Grandmaster Shifu Deru
Brief Bio
Grandmaster Shifu Deru
Liu Xiangyang, who goes by his Shaolin disciple name DeRu, is a senior student of Shaolin Chan-Wu-Yi (Zen, martial arts and medicine) and a mentor to hundreds of Shaolin and Tai Chi students, as well as natural health advocators. He is one of the two most well-known disciples of SuXi, who was a great spiritual leader and 30th generation Grandmaster, chief monk, and former deputy abbot monk of the famous Shaolin Temple in China.
DeRu is one of the earliest Shaolin pioneers who entered the U.S., spreading Chan, natural healing, Shaolin Kung Fu and Tai Chi Kung Fu in the United States and around globe. He is known as the “Father of American Sanda”. In addition, DeRu is known for having spread Chinese martial arts, traditional Chinese medicine and self-healing for nearly 30 years, while teaching the arts to students and disciples throughout the United States and around the world.
Shifu (Grandmaster) DeRu began his teachings in the US in 1987 at the University of Mobile and later continued his teachings at the University of South Alabama in 1989. In 1999, the Shaolin Institute was officially established in Mobile, AL.
From his original group of students, Grandmaster DeRu produced a national Wu Shu champion, an all-around international youth Kung Fu champion, as well as a national Master Tai Chi champion, who represented the U.S. in the World Tai Chi Conference in Southern China. He has trained champion fighters in Sanshou/Sanda (Chinese kickboxing) such as Cung Le, Patrick Barry, and Wael Karika Muhammed.
From the early 1990s to early 2000s, he served as Head Coach of the U.S. National Sanshou (Sanda) team, and as the Sanshou competition Chief Referee. Under his guidance the team medaled in international martial arts competitions and the World Wu Shu Championships.
DeRu has served as Chairman of the Sanda Technical Committee of the Pan American Wu Shu Federation, one of the four federations of the International Wu Shu Federation, for over 20 years. He has trained more than a hundred disciples who have won International Championships, and 5 world champions including Cung Le and Patrick Barry. In addition to his years training in Chan, martial arts and natural healing, DeRu furthered his education in traditional Chinese medicine at the School of Traditional Chinese Medicine of Wu Shu, where he worked as an intern physician at the #1 People’s Hospital in the 1970s.
Additionally, he received a five-year undergraduate diploma in Foreign Languages from Anhui Normal University in Wuhu, Anhui Province, China in the early 1980s, a B.A. degree in English from University of Mobile in Alabama in the late 1980s, and an M.S. degree in Exercise Physiology from the University of South Alabama in the early 1990s.
Besides his background in martial arts, DeRu also experience in study and research in health care and self-nurtured healing, traditional Chinese medicine and meditation. He has helped many patients with advanced stage 4 cancer to recover their health and well-being. His research paper was presented and displayed at the World Experiential Biology Conference in Atlanta in 1991. His mind-body medicine research is one of the first papers recognized by the mainstream U.S. medical community. The abstract was published on FASEB Conference Journal, Special Edition, in 1991.
He has delivered numerous speeches and presentations in the United States to schools, police academies, the Navy and Air Force, as well as giving lectures and speeches to medical and university groups, such as the Georgia Institute of Technology, University of San Francisco, TU in Towson, Maryland, GWU in Washington D.C, Louisiana police instructor training centers, and Tulane University.
Grandmaster Shifu Deru Interview With Fox 10 News
Fact sheet
Promotion, Production, Officiating and Leadership
1989-2013
- Produced three major “Shaolin Legacy” full-length theatrical productions at public venues in the U.S.
- Produced over 200 shortened productions of “Shaolin Legacy” and professional martial arts exhibitions to private venues.
- Produced and directed seven “Art of War” professional Kung Fu/Sanshou Fighting Shows.
- Conducted hundreds of seminars and presentations at police academies, Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Army, Navy and Air force facilities, schools, universities, health care clinics and companies in more than 100 major cities worldwide.
