Meet Our Instructors
Joey Foss
A lifelong fan of martial arts films, Joey began his own journey as a child of ten. Training was much harder than watching a movie, but he discovered the value of hard work, starting with Soo Bahk Do Moo Duk Kwan and reaching 1st dan as a teenager. He has also trained Tae Kwon Do, participated in the SCA (armored European fencing) as well as having explored yoga and other systems. After joining Shaolin Institute in 2018, he became part of the leadership & demonstration teams, including performing the lion dance. He enjoys the subtle and tough kung fu curriculum and hopes to promote compassionate wellbeing and the knowledge of self-defense. He has been so dedicated to Kungfu learning and sharing with other Kung Fu brothers and sisters without being stopped a day during the pandemic. He has participated in a few fighting events and won a silver medal.
Crystal Yau
Crystal Yau is originally from Hong Kong. Her dad was a Tai Chi Master. She developed her love for Tai Chi and Kung Fu ever since she was a kid. She has been with Shaolin Institute since 2016 and is simultaneously dedicated to both Kung Fu and Tai Chi programs. Crystal also joined the leadership team as teaching assistant and the SWAT team as one of the main performers. During her journey with Shaolin, she had learned the traditional Shaolin Kung Fu, Tai Chi, Sanda, self-defense, and Zen. She continues to learn and share her knowledge and passion with other fellow Shaolin brothers/sisters. She has been teaching children online since 2020 Pandemic started
James Flannery
James Flannery has been with the Shaolin Institute since 2016. He has a love of the martial arts, philosophy, and medicine since childhood. At the institute, he has been studying Kung Fu, Tai Chi, Sanda/Sanshou. He has been performing and captaining the SWAT performance team. He instructs Kung Fu, Sanda, and self-defense at the institute, sharing his knowledge, care, and proficiency with the students. He has participated a few Sand kickboxing events and won a gold medal.
Lyman Chen
Lyman is a lifelong practitioner of martial arts. His background includes receiving a black belt in both Tae Kwon Do and Karate with experiences in Brazilian JuJitsu, Judo, and Grappling before diving into learning Chinese martial arts. He studied at the Tagou School of Wushu in Henan, China for a little over a year in total, spread across 7 separate summers learning many arts including animal mimicking forms, a variety of weapons, and traditional forms.
Lyman joined the Shaolin Institute back in 2019 after his last trip to China, and has continued to grow as a student along with helping others to grow as an instructor. He has learned more of the traditional versions of the Kung fu forms, Zen Tai Gong including 999 medibreath, and sequences such as shaolin one and two, many wushu combinations and pairing sets, as well as Hong Quan, Lohan, Mi Zong Quan, and staff forms besides Sanda (kickboxing and wrestling) techniques and drills. He did his first Sanda demo fight with his experienced Sanda-Kung Fu brother From Florida two years ago and did well. In addition, he has worked along side Shifu coaching intensive training camp where he has demonstrated strong GRIT. He has accomplished first part of his GBS ( Golden Black Sash).
Drew McMahan
Drew has been training in kickboxing for over 10 years and fell in love with Sanshou at the age of 27 when he met Shifu. He participated in multiple competitions, eventually winning my division in KSF at 30. He also coached fighters successfully before joining the Marine Corps. He also have a cross training background in wrestling and jiu jitsu.
Whanstachanah Kanyon
Whanstachanah Kanyon has been one of the most dedicated students of Shifu DeRu since 2016. He has a fondness of the internal arts for over 30 years. He entered the Tai Chi program in 2016, and is now one of the instructors for the Atlanta campus at the Shaolin Institute.
Yige Gao
Practiced basic martial arts as kid 7yr – 9yr old, basic kungfu & taichi in college for 2yrs. Started at shaolin Institute Sept 2021 as one of the most dedicated students.