer to the Academy as a teacher. So in the summer of 1998, Mr. Daniels began looking for a new location for a new school. On April 10th, 1999, Sifu Daniels would demonstrate (for 2 hours) to a small crowd to promote the opening of the new Wing Lam Kung Fu School, Seattle branch, which opened on April 13th, 1999. The temporary location at Gold's Gym in Renton, Washington had given Sifu Daniels the opportunity to continue promoting Kung Fu (which he has done most of his life), and find the perfect location for the permanent Lam Kwoon, Seattle. Sifu Daniels has recently completed his search, obtaining a business license and opening the new school for business. Students from as far as the Tacoma area currently enjoy Sifu Daniels' private hands-on instruction in this new commercial space, situated in downtown Redmond. Meanwhile, Sifu Daniels enjoyed being part of a show entitled "Life is Art" on July 29, 2000, for the church (Center for Spiritual Living in Seattle) which he is a member. Sifu Daniels creatively segued from Tai Chi to a Shaolin/Hung Gar mix, to the Shaolin Broadsword. A standing ovation and much applause would follow the performance. A last note, after a few years off from writing, Sifu Daniels has begun his 10th screenplay entitled, "Miami Vice: The Millennium X Project." This story updates the Miami Vice gang, with Sony Crockett (now a Bounty Hunter) living in Seattle. The twist is that the Miami Vice gang have been thrown into the world of Frank Black of "Millennium", and have to deal with a new world- wide threat.

During the first few years of the Millennium it was time to grow in many ways - the school and ourselves - and reflect, because of the events of 9/11. We as a school grew to 40, as we moved to Redmond, Washington - becoming a part of the community. We enjoyed being part of local demo's and walking the Redmond Derby Days Parade. We moved from the Lion's Gate Community to the Redmond Community Center to my one car garage at the Gallery Place then back to the Lion's Gate Community, where we had a commercial office. It was good until ignorance creeped it's ugly head, as a tenant expressed he was afraid of us, so when trying to sign a lease, after never having any problems for 2 and a half years - the New Management didn't want us to practice in a location where the previous Management never had a problem with us at all. Actually, it was the previous management who wanted us there, as she knew us from the previous time we lived in the community, we were good tenants and respectful of all other tenants.

Another chapter began, as the school yet again moved to my new house - 05/06 thru 09/06 - but luckily it was the summer months. This was a rough period for the school, basically practicing out in the elements - only the strong survived, loosing the weak minded, as well as myself - being a victim of a uninsured motorist, totaling our PT Cruiser and injuring my knees, lower back and neck. Even with Progressives attempt at any compassion, the school was continuing to shrink. But there was hope, a very generous father of one of my students believed in the school, believed in the material, and foremost believed in me as a teacher, so he helped us move into a commercial location - on 87th, between 161st & 164th. We had big plans to grow again, and even adding a kids class. But the new year '07, was not good to us, as we lost the school to many reasons. But all was not lost, as right across the street was the RAC - Redmond Athletic Club. The year before, this is where we had done a seminar with my teacher - Grandmaster Wing Lam. It was spacious, warm, inviting, and with a few perks - showers, lockers, sauna's, access to sports drinks, and we didn't have to join their club, plus the price was right. For a time we did 3 classes, but now we are at one class a week. Meanwhile, some of my senior students enjoy 3 others classes at my local place - with a backyard, garage and driveway. These are the dedicated ones, the loyal ones, the hard working ones - the ones who know and understand what it is to be a true martial artist. Not the people who think I am commercialize and think I am there to serve them. In the old days, this material was taught to another - by invitation only. They don't know and truly understand the hardship of those who came before us.

For the new year of '07, I was truly done with those who treat - what we know is an HONOR to learn - as just an exercise program with someone who is expected to give easy customer service, as we have moved the structure of the school to a club - The Redmond Shaolin Kung Fu & Tai Chi Club. We needed to gain our footing again. I needed to truly heal from the accident - physically and mentally. My wife had to have her hip replaced, because of the accident, and I needed to gain more income - so here I am now Security Supervisor at the RTC - Redmond Town Center. A job I enjoy extremely, helping people in need and working with fun and exciting co-workers, plus a paycheck that is constant. This new beginning will only help - the club, my family, and myself for the new year to come.

Lastly, as before (during my Memphis School years) we had the honor of having my teacher Grandmaster Wing Lam visit us in Redmond - once in 2004, then again in 2006 - for action pact seminars. My students enjoyed many hours of; Chin Na (grappling), Intro to Tai Chi & Push Hands, Intro to Iron Palm, Intro to Iron Body 1 & 2, Intro to Ba Gua, (plus more) for hard training and insightful conversation with Grandmaster Lam. During the 2006 visit, Grandmaster Lam announced he would retire soon, and that Sifu Daniels - being one of his remaining senior students, would be one of the very few to pass on his lineage. Sifu Daniels has accepted this with great honor, and would work hard to always keep the integrity of his Si-Gungs (grand teachers), and the art (of Shaolin). We have always been "Agents of Justice and Virtue."

For more information, call (425) 968-2418

Email: Sifu Daniels

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