About Shifu

Master Dominick Ruggieri

Biography & Resume

Dominick Ruggeri started his Kung Fu training in Spring of 1983 at the age of 23 year old.  His first class was at Brookdale Community College were he took a Tai Chi and Shaolin class which was offered on the same night.  Prior to this, he had no martial arts training. 

After completing this 8 week community education class, he continued to practice what he had learned on his own until the end of that summer.  Then, in September of the year, he started private study with Patrick Hanvey and Mark Gates.  His main style of practice was Northern Shaolin Long Fist.  After completing this material, he then continued on to study Tai Chi Chuan, Pa Kua Chuan, Hsing Yi Chuan, and Qigong.

After completing Shaolin training with Pat and Mark, Dominick was introduced to Master Randy Elia of Peter Kwoks Kung Fu Academy in February of 1993, where he then continued his training in Northern  Shaolin Chuan and internals practices.

In July of 1990 Dominick became a full partner of the Academy and began instructing students on behalf of the Academy.  The Academy was a part-time endeavor in addition to his full time regular job. 

Then in March of 1993, he opened his own location in Brick, New Jersey to the teach arts which he had learned.  In September of 1998, Dominick left his full time position to embark on a new career in providing Kung Fu training on a full time basis to all those who wished to learn.  In addition, he has been doing massage therapy since 1996. 

Certification

1983 - Present  China Hand Kung Fu Academy

• Recognized Shifu Of Peter Kwoks Kung Fu Academy  from Master Gary Torres Phoenix Dragon Kung Fu Academy 3/2004

• 2nd Degree Black Sash Tai Chi Chuan 2/5/99

• 2nd Degree Black Sash Hsing Yi Chuan 2/5/99

• 2nd Degree Black Sash Shaolin Chuan 7/11/90

• 2nd Degree Black Sash Pa Kua Chuan 7/11/90

• CPR American Heart Association 9/7/2007

Awards & Recognition

• One Of The Best Martial Arts Schools In Ocean County
  Asbury Park Readers Choice Awards, 10/05

• The Best Martial Arts School In Ocean County
  Asbury Park Readers Choice Awards, 10/04

• Guang Ping Yang Tai Chi Association Certified Instructor, June 2004

• World Wide Martial Arts Hall Of Fame, Master Of The Year, inducted June 5, 2004

• USA Martial Arts Hall Of Fame, Tai Chi Master Of The Year, NY inducted April 2004

• Martial Arts Hall Of Fame, Continuance In Martial Arts Excellence, Atlantic City, NJ. 01/04

• One Of The Best Martial Arts School in Ocean County, 
  Asbury Park Press Readers Choice Awards, 10/03

• One Of The Best Martial Arts School in Ocean County, 
  Asbury Park Press Readers Choice Awards, 10/02

• Certified Guang Ping Yang Tai Chi Chuan Instructor, 9/03

• World Karate Hall Of Fame, Master Of Kung Fu, Tannersville, PA.  6/02

• Martial Arts Hall Of Fame, Excellence In Martial Arts Instruction, 01/02

• The Best Martial Arts School in Ocean County, 
  Asbury Park Press Readers Choice Awards, 10/01

• One Of The Best Martial Arts Schools in Ocean & Monmouth County, 
  Asbury Park Press Readers Choice Awards, 10/00

Continuing Education

• Guang Ping Yang Tai Chi Association Convention 2005, Tannersville, PA.  10/05

• Phoenix Dragon Kung Fu Academy, Short Weapons Theory & Applications, Brick, NJ, 9/04

• Zhang San Feng Tai Chi Festival, East Stroudsburg, PA, 6/04

• Phoenix Dragon Kung Fu Academy, Pa Kua Pole Methods, Tampa, FL.  3/04

• Guang Ping Yang Tai Chi Association Convention 2003, Tannersville, PA.  9/03

• US Wushu Union Level 2 Officials Certification, Pittsburgh, PA. 8/03

• Amateur Athletic Union, Internal Arts Judging Certification, Pittsburgh, PA. 8/03

• Hsing Yi Chuan, Hsing Yi Push Hands & I Chuan, Master Yang Fu-kei, Emerson, NJ 7/02 - 10/03

