George Xu · Chen Style · Lan Shou Shaolin ·10 Animal Xing Yi
George Xu (Xu Guo Ming) started martial arts training in 1966 with Zhu Hong Bao, in the three Muslim styles in China: Xing Yi 6 Harmony, 10 Animal Cha Fist, and Chi Shu 7 Postures. Following that he studied with Zhang Qing Lin, a Snake Bagua Master, in this very unique system. He studied the Lan Shou System with Qing Zhong Bao; Cotton Fist with Yang Tian Gui; Chen Style Taiji with Shuong Guang Ren, a student of Chen Xiao Quai; Yang Style Taiji with Shi Wen Deu; and Xing Yi Master Yu Hua Long. His boxing teacher, Zhang Li De, was the undefeated Middleweight Boxing Champion from 1951-57. He graduated from Shanghai Normal University in Mathematics.
In 1981, he came to the United States and began a long career of teaching and bringing Chinese masters not only to the United States, but also exposing the art of high level practitioners to Kung Fu enthusiasts worldwide: Zhou Yuan Long, Chen Style; China Heavyweight Champion Liou Wan Fu (full contact); Ye Xiao Long, Lan Shou Master, Yang Style Taiji Master; Ma Hong, Chen; Wang Hao Da, Wu Style (student of Ma Yueh Liang); Lu Gui Rong, Wu Hao Style; Qian Zhao Hong, Xing Yi; Wang Zhi Qiang, Yang; Yun Yin Sen, Liu He Ba Fa; and Ji Ah Dong, Yang StyleTaiji.
Board of Instructors
Our Board of Instructors is comprised of all highly educated and highly experienced Martial Artists who have completed the arduous Instructor 
Certification that only the White Oak Institute and Shanti School provide– ensuring that you get nothing but the best possible education, treatment, and training.
Click here to find out how you can become a Certified Instructor.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Susan A. Matthews, M.S. has been practicing and teaching Taijiquan, Qigong, and Spirituality for 25 years. Susan is currently enrolled in the Ph.D. Graduate Program in the Department of Cell and Neurobiology at The University of Southern California. Current work is in dopamine neuron electrophysiology and Parkinson's Disease. Ms. Matthews earned her Master's degree in Anatomy and Neurobiology at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, and has also earned baccalaureate degrees in both Molecular Biology and Anthropology/Archeology.
Susan owns and operates Shanti School of Taijiquan in Los Angeles, CA and Durango, Colorado. Board Member by invitation of the American Tai Chi Association Advisory Board on Tai Chi and Consumer Health Information since April 2003. United States Vice President for The Worldwide Association for Chinese Internal Martial Arts (Shanghai), a 12-country federation since 2004. She was awarded Master-level certification under the auspices of this international association.
Over the last fifteen years Susan has developed and taught professionals her own Orthopedic Integration Therapy for chronic pain based on Taiji principles of natural movement. Susan has produced instructional videos on numerous subjects. She is currently certified in the Mi Zong School of Medical Qigong and in the 12 Movement Sun Style Tai Chi for Arthritis Program. Additional training and Certification in various manual therapies including Shiatsu, Tuina Massage, Craniosacral Therapy and Structural Integration, and Heart of Spirit Intuitive Healing.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Derek Croley is a 6th degree Black Belt in the US TAI Martial Arts Association with 20 years of experience teaching Martial Arts, Taiji and Qigong. He has Master Instructor’s Certification in both internal and external Martial Arts from the US TAI Martial Arts Association as founded by Grand Master David German (currently headed by Grand Master Andy Watford), the Po Rin Fu Taiji Association as founded by Lui Chan Shan, and the White Oak Institute. In 2000 he founded the American Taiji Yuan Gong Chan Chuan Gung Fu Association.
Derek has several other black belts or the equivalent thereof in various Chinese, Japanese, and American Martial Arts, including but not limited to Tai-Kenpo, Budo Jujutsu, Tae Kwon Do, Chuan Fa, Sun Style Tai Chi, Yang Style Tai Chi Sort Form, Chin Na, Yuan Gong Chan Chuan, and Shotokan Karate. Derek has studied these various arts under such well known Masters as David German, Andy Watford, Dave Kovar, and Kevin Hudson, He has written several articles and produces several videos on a variety of subjects.
Derek has lived and studied in Manchurian China, under the tutelage of Grand Master Lui Chan Shan of the Beishan Temple and is the American heir to the secret art of Yuan Gong Chan Chuan of the Ming Dynasty. Derek is a graduate of Clemson University with a BS in Business Management, Co Chair of the (ASTM) Committee on Martial Arts Instructional Safety Standards, a 2004 Martial Arts Hall of Fame Member, President Elect of the Asheville West Rotary Club, co Founder of The White Oak Institute, and the Founder and President of Croley’s Martial Arts Center, Inc in Asheville, NC as well as the founder and CEO of www.TaiChiMadeSimple.com. He is also a regular contributor to several publications as well as the Tai Chi Asheville Blog Site.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
George Petrush has almost 15 years of training and education in the Internal, Healing, and Spiritual Arts. He is a Master Level Reiki Instructor and began his formal Martial Arts Training in 2000 under Master Croley.
