Shaolin-Do Masters
Grandmasters
The title of “Grandmaster” is given to the one person at a time who has been entrusted to protect the art of Shaolin-Do and lead all of the other masters and students. There can only be one Grandmaster and that title is passed down from one generation to the next. As of today, there have only been three grandmasters in all of Shaolin-Do.
![](http://sinthe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/sukong-01-876x1168-1.jpg)
Grandmaster Su Kong Tai Djin
1849 – 1928
More information
![](http://sinthe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/painting-hands-01-666x888-1.jpg)
Grandmaster Ie Chang Ming
1880 – 1976
More information
![](http://sinthe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/tiger-pose-001-1-710x1024.jpg)
Grandmaster Sin Kwang Thé
1943 – present
More information
Gone but never forgotten
Although the following masters have passed away, they have left their mark on Shaolin-Do, their students, and their colleagues. They will forever be remembered for their loyalty, skills, and leadership.
![](http://sinthe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/200401xx-headshot-796x1024.jpg)
Eldest Master Bill Leonard
10th Degree Black Belt
1948 – 2023
![](http://sinthe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/42987131_10155926129278683_1045299481119031296_n-683x1024.jpg)
Elder Master Gordon Burkett
8th Degree Black Belt
1957 – 2022
![](http://sinthe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/HEC-3x4-1-768x1024.jpg)
Elder Master Herman Collins
8th Degree Black Belt
1952 – 2023
![](http://sinthe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/242702172_1256005778156051_6317360762980576003_n-2.jpg)
Master Mike Kemper
6th Degree Black Belt
1953 – 2021
8th Degree Black Belt — Elder Master
![](http://sinthe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Barger-Donnie-01.jpg)
Donnie Barger
Hebron, KY
Started in August 1970
Promoted in March 2016
nkyshaolin-do.com
![](http://sinthe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Bullock-Eric-2016-480x640-1.jpg)
Eric Bullock
Mt. Vernon, KY
Started in June 1985
Promoted in June 2023
rockcastleshaolindo.com
![](http://sinthe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Burke-Eric-2016-480x640-2.jpg)
Eric Burke
Corbin, KY
Started in January 1983
Promoted in June 2023
![](http://sinthe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/collins-ben-2016.jpg)
Ben Collins
Lexington, KY
Started in August 1989
Promoted in June 2023
sinthe.com
![](http://sinthe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/elliot-sean-20160910.jpg)
Sean Elliot
London, KY
Started in October 1982
Promoted in June 2023
![](http://sinthe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/GreenBob01.jpg)
Bob Green
Richmond, KY
Started in May 1968
Promoted in September 2011
![](http://sinthe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/HalladayJim02.jpg)
Jim Halladay
Erie, PA
Started in August 1972
Promoted in September 2019
![](http://sinthe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Keller-John-01-338x450-1.jpg)
John Keller
Boise, ID
Started in September 1980
Promoted in June 2017
idahoshaolin.com
![](https://sinthe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/IMG_8111.jpg)
Mike Lasslo
Hazard, KY
Started in September 1972
Promoted in June 2023
![](http://sinthe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Mingione-Frank-01-216x288-1.jpg)
Frank Mingione
Madison, IN
Started in May 1976
Promoted in September 2006
![](http://sinthe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Nance-Tim-01-216x288-1.jpg)
Tim Nance
Winchester, KY
Started in October 1973
Promoted in September 2012
smaawky.com
![](http://sinthe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Price-John-02-600x800-1.jpg)
John Price
Louisville, KY
Started in August 1972
Promoted in September 2012
louisvilleshaolindo.com
![](http://sinthe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Ray-Tim-03-300x400-1.jpg)
Tim Ray
Lexington, KY
Started in October 1974
Promoted in September 2019
![](http://sinthe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Reynolds-Rick-01-216x288-1.jpg)
