The United States Shuai-chiao (Shuaijiao) Association is a non-profit corporation established in 1998 dedicated to promoting the Chinese kung-fu style of Shuaijiao and to foster national and international amateur competition.

The USSA is structurally governed by its Board of Directors, officers, Branch holders, and Black belts. To ensure consistency and quality of curriculum and rank, promotions are executed by active branch holders around the United States.

The USSA runs a coordinated network of regional and national tournaments and selects Team USA competitors to represent the United States at international tournaments around the world.

 Chang Tung Sheng

 
 

Cha’ng, Tung-sheng was born in 1908, the lunar year of the monkey, in the Hopei province of China. His martial arts training began when he was a young boy, and by the time he was in his late teens, he was already widely acclaimed as a master. The nickname of “Flying Butterfly” was given to him early in his career for his ability to swiftly circle and ensnare his opponents. Grandmaster Ch’ang’s teacher was the famous Chang, Fang-yen who was well known as the foremost expert in Pao-ting Shuai-chiao – the fastest and most powerful of the three main branches of the art. Chang, Feng-yen was the top disciple of Ping, Jing-yee, the legendary grandmaster of Chinese Wrestling. General Ma, the first of the great masters to compile ancient Shuai-chiao techniques for publication, was another prestigious student of Ping, Jing-yee.

  • In the 1933 National Kuo Shu (kung-fu) Elimination/Examination Tournament (involving over one thousand participants), it was Master Ch’ang, Tung Sheng who, at the age of twenty-five, emerged victorious as the heavyweight Champion. The government sponsored games included masters from all of China, in various styles, being examined (fist forms or Talu) and battling each other in (free-sparring or San-shou) all-out combat for supremacy. Fifteen years later, after traveling throughout China, Grandmaster Ch’ang proved he was still number one when he finished on top in the 1945 National Athletic Meet and Shuai-chiao tournament. Having won the championship in the fifth, and seventh national tournaments, Grandmaster Ch’ang moved on to teach at the Central Police Academy in Taipei for nearly thirty years. During that time, he was also the chief official for the national tournaments, and Shuai-chiao competitions held in Taiwan. In February of 1982 Grandmaster Ch’ang began promoting the art of Shuai-chiao by traveling around the world. In the United States, Grandmaster Ch’ang gave demonstrations and workshops to kung-fu organizations, police departments,and universities. He also presided over three US National tournaments.

    The unexpected death of Grandmaster Ch’ang on June 18, 1986, left the world with many unanswered questions about Shuai-chiao. With his passing, he took with him many secrets that have yet to be discovered by those who still practice the art. However, Grandmaster Ch’ang did leave some documented works that are currently being used by some major Universities and Shuai-chiao organizations. These include the standardized belt rank system that has been adopted by the USSA, instructional videos and books, and the poem of Shuai-chiao. This thirty character poem, which contains the essence of the Pao-ting style of Shuai-chiao, has passed on through the generations and is now the central core by which the true spirit of Shuai-chiao perpetuates.

Dr. Chi Hsiu Daniel Weng

Chi-hsiu D. Weng, Ph.D has been an important figure in the international martial arts community since 1970, when he became the two-time Shuai-chiao national champion in the Republic of China. Since then, he has dedicated his life to teaching, coaching and educating the world about China’s oldest and most effective martial art, Shuai-chiao. To this end, Dr. Weng has established the United States Shuai-chiao Association with affiliates all over the world. Dr. Weng’s team won the Paris International Competition in 1992 and has achieved Silver and Bronze team medals in every international Shuai-chiao competition since. In addition to Shuai-chiao, Dr. Weng is the leading instructor of Châang style Tâai-chi, the only internationally certified San-shou judge outside of China and was the first certified IWUF (International Wushu Federation) International Wushu Judge in North and South America.

  • Dr. Weng is a two time national champion of Shuai-chiao of the Republic of China in 1969 and 1970 . Dr. Weng holds a first Teng ranking in Shuai-chiao, and is the first certified IWUF (International Wushu Federation) International Wushu Judge in North and South America. Dr. Weng assisted his teacher, Grandmaster Ch’ang Tung-sheng at the Central Police College R.O.C. in the 1970’s and helped establish the now internationally accepted Ranking system of Shuai-chiao in 1983. His works also include two English textbooks which have been adopted by numerous universities in Taiwan and the United States: Fundamentals of Shuai-chiao and Ch’ang style T’ai-chi chuan, Modified Short Form. Both books also have companion videotapes. Dr. Weng has also helped design and was featured in TC Mediaâs Shuai-chiao 4 volume videotape series on the United States Shuai-chiao Association Belt Ranking Requirements and has recently completed a ground breaking videotape series on practical Chin-na applications of Tâai-chi. Well recognized as a leader in the martial arts world, Dr. Weng was one of nine arbitrators for the 2nd World Wushu Championships held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in 1993. He was also a member of the selection and training committee for the 1990 11th Asia Olympic Games for the R.O.C. Wushu Team. Dr. Weng was invited to speak at the 1988 Olympic Scientific Congress in Seoul, Korea.