• Guang Ping Yang Tai Chi Convention 2002, San Diego, CA. 10/02

• Guang Ping Yang Tai Chi Convention 2001, San Diego, CA. 10/01

• Qigong & Tai Chi Fajing, Master Randy Elia, Brick, NJ 9/01

• Tai Chi Push Hands, Rick Barrett, Brick, NJ 6/01

• Chinese Fan Boxing Form, Diane Hoxmeier, Emerson, NJ 3/01

• Modern Escrima Stick Fighting, Leo Fong, Emerson, NJ 10/00

• Guang Ping Yang Tai Chi Convention 2000, McAfee, NJ 10/00

• Wei Kuen Do, Leo Fong, Emerson, NJ 8/00

• I Chuan Qigong & Push Hands, Master Randy Elia, Brick, NJ 6/00

• Tai Chi Push Hands, William Phillips, Stroudsburg, Pa 10/99

• I Chuan Qigong, Master Randy Elia, Brick, NJ 4/99

• Chinese Herbs, Bergen Healing Arts Institute, Emerson, NJ 3/98

• Chinese Trauma, Bergen Healing Arts Institute, Emerson, NJ 4/98

• Peter Kwoks Kung Fu Academy, Emerson, NJ 1993 - 2000

• Massage Therapy, Gary Carbone, Brick, NJ, 1996 - 1998

• Tai Chi Jing, Dr. Yang Jwing Ming, Boston, Ma, 1986

• Chi Kung, Master Mantak Chia, NY, New York, 1988

Associations

• International Kuo Shu Federation, 8/05

• US Wushu Union, 8/03

• Amateur Athletic Union, 8/03

• Guang Ping Yang Tai Chi Association Board Member, 11/05 - Present

• Guang Ping Yang Tai Chi Association President, 10/03 - 10/05

• Guang Ping Yang Tai Chi Association Vice President Elect, 10/01

• Guang Ping Yang Tai Chi Association Board Member, 9/00

• Bricktown Chamber Of Commerce, 2/93 - 2/03

Presentations

• Guang Ping Yang Tai Chi Association Convention 2005, Tai Chi Applications & Short Weapons Applications & Drills, 10/05

• Fa Jing for Internal Arts, Brick, NJ, 6/04

• Pa Kua & Chin Na Workshop, Westminster, MD, 4/04

• Guang Ping Yang Tai Chi Association Convention 2003, Tai Chi Applications & Free Fighting, 9/03

• Zhang San Feng Tai Chi Festival, Hsing Yi Chuan, 6/03

• Parents Of Chinese Children, Point Pleasant, NJ, Tai Chi & Kung Fu, 1/03

• Lakehurst Elementary School, Chinese Kung Fu, 11/02

• Guang Ping Yang Tai Chi Association Convention 2002, Tai Chi Applications, 10/02

• Guang Ping Yang Tai Chi Association Convention 2001, Tai Chi Applications, 10/02

• Ocean County Library System, Benefits of Tai Chi Chuan, 4/96

• Ocean County Library System, Benefits of Tai Chi Chuan, 5/97

Judging & Tournaments

• Yee's Hung Ga Kung Fu Tournament, Jersey City, NJ 10/06

• Yee's Hung Ga Kung Fu Tournament, Hoboken, NJ 9/05

• US Wushu Union Tournament, Pittsburgh, PA 8/03

• United Kuo Shu Tournament, Baltimore, MD 7/03

• Yee's Hung Ga Kung Fu Tournament, Tea Neck, NJ 9/02

• The Bash Kung Fu Tournament, New York, NY 6/02

• Yin Yang Kung Kung Fu Tournament, Fort Meade, MD, 11/01

• Yee's Hung Ga Kung Fu Tournament, Tea Neck, NJ 9/01

• The Bash Kung Fu Tournament, New York, NY 6/01

• The Yin Yang Kung Fu Tournament, Fort Meade, MD 11/00

• Yee's Hung Ga Kung Fu Tournament, Tea Neck, NJ 9/00

• The Bash Kung Fu Tournament, New York, NY 6/00

• Yee's Hung Ga Kung Fu Tournament, New York, NY 9/99

• Yee's Hung Ga Kung Fu Tournament, Montclair, NJ 9/98

• Clifton Karate/Kung Fu Tournament, Clifton, NJ 3/97

• Clifton Karate/Kung Fu Tournament, Clifton, NJ 4/96

Other

• Automobile Body Repair (All phases), Point Pleasant, NJ 7/73 - 4/84

• State Farm Insurance Company (Automobile: Estimatics, Claims, SIU, Management), NJ 4/84 - 9/98

China Hand Kung Fu Academy

...more About The Academy

China Hand Kung Fu Academy was incorporated in December of 1983 and is internationally known. 

The Academy was originally established to meet community needs in adult education. Classes were (and still are) offered through local schools and community education programs such as: Brick Town High School, Brick Seniors Services, and Assisted Living Facilities.  We also have presented workshops throughout the the United States and welcome the opportunity to share our styles with anyone who is interested. 

Gradually, individuals were accepted into private and group classes. This trend continued until it was no longer practical for the instructors to teach at home. After a series of moves to various locations, the Academy opened the doors to its' home at 1015 Cedar Bridge Avenue in Brick, New Jersey.

In 1995 the Academy produced its first instructional video.  In 1998 the Academy went "Online"  with high quality instructional video in Shaolin, Tai Chi, Pa Kua, and Hsing Yi.  In 2002, China Hand Kung Fu Academy started producing its' own instructional DVD's from our system of kung fu. 

Now, China Hand Kung Fu Academy has students worldwide studying with our Academy.  We now offer Online Video Training in all four of our systems.  This approach to sharing traditional authentic Chinese Kung Fu has opened doors for those who don't have the ability to study with a teacher. 

Our arts are taught in their traditional forms. Emphasis is placed on their value as "Life Arts" as opposed to the single vision of a fighting art. Students are encouraged to develop at their own rate. The competitive aspect of the training is comparing one's progress, improvement and development from one year to the next. Each student decides the path that their training will take (meditative, exercise, practical application, or any combination of the above).

No one is forced to partake in any of the training they feel is unsuitable. There is a system of ranking for those individuals who desire a more formal method of advancement and for those who will someday teach too.