Rick Reynolds
Lexington, KY
Started in January 1969
Promoted in June 2023
![](http://sinthe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Schaefer-Joe-01-216x288-1.jpg)
Joe Schaefer
Austin, TX
Started in August 1984
Promoted in September 2019
austinkungfu.com
![](http://sinthe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Smith-Eric-01-216x288-1.jpg)
Eric Smith
Troy, MI
Started in September 1968
Promoted in September 2006
7th Degree Black Belt — Senior Master
![](http://sinthe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Cook-Dennis-02.jpg)
Dennis Cook
Fairfield, OH
Started in November 1979
Promoted in May 2021
![](http://sinthe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/dillingham-chris-20160910.jpg)
Chris Dillingham
Mt. Vernon, KY
Started in February 1988
Promoted in September 2015
![](http://sinthe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Duncan-Don-02.jpg)
Don Duncan
Round Rock, TX
Started in December 1992
Promoted in March 2021
texaskungfu.com
![](http://sinthe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Fahey-Greg-02-600x800-1.jpg)
Greg Fahey
Hebron, KY
Started in September 1985
Promoted in May 2021
![](http://sinthe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Felice-Rick-01-216x288-1.jpg)
Rick Felice
Erlanger, KY
Started in September 1979
Promoted in May 2021
![](http://sinthe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Frasure-Scott-03-300x400-1.jpg)
Scott Frasure
Lexington, KY
Started in July 1976
Promoted in September 2011
![](http://sinthe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Harmon-Joe-02-600x800-1.jpg)
Joe Harmon
Blue Ash, OH
Started in January 1992
Promoted in May 2021
cincinnatikungfu.com
![](http://sinthe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Jones-David-01-216x288-1.jpg)
David Jones
Lawrenceburg, KY
Started in March 1972
Promoted in June 2023
![](http://sinthe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Knight-Tommy-02-600x800-1.jpg)
Tommy Knight
Louisville, KY
Started in March 1982
Promoted in March 2018
![](http://sinthe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Lester-Dan-02-600x800-1.jpg)
Dan Lester
Dry Ridge, KY
Started in September 1986
Promoted in May 2021
![](http://sinthe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Mooney-Jim-02-216x288-1.jpg)
Jim Mooney
Cross Lanes, WV
Promoted in September 2008
![](http://sinthe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/OBrien-Sean-01-300x400-1.jpg)
Sean O’Brien
Austin, TX
Started in March 1995
Promoted in February 2017
![](http://sinthe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/IMG_1288-3024x4032-1-edited-scaled.jpg)
Danny Price
Louisville, KY
Promoted in March 2018
![](http://sinthe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Razor-Bev-01-216x288-1.jpg)
Bev Razor
Louisville, KY
Started in March 1982
Promoted in September 2018
![](http://sinthe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Rose-Jeff-01-216x288-1.jpg)
Jeff Rose
Miami, FL
Started in September 1973
Promoted in September 2011
![](http://sinthe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Schaefer-Sheryl-01-300x400-1.jpg)
Sheryl Schaefer
Austin, TX
Started in September 1988
Promoted in February 2017
austinkungfu.com
![](http://sinthe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Standafer-Bill-01-216x287-1.jpg)
Bill Standafer
Winchester, KY
Started in November 1979
Promoted in September 2019
![](http://sinthe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Wilson-Wayne-2023-480x640-1.jpg)
Wayne Wilson
Richmond, KY
Started in March 1986
Promoted in December 2023
6th Degree Black Belt — Master
![](http://sinthe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Bender-Ben.jpg)
Ben Bender
Austin, TX
Promoted in August 2021
![](http://sinthe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/BivinsBill.jpg)
Bill Bivins
Lexington, KY
Started in March 1973
Promoted in March 2012
![](http://sinthe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/BivinsRosie.jpg)
Rosie Bivins
Lexington, KY
Started in November 1976
Promoted in March 2012