    As a Leader and Coach in Shuai-chiao, Dr. Weng led the U.S. Shuai-chiao team in 1992 to Paris, France for the Paris Mayorâs Cup International Shuai-chiao Invitational. The USSA team stunned the world martial arts community by taking 1st place in Team competition. Three years later, Dr. Weng led another team to Paris that came in second only to China. In the winter of 1997, Dr. Weng led a select U.S. Team to the 1st Beijing International Shuaijiao Tournament with 11 countries participating. The team took third place losing only to the two Chinese teams. In 1998, Dr. Weng led another USSA select team to the Paris Cup taking 2nd place losing only to the Chinese team by one medal. In 2013, Dr. Weng was the executive officer of the 3rd Place TEAM USA at the Yixing International Shuaijiao Tournament in China.

    Dr. Weng has also served in many administrative roles. Among the notable positions are: Head of division of Chinese Martial Arts, Chinese Culture University, R.O.C. Chairman of the 12th Chinese American Athletic Tournament of the Bay Area. This tournament included a Wushu Division that had over 300 competitors including divisions for San shou, Shuai-chiao, and contemporary Wushu with additional athletes in other events totaling 4,000. Dr. Weng is currently the Founding Chairman of the United States Shuai-chiao Association, visiting professor at San Jose State University, President of the Cupertino Kung-fu Club, and Director of the U.S. Self Defense Academy in San Francisco, California. Dr. Weng travels the world teaching Shuai-chiao, Tai-chi, and San-shou as well as certifying judges and instructors. As the highest-ranking principal in the USSA, he is the visionary and Grandmaster of the organization.

Board of Directors

  • Dr. Chi-hsiu D. Weng

    FOUNDING CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD

    9th Degree Black Belt, Ph. D, Author, Scholar, Vice-President, World Shuaijiao Federation

    youtube.com/c/DrWengsKungfuWellness

    California

  • Timothy Braun, Esq.

    Retired Attorney,

    Team USA Coach and athlete; Judge and Instructor

    Ohio

  • John H. Ervin, Jr.

    5th Degree Black Belt, National Champion, International finalist, Team USA Coach and Leader, Marital Arts School Owner

    Ohio

  • Michael A. Lomotan

    3rd Degree Black Belt, Team USA athlete and medalist, Sanshou, Medical Industry Sales

    California

  • Matt Mollica

    7th Degree Black Belt, Team USA Coach and competitor, School Owner

    Ohio

  • Jan-Yu Weng

    7th Degree Black Belt, National and International Champion, Team USA Leader and Coach, Secretary General, World Shuaijiao Federation, High Tech Executive

    California

  • She-Peng Weng

    5th Degree Black Belt, National Champion, Team USA Coach

    California

  • Aaron Wong

    2nd Degree Black Belt, Team USA Coach

    Seattle, Washington

  • Gino Belfiore

    3rd Degree Black Belt

    Team USA athlete, national champion, international medalist, judge, Martial Arts School owner

    Ohio

  • Nick Masi

    4th Degree Black Belt

    Team USA athlete, National Champion, 3rd place international, Martial Arts School Owner

    Virginia

Officers

  • John H. Ervin, Jr.

    PRESIDENT

    5th Degree Black Belt
    Martial Arts School Owner

  • Nick Masi

    SECRETARY

    4th Degree Black Belt
    Martial Arts School Owner

  • Aaron Wong

    TREASURER

    2nd Degree Black Belt
    Software Engineer

 Committees of the USSA

The USSA is functionally separated into three functional divisions headed by Executive Directors. The responsibility of the Division ED is to set the vision, strategy, and substance for their respective divisions.

 Chairmen of Committees

International Ranking

Chair, Dr. Chi-Hsiu Weng

Competition Division

Chair, She-Peng Weng

Competition division sole focus is to develop Shuaijiao competitors to represent Team USA.

Curriculum / Branch Members

To develop curriculum, testing procedures, teacher training, and branch management so that the membership of the USSA schools grow in numbers.

Chair, Alva Ervin

Self Defense

Chair, TBD

To develop the curriculum, method, channels to document, teach, and enhance the combat, strike, kick, joint control aspects of traditional shuaijiao that may/ may not be allowable in competition but is part of the historical and active part of shuaijiao. This committee may con…