Arturo Gabriel

                   Arturo Gabriel was born and raised in the outskirts of Chicago's neighborhood, Chinatown.  It was here, in Chinatown, that Mr. Gabriel began his training.  The training initially began with the Praying Mantis style of Kung Fu.  Not long after, he was introduced to Sifu Lan Wong and the Wing Chun style of Chinese Boxing, by his friend and also Kung Fu senior (Si Ling) Grady Wong.  This soon became a commitment and bond into the Wong's family clan of Wing Chun Kung Fu.

                   In 1976, Mr. Gabriel had enlisted in the Army and was stationed in North Carolina.  At this time, Mr. Gabriel had already begun to cross train in Manhattan, New York in the "Progressive Wing Chun Style" under Sifu Kwok Chow.  Mr. Gabriel continued cross training by making weekend trips from North Carolina to New York to study under Master Chow.  Twenty years ago the Wing Chun Style was brought to the East Coast by Master Chow.  Since 1968, Mr. Gabriel has been a part of Martial Arts as a student, competitor and as a teacher.  He has also studied many styles and martial arts, but has chosen Wing Chun Kung Fu and Filipino arts of stick and knife fighting as his principle interest of study.

                   While enlisted in the U.S. Army, Mr. Gabriel served in the U.S. Armed Forces as a combat medical specialist.  He was stationed in Fort Bragg, North Carolina and was a member of the 82nd Airborne Division 1st of the 17th Air Cavalry Unit.  Serving as a Senior Troop Aid Man, he was attached to an "air rifle platoon" Infantry Rapid Deployment Force.  He also served with the 5th and 12th Special Forces groups as a combat medic and light weapons expert.  Mr. Gabriel has an extensive background in emergency medicine and presently continues to do work in the emergency medical field.

TEACHING RANKS
Chinese Martial Arts
  • Black Sash (Sifu) Wing Chun Gung Fu - Hong Kong Gangster Fist under Sigung Lan Wong and Sifu Gordy Wong - Chicago, IL (Chinatown)
  • Black Sash (Sifu) Progressive Wing Chun Kung Fu - under Sifu Kwok Chow - Manhattan, NY (Chinatown)
  • 2nd Degree Black Belt American Chin Na - under Grandmaster Leroy W. Epperson, III - Baltimore, MD - through the authority of Professor David Rix and Master Michael Lambert.
  • Black Sash (Sifu) Yee Chaun Fa "Golden Serpent" - Grandmaster Leroy W. Epperson, III - Baltimore, MD
Korean Martial Arts
  • 1st Degree Black Belt Moo Dak Kwan Tae Kwon Do awarded under Master Ki Hwan Lee
    7th Degree Black Belt - Fort Bragg, NC
  • 1st Degree Black Belt Chang Moo Kwan Tae Kwon Do awarded under Master Dak Gun Kwon
    8th Degree Black Belt - Joliet, IL
  • 3rd Degree Black Belt Tae Kwon Do awarded under Grandmaster Leroy W. Epperson, III - Baltimore, MD
  • 2nd Degree Black Belt Moo Dak Kwan Tae Kwon Do awarded under Grandmaster Leroy W. Epperson, III by authority of Grandmaster Jae Kim - Kim's Karate - Baltimore, MD

Filipino Martial Arts

  • Black Sash / Lakan Guro - "Sayoc System" - Penkiti Tersion Arnis - Filipino stick and knife fighting under Tuhon (Grandmaster) Alfredo O'Campos - Arbutus, MD
  • Black Sash / Lakan Guro - "Sayoc Style" under the authority of Master Miguel Bosch - Baltimore, MD
  • Black Sash / Lakan Guro - "KaliLadra Style" under Master Bobby Ladra - Severna Park, MD
  • Black Sash / Lakan Guro - Modern Arnis, Kun Tao, Cadena De Mano (Empty Hand Filipino Gung Fu, Chain Of Hands) under Arma Guro / Sifu Master Billy Bryant - Baltimore, MD