![](http://sinthe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Blackburn-Jeff-01-300x400-1.jpg)
Jeff Blackburn
Austin, TX
Promoted in February 2024
![](http://sinthe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Branson-Kristi-2023-600x800-1.jpg)
Kristi Branson
Round Rock, TX
Promoted in February 2023
![](http://sinthe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Brantley-David-02-600x800-1.jpg)
David Brantley
New Philadelphia, OH
Promoted in September 2022
![](http://sinthe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Brummer-Nick-01-300x400-1.jpg)
Nick Brummer
Dry Ridge, KY
Started in February 1997
Promoted in March 2018
![](http://sinthe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Collins-Andra-01-216x288-1.jpg)
Andra Collins
Lexington, KY
Promoted in May 2021
![](http://sinthe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Cook-Jerome-01-300x400-1.jpg)
Jerome Cook
Hamilton, OH
Started in November 1979
Promoted in September 2018
![](http://sinthe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Eastman-Kim-2019-600x800-1.jpg)
Kim Eastman
County Cork, Ireland
Promoted in May 2019
![](http://sinthe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Enzweiler-Don-01-216x288-1.jpg)
Don Enzweiler
Versailles, KY
Started in September 1970
Promoted in May 2021
![](http://sinthe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Hammond-Jason-2016-600x800-1.jpg)
Jason Hammond
Austin, TX
Promoted in August 2021
southaustinkungfu.com
![](http://sinthe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Howard-Ryan-01-300x400-1.jpg)
Ryan Howard
San Antonio, TX
Promoted in August 2019
southtexaskungfu.com
![](http://sinthe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Kells-Rick-01-300x400-1.jpg)
Rick Kells
Erlanger, KY
Promoted in March 2016
![](http://sinthe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Kidd-Kenny-01-300x400-1.jpg)
Kenny Kidd
Whitley City, KY
Promoted in September 2018
![](http://sinthe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Krummen-Keith-01-300x400-1.jpg)
Keith Krummen
Florence, KY
Started in March 1992
Promoted in September 2018
![](http://sinthe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Lingenfelter-George-01-2730x3640-1-scaled.jpg)
George Lingenfelter
Austin, TX
Promoted in August 2021
![](http://sinthe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Machado-Corey-01-300x400-1.jpg)
Corey Machado
Austin, TX
Promoted in August 2021
![](http://sinthe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Meece-Chris-01-300x400-1.jpg)
Chris Meece
Somerset, KY
Started in October 1983
Promoted in September 2017
somersetkungfu.com
![](http://sinthe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Moeggenberg-Katy-01-300x400-1.jpg)
Katy Moeggenberg
Blue Ash, OH
Promoted in May 2021
![](http://sinthe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Mooney-Jamie-01-216x288-1.jpg)
Jamie Mooney
Nitro, WV
Started in January 1981
Promoted in September 2012
![](http://sinthe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Nantz-Robert-01-300x400-1.jpg)
Robert Nantz
Lexington, KY
Promoted in September 2017
![](http://sinthe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Nguyen-Anh-Thu-01-300x400-1.jpg)
Anh-Thu Nguyen
Austin, TX
Promoted in February 2023
![](http://sinthe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Nguyen-Annie-01-300x400-1.jpg)
Annie Nguyen
Austin, TX
Promoted in February 2024
![](http://sinthe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/6th-Black-2023-edited.jpg)
Michael Perrin
Reno, NV
Promoted in June 2023
![](http://sinthe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Petry-Rob-01-216x288-1.jpg)
Rob Petry
Charleston, WV
Promoted in September 2013
![](http://sinthe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Randolph-Dave-01-216x288-1.jpg)
Dave Randolph
Louisville, KY
Started in November 1989
Promoted in March 2011
![](http://sinthe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Richardson-Curtis-2023-600x800-1.jpg)
Curtis Richardson
Austin, TX
Promoted in February 2023
![](http://sinthe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Ryan-Robert-2018-600x800-1.jpg)
Robert Ryan
