Rank: Internationally Certified 6th degree Black Belt Master Instructor through the Canadian Ging Wu Kung Fu Martial Arts Association endorsed by Master Brian Macdonald and the late Grand Master Stan Lee.
Silent River Portfolio: Master Instructor of Silent River Kung Fu
Kung fu has given me many gifts that I have been able to apply in all aspects of my life. It is these many gifts that make it so easy for an instructor to remain passionate and excited about passing the knowledge on to others. I have been very privileged to have had many great people influence and inspire me throughout my career:
My parents Ted and Eleanor Brinker. It all started with them cosigning a loan for me so I could begin my training in kung fu. Knowing they were always there for me gave me great confidence. With my father’s advice: “If you do not try, you will wonder the rest of your life what could have been.” I have been inspired to take chances and always put in my best effort.
My original instructors: Masters Richard Shergold and David MacDonald and Sifus Scott Craig and Kenton Schram. My outlook and approach toward kung fu continues to be influenced by these great instructors. Their knowledge, skill, and passion inspired me to accept new challenges and push myself to greater personal accomplishments.
My students. Teaching kung fu is truly a symbiotic relationship. As an instructor works to inspire his students, the students’ progress and enthusiasm ignite the passion within the instructor. My greatest lessons in kung fu have come from my students. I continue to observe with awe and fascination as a student will discover a new and better way of approaching a technique. I find myself filled with excitement as I watch a student’s self esteem and confidence grow from their discipline of training. Every student brings new and exciting inspiration to me everyday.
Sifu Jey Arul. I met Sifu Arul in 1995 at the first Dragon Challenge and we have been friends ever since. We started off just exchanging business and teaching ideas and expanded our relationship to teaching each other’s classes and appearing on local television together. Jey has always been a positive influence on me and has provided me with many great ideas and systems from which my students continue to benefit.
Master Margitte Hilbig. With absolutely nothing to gain, she accepted me as a student and allowed me the privilege to learn from one of the greatest martial artists of all time. Master Hilbig has taught me many things but most of all, she continues to teach me what it means to be a black belt.
Grand Master Stan Lee. With his passing, the martial arts community lost one of its greatest ambassadors. A truly great man, Grand Master Lee always made sure I felt at home in the Canadian Ging Wu. He went out of his way to visit and assist me and my schools whenever it was needed and through his graciousness, my black belts have received international certification. He is dearly missed.
Master Brian Macdonald. He has been my mentor and instructor since the day I met him in 1994. Master Macdonald has always had the ability to inspire those around him to greater heights and has influenced my training and my schools more than anyone or anything else. In addition he has introduced me to so many people that have helped me, I cannot even begin to acknowledge them all. Despite all his skill and rank, he continues to train in new arts and has always considered himself a student first and an instructor second. A truly inspirational man whose knowledge and skill are the greatest assets of Silent River Kung Fu. He is a man I am proud to know as my kung fu Master, and my friend.
Email: jeff@silentriverkungfu.com