Additional Martial Arts Studies

  • Japanese Style Karate "Goju Ryu" under Sensei Bill Wilson - Martial Arts Systems Headquarters, Chicago, IL
  • "Shotokan Style" Karate under Sensei Angel Rivera - Lomas Verde Bayamon, Puerto Rico
  • "Sikaram Style" Filipino Karate under Tukon Master Lawrence Lagarejos - Bayamon, Puerto Rico
  • "Jeet Kune Do" under Sifu Louis Davilla and Robert Davilla - Black Eagle Society, Chicago, IL
  • "Wa Lum Tong Long Gung Fu" Praying Mantis System  under Sifu Michael Leung - Chicago, IL
  • "Vovinam" Vietnamese Gung Fu under Guro / Sifu Neil Sulwatt - Chicago, IL
  • "Gracie Jiu-Jitsu and Grappling" under Grandmaster Leroy W. Epperson, III - The M.A.S.T.E.R. System of Combat, Baltimore, MD

Seminar Studies

  • Filipino Stick Fighting & Filipino Martial Arts
    - Ama Guro Billy Bryant
    - Sifu / Guro Danny Innosanto
    - Tuhon Bobby Ladra
  • Wing Chun Gung Fu
    - Sifu Randy Williams
    - Sifu Jason Lau
    - Sigung John Clayton (Butterfly Swords)
    - Sigung Stephen Chan
    - Sigung Kwok Chow
    - Sigung William Cheung
  • Won Hop Kune Do
    - Sifu Erie Lee
    - Sifu Al Dacossos
  • Sil Lum Pai
    - Sifu John Tsai Shaolin Temple - Chicago, IL
  • Competition Fighting
    - Bill "Superfoot" Wallace - Chicago, IL

Competition Levels Of Experience

  • Amateur Boxing - Golden Gloves "Windy City Boxing" - Chicago, IL - 3 years
  • Midwest Karate Circuit under Luttuli - Kick Boxing - Chicago, IL - 4 years
  • Awarded 1975 American Karate Association's Prenational Lightweight Champion under Ken Kruedson - Chicago, IL
  • Conde's Open Tournament - New Kensington, PA
    - 1st Place Black Belt Forms
    - 1st Place Full Contact stick fighting middle weight Black Belt Division
  • John Burdick's Battle Of Baltimore - Baltimore, MD
    - Continuous Contact Fighting Lightweight Black Belt Division
                Mr. Gabriel worked as an assistant instructor for Kim's Karate for a period of two years under Grandmaster Leroy W. Epperson, III and Grandmaster Jae Kim.

               Over the last six years, he has security experiences as an armed security officer and unarmed officer.  Mr. Gabriel is certified through Sheriff O'Grady from Cook County Sheriff's Department Chicago, IL for "Special Operations Associates".

               Mr. Gabriel has worked for over four years as a night club security officer (bouncer) for several establishments in Chicago and Baltimore. He was a corner man for World Heavy Weight Kick Boxing Champion Roberto Salazar, Glen Ellyn, IL and also a fill-in sparring partner.

               He has worked as a martial arts instructor for over four years for the Nautilus Health and Fitness Center in Downer's Grove, IL.  Moving to Baltimore, MD has continued training under Grandmaser Leroy W. Epperson, III at United Martial Arts and is one the original instructors of UMA and the M.A.S.T.E.R. System.

                Sifu Gabriel has been practicing and teaching Wing Chun Kung Fu in the Baltimore, Maryland area for the past eight years.  Originally, a disciple of Master Lam Wong in Chicago's South Side Chinatown, he also trained and studied under Masters Louis Davilla, Roberto Davilla, David Pacheco, John Tsai and Master Kwok Chow of New York City.

               Sifu Gabriel is recognized and respected by fellow Wing Chun Sifu and practitioners, Julian Sawyer, Sifu Darby, Sihing Joseph Holland, and Sifu Johnny Tang.  Sifu Gabriel is also recognized and respected by Sifu Wayne Wright, who is presently Sifu Gabriel's Sihing and one of the leading authorities of William Cheung's clan of Wing Chun Gung Fu in the Maryland and D.C. areas.

               And with all respect, it must be mentioned that Sifu Gabriel is respected and recognized by Master-Sigung John Clayton, the leading authority and representative of William Cheung's Wing Chun clan in the state of Maryland and along the East Coast.  Master Clayton has instructed Sifu Gabriel in the transition of the butterfly swords use and the integration of this weapon into the Filipino martial art of Kali; the art of the blade.

 


CONTACT INFORMATION

Arturo Gabriel Can Be Contacted Through:

United Martial Arts
5920 Eastern Avenue
Baltimore, Md 21224
(410) 262-2333