He is presently a 3rd degree Black Belt and has earned the title of Shifu in the US TAI Martial Arts Association as well as the White Oak Institute. He has served with the AmeriCorps National Service, improving the Asheville Community and the lives of at risk youth. He has also conducted field research on Navajo traditional botanical medicine, diet and culture, including qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis for Northwestern University's Ethnographic Field School in the Navajo Nation, and volunteering with the Nations In Home Services Division providing aid to Elder Navajo. He is also an avid triathlon competitor.
George is a graduate of the Indiana University of Pennsylvania with a BA in Anthropology and a Minor in Religious Studies — making the Dean's List as well as the Anthropology Honor Society, and is Co Chair of the ASTM Committee on Martial Arts Instructional Safety Standards.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Willie Smith is a life long resident of Asheville, Willie Smith is a 3rd degree Black Belt who was forced to stop the more arduous forms of Martial Arts when he developed Cancer and his body just couldn’t do what it once did.
He began training in the internal Martial Arts with Master Croley in 2001, and quickly received his Black Belt level ranking in these arts. When he first entered into training with us he had a brace or a bandage on every joint in his body and walked with a cane. Now, after several years of training with our internal Martial Arts Program, he no longer has need of any of these things.
Willie has since earned the title of Shifu in the US TAI Martial Arts Association as well as the White Oak Institute, is a member of the Hillside Baptist Church Board of Ushers, and is a true inspiration and an absolutely amazing instructor, Shifu Smith has an incredible ability to put the concepts of the internal martial arts into terms that are easily understandable for any level of practitioner.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
James M. Green, P.E. is a Professional Engineer who owns an Engineering Firm. He has been involved in Martial Arts for over 30 years and has a Black Belt in Tai Karate and a Black Sash in Tai Chi and is an instructor at the White Oak Institute in those two areas. He is a member and representative for the White Oak Institute in the Worldwide Association of Chinese Internal Martial Artists (WACIMA).
Jim recently received certification as an Instructor in Internal Martial Arts through the World Association of Chinese Martial Arts (WACIMA). This enables WACIMA school certification for Croley's Martial Arts and the White Oak Institute.
Jim studied at Sanging Mountain and Dragon Tiger Mountain, Jiang Xi Province, China. Jim studied under Master Qian Zhoo Hong (Chainsaw) and qualified by examination in the Xing Yi Hou Nan 10 Animal Form. He also studied under Master Jiang Bao Kang and qualified by examination in the Xing Yi, 5 element, 12 animal form. Master Jiang is the only Master currently alive in China teaching this form of Xing Yi. Jim has been training under Master Derek Croley, Shifu George Petrush, and Shifu Willie Smith.
Jim is a strong advocate of the application of Tai Chi Chuan and Qigong to the stresses involved in daily living. In his Professional Engineering practice he has applied these practices to high stress situations experienced by his industry, state and professional clients.
Jim is past president of the National Academy of Forensic Engineers and is a Fellow in the Academy. Jim provides seminars for individuals in the private sector in dealing with high stress situations. He has hundreds of actual case studies that he has personally dealt with in his professional career that are used to illustrate the use of the centeredness and stress reduction in serious corporate situations. Jim is the Consulting Engineer for the formation of the ASTM Safety Committee for the Marital Arts Instructional Industry.
Jim has completed 5 Ironman triathlons, and was an All-American Swimmer in College and at the Masters level. He teaches Chi Swimming on an individual basis to athletes.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Paul Timothy Richard, M.S., divides his time between marketing and advertising work for a spa and wellness center in Durango, Colorado, and the study, practice, and teaching taijiquan and qigong. A Louisiana native, he is a long-time student of Masters S. Matthews and George Xu. He has 19 years of journalistic experience in: every conceivable capacity holding a Bachelor’s Degree in English-communication and a Master’s in Communication Development. In the past, he has taught courses in writing and literature, and provided internship- and careerdevelopment opportunities to students.
Recently, he has served as workshop coordinator for the Atmospheric Particulate Carbon Exchange, a network of scientists seeking to discuss improving research methods and overall communication on air pollution research. He is proud of being part of bridging communication gaps among major researchers and government agency policy development representatives as they work to improve methods and technologies in atmospheric carbon research worldwide.
He recently completed coordinating a weekend workshop with three master teachers of internal martial arts in Durango, Colorado; just after attending a five-day training in the redwoods near La Honda, California, south of San Francisco. Currently, Mr. Richard is co-producing and directing a film of the historical gathering of martial artists from a dozen countries converging upon a historical area in Jiangxi Province, China to learn from Chinese internal martial arts masters from among 13 disciplines. He is preparing to return to China in December 2007 for filming and continued training.