My name is Shifu Alexis M. Morano. I am one of the chief instructors at Dancing In Silence, Inc.
I am fifty-one years old and have been a student of several martial arts these past thirty ears. I hold a third degree Black Belt in a Vietnamese style called " Vobindinh Hiep Tinh Mon", or
"HTM" . It is a style founded by Grandmaster Quoc Dung. I studied under the tutelage of Grandmaster and his son Master Nat Pham for nine years.
Bruce Lee's inner circle of students included Danny Innosanto, a Filipino stylist who was also one of my teachers in Chinese/Filipino Boxing and Kali/Escrima. I studied under instructor Danny Innosanto and his staff for four years in the Kali Academy of Torrance, California. Because of this relationship in the martial arts community, I legitimately claim Bruce Lee as part of my martial arts lineage.
I have been an invited judge for three years in a row for the NASKA accredited "US Capital Classics" national competition hosted by the Dennis Brown Wu Shu Academy.
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Why martial arts and how can it benefit your community? I study martial arts because I am fascinated by the science of movement, body mechanics, and momentum in a human dynamic. It is not just a system of self-defense, but a chosen lifestyle of discipline and awareness. Martial arts training is aerobic ad muscle conditioning and has the added benefit of being useful in an intimidating or physically compromising situation. I have never heard of an instance where jazzercise or pilates was useful in a like situation. Does this mean that we train to fight? I would say that we train so we won't have to. Many situations degrade to physical violence when one or the other "feels" intimidated or threatened. How many situations can then be averted when one does not feel intimidated or threatened and can "walk away" with ego intact? My long time motto has always been " Better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it".
Founder and head instructor of Dancing In Science, Inc., my interest in martial arts was born when, at the age of 25, I saw a young man executing a series of exercises that I had not seen before. After talking with him briefly, I began my search for a martial arts instructor.
I have had 9 instructors over the years, but my most memorable experiences have been with the following martial arts teachers:
Robert Smith and his wife, Alice. Mr. Smith was the first non-Chinese to learn from Cheng Man-ch'ing.
Bishop Albert " Rainey" Cheeks, 9th degree black belt in Korean Karate. At the " 1st World Taekwondo Championships" held in Korea in 1973, Rainey won an individual Bronze medal and a Silver Medal for Team USA.
I am now a student of Nganga Tolo Naa, founder of QSST(Quiescience Sacred Science Temple). I've studied with him for over 7 years now and continue to study Tai Chi Chuan, Pa Kua Change, Hsing-I Chuan and Shaolin Chuan under his tutelage. I received the Lao Yang Family Tai Chi Chuan Teacher's Certification in 2004 and was promoted to the rank of Fundi in 2007.
I have studied the Kabbalah, and Tarot with Reverend Carol Pierman, internationally known spiritual science minister, metaphysical teacher, and founder of AIM (Annapolis Institute of Metaphysics). In 1999 and 2000, I received cetifications in Energy Healing I, II, and III from the Center for Healing & Consciousness Development. I've trained under Njideka N. Olatunde, CRI, N.D., Phd (Founder and Director of Focus on Healing) & received certification in reflexology March 2007.
I am presently the leader of the Environmental Project Engineering Group at NASA/GSFC in Greenbelt, MD, enjoy gardening, working out with my fellow martial arts sisters and brothers, laughing out loud and taking walks with my dogs. I look forward to meeting you.
