FILIPINO MARTIAL ARTS IN A KUNG FU SCHOOL
IN ORANGE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA
By Jay de Leon

True to the tradition of teaching arnis, eskrima or kali, collectively known as Filipino Martial Arts (FMA) in every possible venue, I started teaching FMA early this year 2008, out of a kung-fu school in the city of Westminster in southern California where I currently reside.

Master Steven Gregoire

The school, called American Tiger Martial Arts & Fitness Center, teaches a style called Kyin Kung Fu, a kung fu style with a basis in kung fu san soo. It was founded in 1996 by Master Steven Gregoire. In 2000, Master Gregoire turned over ownership and control to its current owner and chief instructor, Ms. April Hawley, one of his own black belts.

Ms. April Hawley

Master Gregoire continues to teach kung fu and Brazilian jiu-jitsu at Norco, California and often returns to the school to supervise black belt tests and to conduct in-house seminars. In fact, I witnessed a black belt test and seminar last April 20, 2008, Saturday.

Here are some pictures of that event.

The school on Westminster Blvd., in the city of Westminster,
in Orange County, southern California, USA.

The crowd starts filing in for the black belt test.

Ms. Rose Sorooshian, one of the instructors (left),
with black belt student Alex.

Ms. Rose Sorooshian, a black belt instructor at the school

Mr. Robert Fuller, a black belt instructor at the school.

Mr. Howard Pollock (right), a black belt instructor)
with another black belt.

Black belt candidate Matthew presents himself to the judges
for his black belt test.

Matthew prepares for his board breaking demonstration
as Mr. Fuller holds the board for him.

Master Steven Gregoire, Founder of the school, (in white gi)
presided over the black belt test and conducted an intense
seminar for students of the school after the belt test.

Contact Information for the School
American Tiger Martial Arts & Fitness
Kyin Kung Fu Center
5849 Westminster Blvd.
Westminster, CA 92683
www.AmericanTiger.org
(714)-899-2040