Austin, TX
Promoted in August 2024
![](http://sinthe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Sandham-Michael-01-600x800-1.jpg)
Michael Sandham
Austin, TX
Promoted in February 2024
lakewaykungfu.com
![](http://sinthe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Scott-Jason-2016-600x800-1.jpg)
Jason Scott
Corbin, KY
Promoted in December 2023
![](http://sinthe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Southard-Matt-01-300x400-1.jpg)
Matt Southard
Austin, TX
Started in June 1992
Promoted in February 2017
![](http://sinthe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Tran-Maiky-01-300x400-1.jpg)
Maiky Tran
Austin, TX
Promoted in August 2024
![](http://sinthe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Walker-Lisa-01-300x400-1.jpg)
Lesa Walker
Austin, TX
Promoted in February 2023
![](http://sinthe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Yetman-Warren-01-408x495-2.jpg)
Warren Yetman
Pensacola, FL
Promoted in August 2024
pnsflshaolin.com
![](http://sinthe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/IMG_3157.png)
Sarah Yoffe
Seattle, WA
Promoted June 2024
shaolinseattle.com
5th Degree Black Belt — Associate Master
![](http://sinthe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/ahrens-john-20160910.jpg)
John Ahrens
Promoted in September 2016
![](http://sinthe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Alvarado-Evette-01.jpg)
Evette Alvarado
Austin, TX
Promoted in March 2021
![](http://sinthe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Barrera-Rick-01.jpg)
Rick Barrera
San Antonio, TX
Promoted in February 2020
shaolinwestsa.com
![](http://sinthe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/no-photo-mail.jpg)
Elmer Belmonte
Las Vegas, NV
Promoted in June 2017
![](http://sinthe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/no-photo-female-480x640-1.png)
Sarah Belmonte
Las Vegas, NV
Promoted in June 2017
![](http://sinthe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Black-Jason-01-300x400-1.jpg)
Jason Black
Blue Ash, OH
Promoted in December 2019
![](http://sinthe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Bongard-Mark-01-216x288-1.jpg)
Mark Bongard
St. Augustine, FL
Promoted in September 2020
![](http://sinthe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Bright-Lou-2016-600x800-1.jpg)
Lou Bright
Austin, TX
Promoted in February 2016
![](http://sinthe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Bullock-Cassie-01-600x800-1.jpg)
Cassie Bullock
Mt. Vernon, KY
Promoted in March 2021
rockcastleshaolindo.com
![](http://sinthe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/no-photo-mail.jpg)
Chad Carpenter
Hebron, KY
Promoted in September 2019
![](http://sinthe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Caudill-Bill-2023-600x800-1.jpg)
Bill Caudill
Somerset, KY
Started in January 1969
Promoted in September 2023
![](http://sinthe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Cornett-David-2016-600x800-1.jpg)
David Cornett, III
Corbin, KY
Promoted in September 2016
![](http://sinthe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Elzey-Barbara-01-216x288-1.jpg)
Barbara Elzey
Winchester, KY
Promoted in March 2017
![](http://sinthe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Fivecoait-Gabriele-2016-600x800-1.jpg)
Gabriele Fivecoait
Corbin, KY
Promoted in September 2016
![](http://sinthe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Fowler-Mariah-2018-600x800-1.jpg)
Mariah Fowler
Round Rock, TX
Promoted in August 2017
![](http://sinthe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Frazee-Shawn-01-600x800-1.jpg)
Shawn Frazee
Whitley City, KY
Promoted in March 2022
![](http://sinthe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Hall-Mike-01-300x400-1.jpg)
Mike Hall
Cincinnati, OH
Started in June 1992
Promoted in September 2011
![](http://sinthe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/no-photo-mail.jpg)
Nathan Harmon
Austin, TX
Promoted in February 2019
![](http://sinthe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/no-photo-mail.jpg)
Paul Hawbecker
Austin, TX
Promoted in February 2020