1993-2003
- Appointed Chief Referee for all U.S. national and international Sanshou competitions since he started first official Sanshou events in the U.S. and Pan American continents
1994-2003
- Head Coach and Team Leader of the USA Wu Shu-Kung Fu Federation National Sanshou Fighting Team.
- Coached the US Sanshou Fighting Team to international victory, producing five World Champions in the process & training over 100 international and national MMA champions.
- Trained many World Class fighters including Cung Le and Patrick Barry.
1994-2008
- Directed and sponsored the Sanshou competition scheduling and planning at the third World Wushu Championships in Baltimore, Maryland (1995).
- Hosted twelve major US Open International Martial Arts Championships and more than 30 regional US Open Challenges in coordination with the “K. Superstar – Art of War Professional Sanshou Fighting Production”(1994-2012).
- 1st coached of the U.S. Sanshou Fighting Team which were led to international victory, producing five World Champions in the process, and training over 100 international and national MMA champions.
- Voted Technical Chairman by instructors and officials of the International Wushu Federation (IWF) and IWF Pan American member countries.
1997 & 2003
- Chief Referee for the nationally televised and Pay-Per-View United World Kungfu Championship.
- Hosted the National Team Trials in Atlanta, Georgia (1997 & 2003).
1999
- Head Coach for the U.S. Sanshou Team and Referee for the US versus China International Championship in Hawaii.
Education
- University of South Alabama, MS in Exercise Physiology, 1991.
- University of Mobile, BA in English and Minors in Biology and Psychology, 1988.
- Anhui Normal University, BA in Foreign Languages, 1984.
- Wushu Traditional Chinese School of Medicine, CMD, 1978.
Publication
- “Taiji & Qigong for Health and Wellness” Published at University of South Alabama in 1992.
- Scientific Symposium on Journal of Experimental Biology (1991).
- Chinese Wushu and Woolin Magazines (1992-1993).
- Wushu Traditional Chinese School of Medicine, CMD, 1978.
- Thesis Publication: “The Physiology Effect of Taiji and Qigong”.
- Feature Articles in Taiji International Magazine (1992 and 2002).
- Feature Articles in Kungfu – Wushu Magazine (more than 10 issues).
Featured & Honorable Mentioned in
- Special Reports: “Kung Fu Master Shawn Liu” & “Master Shawn Liu with Shaolin Institute” in Mobile Press (1996, 2012).
- Featured on local TV networks of ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC more than 30 times (1991-2012).
- Featured in World Chinese Press more than 10 times (1996-2012).
- Featured on local TV networks of ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC more than 30 times (1994-2015).
- Featured in documentaries on Chinese Central TV networks: Liu Xiangyang (Shi DeRu) “Father of American Sanda” &“Shaolin Warrior Monk in America” (more than ten episodes1999-2008).
- Featured in many articles in New Orleans Times Picayune (1996, 1999, 2000. 2003. 2004, 2006).
- Featured in many articles in Inside Kungfu Magazine (1995-2004).
- Featured article inInside Kung Fu Magazine: ““Legendary Sanshou Techniques: World Renowned Teacher and Coach Shawn Liu Shows You the Secret to Sanshou Success” (April 2004).
- Special featured articles in the Mobile Press Register (1995, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2014..)
- Featured Article: “Sanshou at Spot Light” as “God Father of Sanshou” in Kung Fu Magazine (1997).
- Featured in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution (1997).
Professional Affiliations:
- Chairman on the board of Shaolin Chan Foundation (operated as Shaolin World Federation).
- Chairman of the Pan Am Wushu Federation Technical Committee.
- Headmaster of the Shaolin Institute located at 3040 Business Park Drive, Suite C, Norcross, Georgia 30071, 704 Lakeside Dr. Mobile, AL 36693, 1995 Gentily BLVD, New Orleans, LA.