Instructor Organization – Jow Ga Shaolin Institute

Instructors
Sifu John Chin	Sifu Mehran Ebrahimi	Sifu Allie Shaw	Sifu Kiyoshi Yamamoto		Sifu Hon Lee, Honorary Advisor

Assistant Instructors

Instructor Biographies

Sifu Hon Lee – Sifu Hon Lee is the Honorary Advisor of the Jow Ga Shaolin Institute. He has spent more than 40 years studying, researching and teaching a variety of traditional Asian martial arts. He initially learned Jow Ga Kung Fu in Washington, D.C. under the tutelage of Master Dean Chin and Sifu Hoy K. Lee. He is a certified instructor for Chan Man Cheung’s Chinese Boxing Association. He also had the rare privilege of learning the Shaolin Mizong system, as well as Qingping Sword from Lu Jun Hai, Grandmaster of the Mizong system. During Sifu Lee’s lifetime of training, he attained a high level of skill in several other styles, including a black belt from the Japanese martial art of Shotokan Karate Headquarters in Tokyo. He also studied the Cha style under Master Chen Enyi, a disciple of the late Cha Grandmaster Ma Jinbiao. Cha is the Muslim system of Kung Fu. Sifu Lee also practices Traditional Chinese Medicine. (Return to Top)

Sifu John Chin (陳暢坤) – A key member of the Institute, Sifu John Chin has studied and taught Jow Ga Kung Fu for over 40 years, specializing in double broadswords, Kwan Do and the Nine-Sections Steel Whip. He originally studied under Master Dean Chin in Washington, D.C.’s Chinatown. While training in Chinatown, Sifu Chin also participated in numerous tournaments, winning over 95% of them. Many of the students Sifu Chin taught and trained with during those years are today prominent members of the Jow Ga community. In 1994, Sifu Chin began his study of the Korean martial art of Tae Kwan Do earning a second-degree Black Belt. In 2000, after discovering that Master Reza Momenan and Sifu Hon Lee were teaching Kung Fu in Northern Virginia, Sifu Chin renewed his study of Jow Ga Kung Fu. After his retirement in March 2022, Sifu John, as he is known to his students, teaches Kung Fu classes at the Institute on an ad-hoc basis. In the words of Master Momenan, “Sifu John Chin is one of the most dedicated and loyal individuals to the martial arts in general and Jow Ga in particular.” (Return to Top)

Sifu Mehran Ebrahimi (威龍) – Started his Kung Fu training in Jow Ga system at Spring Hill Recreation Center in April 2000. After 2 years he started Tai Chi and Shaolin Mizong Training. He started assisting and teaching in 2002. He has been a regular competitor in great number of tournaments and has achieved top national rankings. He was formally promoted to Assistant Instructor in 2005 and eventually to Instructor Level II in 2012. In December of 2017, after nearly 20 years of dedication, Sifu Ebrahimi became a disciple of Master Momenan and therefore is a 5th Generation Jow Ga and 8th Generation Shaolin Mizong lineage holder. (Return to Top)

Sifu Allie Shaw (忠虎, 邵艾儷) – Started her Kung Fu training in April 2000 at Spring Hill Recreation Center. Under the guidance of both Master Reza Momenan and Sifu Hon Lee she started in the Jow Ga system and later added the Shaolin Mizong system to her studies. Having prior training in Tai Chi, she quickly became one of the advanced students. One of the first members of the JGSI Demo Team performing Martial Arts and Lion / Dragon Dances, she is now one of the Demo Coaches for the performances. A regular competitor in tournaments, she has achieved top national rankings. She was formally promoted to Assistant Instructor in 2005 and to Instructor Level in 2013. In December of 2017, after nearly 20 years of dedication, Sifu Shaw became a disciple of Master Momenan and therefore is a 5th Generation Jow Ga and 8th Generation Shaolin Mizong lineage holder. (Return to Top)

Sifu Kiyoshi Yamamoto (靈龍, 山本淳) – Started his Kung Fu training in both Jow Ga and Shaolin Mizong in January 2003. Under the guidance of both Master Momenan and Sifu Lee, he added Yang Style Tai Chi to his training three years later. He has been very active in the JGSI Demo Team performing Martial Arts and Lion / Dragon Dances, he is now one of the Demo Coaches for the performances. In December 2008, he was formally promoted to an Assistant Instructor and then became Instructor Level II in March 2012. In December of 2017, after nearly 15 years of dedication Sifu Yamamoto became a disciple of Master Momenan and therefore is a 5th Generation Jow Ga and 8th Generation Shaolin Mizong lineage holder. (Return to Top)

Instructor Level II, Stephen Johnson – Started his training at the Jow Ga Shaolin Institute in April 2014 in Yang style Tai Chi and both Jow Ga and Shaolin Mizong Kung Fu. Over this time, he has trained under the guidance of Master Momenan and other Sifus at the Institute. He has been an active member of the JGSI Demo Team performing Martial Arts and Lion/Dragon Dances and has been assisting and teaching classes since 2016. In February 2021 and then in October 2024, he was promoted to Instructor Level I and II, respectively. (Return to Top)

Instructor Level I, Baabak Zarrabian – He began training at the Centreville Branch in 2005 under Sifu John Chin, and in 2013, continued to further his training at the headquarters under Master Momenan and other Sifus. Since 2013, he has assisted with classes and officially began teaching in 2017. He has been a member of the JGSI Demo Team since 2013 and has played a role in leading and developing the school’s dragon dance team since 2015. He was promoted to Instructor Level I in October 2024. (Return to Top)

Instructor Level I, Mike Kammer – Joined the Jow Ga Shaolin Institute in early 2005, beginning his martial arts journey with Yang style Tai Chi. Over several years of dedicated study, he immersed himself in the art of Tai Chi before transitioning to the Kung Fu classes. Mike quickly became an active participant in tournaments and performances, including the privilege of performing in the Sa-Fu village, the renowned home of the Jow Ga Five Tigers. His commitment to martial arts has spanned almost two decades. Today, Mr. Kammer continues to grow both as a student and as an instructor, taking each lesson as seriously as the one before it. His enduring passion and dedication to martial arts exemplifies the spirit of the Jow Ga Shaolin Institute. He was promoted to Instructor Level I in October 2024. (Return to Top)

Instructor Level I, Sarah Parker – Started her training at the Jow Ga Shaolin Institute in March 2014 under the guidance of Master Reza Momenan, starting with Jow Ga and Shaolin Mizong Kung Fu and later expanding into Yang-style Tai Chi. An active member of the JGSI Demo Team, her passion is drumming for Lion and Dragon Dance performances. In addition to leadership and teaching roles at the Institute, she has also competed regularly in national-level tournaments, earning top rankings in kung fu and tai chi. She was promoted to Instructor Level I in October 2024. (Return to Top)

Instructor Level I, Tony Hines – Started his training at the Jow Ga Shaolin Institute in Spring 2014 in both Jow Ga and Shaolin Mizong Kung Fu. He has trained under the guidance of Master Momenan and other Sifus at the Institute. In 2020, he began training in Yang style Tai Chi. He is an active member of the JGSI Demo Team performing Martial Arts demonstrations and Lion & Dragon dances. In December 2016, he was promoted to Assistant Instructor and has been assisting and teaching classes since. In October 2024, he was promoted to Instructor Level I at the Institute. (Return to Top)

Alumni

Stephen Johnson	Baabak Zarrabian	Mike Kammer	Sarah Parker	Tony Hines