** Full Biography Pending ~ please check back soon~~
SIGUNG MEL SUGUE started his Martial Arts career in 1959, in Hawaii, under Instructor Frank Swan who taught the Kajukenbo system. At that time you couldn't join a Martial arts class as you would today. You had to be invited or chosen and then screened. In 1965 SIGUNG MEL became a private student of PROFESSOR AL DELA CRUZ with the approval and imput of SIJO EMPERADO. In 1970 SIGUNG MEL became PROFESSOR DELA CRUZ's assistant, and later took over the school at Red Hill. In 1980 SIGUNG MEL moved to Washington state and started a private class with four students. Because of their faithfulness & loyalty to SIGUNG MEL and the ART, a 'DREAM' was in their midst. They altered the style & system to a more unorthodox, softer, and with more flowing movements; yet retaining it's speed and power. In 1981 SIGUNG MEL received his 5th DEGREE BLACK BELT from PROFESSOR AL DELA CRUZ for his new style & system, called "TAI-CHI CHUAN-FA KUNG-FU". It means SUPREME ULTIMATE (TAI CHI) WAY OF THE FIST (CHUAN-FA). In February of 1983 the 'DREAM' became a reality. The SCHOOL of TAI-CHI CHUAN-FA KUNG-FU was born. The school held it's first Belt Promotion on August 13th, 1983. In 1993 Sijo A.D. Emperado promoted SiGung Mel to a 7th degree Black Belt.
On January 5th, 1987 a new branch sprouted. This first branch is a special life line for the School. It consists of our future martial artists with ages ranging from 6 to 12. SIFU RON TAPEC teaches the class and is one of the SIGUNG MEL's assistants. In 1990 three of SIGUNG MEL's top students earned their BLACK BELTS. After 8 years of training Barry Davis, Ron Tapec, and John Lentz became our School's first Black Belts. They along with SIGUNG MEL traveled to Hawaii to perform for PROFESSOR AL DELA CRUZ. They were tested physically and mentally before becoming Certified Instructors.
SIFU RON TAPEC started his martial arts training at the age of 15 in Ewa, Hawaii under his brother SIGUNG MEL SUGUE who was a student of Kajukenbo under Instructor Frank Swan. Although SIFU RON training with Mel for almost 2 years it was considered "outlaw training". At the time you were screened and only certain people were picked to train because of the brutality of the training.
In 1965 SIFU RON studied Japanese Karate under Chief Instructor Thomas Bingo in Ewa, Hawaii and with Instructor Angel Manuel in Waipahu, Hawaii at the Hong Wong J Club.
In 1966 SIGU RON studied Kenpo Karate (CHA-3) in Ewa, Hawaii. The Chief Instructors were Jamie Abrigano and Roy Halmos, and the Assistant Instructors were Christopher Anguay and Roland Gamble.
In 1993 SIFU RON studied the art of ESCRIMA DOCE PARES (Filipino Martial Arts) under Tony Angel Cruz and Guro Chris Petrelli.
Information found on: http://jtapec.tripod.com/id3.html
