Seattle Wushu
Wushu, Kung Fu, Tai Chi, Self Defense
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Master Yijiao Hong
Sifu Restita DeJesus
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Restita DeJesus,
Chief Instructor,
Seattle Wushu Center
 
 
     Restita DeJesus has over 30 years of experience in martial arts, with teaching credentials in Wushu, Tai Chi, Qigong, Karate, Kajukenbo, and Filipino Martial Arts. Her other studies have included Aikido, Bagua-Zhang, and Hsing-I.
 
     Ms. DeJesus began her martial arts studies under Sensei Peter Gurney in Butokukan Karate. In 1982, she earned her black belt at the age of 15, being the youngest person at that time to earn the "Shodan" rank in Butokukan Karate. She taught Karate at many Seattle community centers until she opened "Inner Concepts Martial Arts" in 1991, with Butokukan Karate taught by Ms. DeJesus, and Kajukenbo taught by her business partner Sherril Johnson.
 
     Ms. DeJesus started studying Kajukenbo (a hybrid martial art) in 1991, under Sifu Terry Faircloth, and earned her teaching certification in 1994. Shortly thereafter, she and Sherril Johnson founded the "Seattle Wun Hop Kuen Do Academy" in West Seattle. As their studio expanded, Ms. DeJesus and Ms. Johnson moved another West Seattle location, renaming their studio "Yin Yang Arts Center".
 
     A disciple of Master Yijiao Hong, Ms.DeJesus received her Wushu and Tai Chi instructor certification in 1999 from Master Hong's Chinese Wushu Taiji Academy (CWTA), Since then, she has regularily taught Wushu and Tai Chi to adults and children at numerous  venues throughout the Puget Sound.
 
In addition to teaching martial arts full time at the studio (now known as "Seattle Wushu Center"), Ms. DeJesus continues to study Yang style and Chen style Tai Chi with Master Yijiao Hong and Grandmaster Chen ZhengLei. She is also active in Kyudo (Japanese archery),  and Muso-Jikiden Eishin Ryu Iaido.
 
  • Certified Coach - Wushu & Tai Chi

 

  • 5th Level Black Belt & Co-Founder: "Taikabudo" (combined martial arts system)

 

  • 5th Level Black Belt: under Guro Christopher Petrilli's "Filipino Martial Arts Academy"

 

  • 4th level Black Belt: Doce Pares Eskrima

 

  • 3rd Level Black Belt: Pangamot (Filipino unarmed fighting)

 

  • 3rd Level Black Belt: Kajukenbo-Wun Hop Kuen Do

 

  • 2nd Level Black Belt: Butokukan Karate

 

  • 1st Level Black Belt (Shodan):  Kyudo (Japanese Archery)

 

  •  NBL (National Black Belt League) regional forms champion, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996.
 
  • USAWKF (USA Wushu Kung Fu Federation) Women's Southern-Fist Wushu Gold Medalist, 1997,  1998
 
  • USAWKF Tai Chi forms Gold Medalist, 1998, 1999

 

  • USA Tai Chi Team Member and International Gold Medalist, World Taiji Health Conference, Hainan China, 2001.

 

  • Faculty member, Morningside Academy and Spring Valley Montessori School; Wushu Instructor.

 

  • Head of afterschool activities martial arts programs: Madison Middle School and Washington Middle School.

 

  • Tai Chi Instructor; "Far Fetched Imports Company".

 

  • Regular Seminar Instructor; annual "Martial University".

 

  • Regular PE workshop instructor, West Seattle High School.

 

  • Regular PE workshop Instructor; Seattle Pacific University.

 

  • Instructor, Summer weekly "Tai Chi at the Beach", Seattle Washington,  Alki Beach. 1999-2006

 

  • Featured in the book, "101 things to do in West Seattle" (Tai Chi).

 

  • Specialty Seminar presenter, "Yes, you CAN teach Martial Arts! - Martial arts & fitness for Phys-Ed curriculums":  West's Best K-12 PE Workshop.

 

  •  Specialty Seminar presenter & lecturer, "East with West: Similarities of Asian Martial Arts and European weapon styles ": 
 

 

 
Restita DeJesus, Wushu, Tai Chi