![](http://sinthe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Hedgespeth-John-02-600x800-1.jpg)
John Hedgespeth
Louisville, KY
Promoted in December 2020
![](http://sinthe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/no-photo-mail.jpg)
Craig Henley
Boise, ID
Promoted in June 2017
![](http://sinthe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Hughes-Tom-2023-600x800-1.jpg)
Tom Hughes
Dry Ridge, KY
Promoted in September 2021
![](http://sinthe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Hunter-Kelly-02-600x800-1.jpg)
Kelly Hunter
Lexington, KY
Started in March 1983
Promoted in March 2022
![](http://sinthe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/no-photo-mail.jpg)
Jason Knapp
Parkersburg, WV
Promoted in June 2017
![](http://sinthe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Knight-Kevin-01-669x892-1.jpg)
Kevin Knight
Asheville, NC
Promoted in February 2020
![](http://sinthe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Knight-Hank-01-600x800-1.jpg)
Hank Knight
Louisville, KY
Promoted in December 2020
![](http://sinthe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/no-photo-mail.jpg)
Russ Lesko
Caldwell, ID
Promoted in June 2017
csckungfu.com
![](http://sinthe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Marple-Darin-2023-600x800-1.jpg)
Darin Marple
Austin, TX
Promoted in March 2021
![](http://sinthe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/no-photo-mail.jpg)
Jonathan Martin
Hebron, KY
Promoted in March 2019
![](http://sinthe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/McCoy-Lonnie-01-216x288-1.jpg)
Lonnie McCoy
Lexington, KY
Promoted in September 2015
![](http://sinthe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Olsen-Kirk-2023-600x800-1.jpg)
Kirk Olsen
Eerie, PA
Started in August 1989
Promoted in September 2021
![](http://sinthe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/no-photo-mail.jpg)
Aaron Maxie
Boise, ID
Promoted in June 2017
![](http://sinthe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Parker-Jake-2023-600x800-1.jpg)
Jake Parker
Dry Ridge, KY
Promoted in September 2021
![](http://sinthe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Pendleton-Kathy-2023-600x800-1.jpg)
Kathy Pendleton
Austin, TX
Promoted in March 2021
![](http://sinthe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Peters-James-2016-600x800-1.jpg)
James Peters
Corbin, KY
Promoted in September 2016
![](http://sinthe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Pierce-Janice-2023-600x800-1.jpg)
Janice Pierce
Austin, TX
Promoted in March 2021
![](http://sinthe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/IMG_1287-3024x4032-2.png)
David Price
Louisville, KY
![](http://sinthe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/no-photo-mail.jpg)
Robert Russell
Boise, ID
Promoted in June 2017
![](http://sinthe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Santel-Dan-01-300x400-1.jpg)
Dan Santel
Blue Ash, OH
Promoted in December 2019
![](http://sinthe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Shackelford-Cody-01-216x288-1.jpg)
Cody Shackelford
Lexington, KY
Started May 1991
Promoted in March 2009
![](http://sinthe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/no-photo-female-480x640-1.png)
Megan Smith
Parkersburg, WV
Promoted in June 2017
![](http://sinthe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/no-photo-mail.jpg)
Shawn Smith
Austin, TX
Promoted in February 2016
![](http://sinthe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Staite-Danny-2018-600x800-1.jpg)
Daniel Staite
Round Rock, TX
Promoted in August 2017
![](http://sinthe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Stevens-Rob-2023-600x800-1.jpg)
Rob Stevens
Austin, TX
Promoted in August 2017
![](http://sinthe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Toth-Rusty-2016-480x640-1.jpg)
Rusty Toth
Austin, TX
Promoted in February 2016
![](http://sinthe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/no-photo-mail.jpg)
John Wells
Mt. Vernon, KY
Promoted in September 2017
![](http://sinthe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/no-photo-mail.jpg)
Lenard Swain
Round Rock, TX
Promoted in February 2016