MASTER MICHAEL MATSUDA
Monkey Kung Fu (Tai Shing)
President, Martial Arts History Museum
Succeeding Fifth
Generation Monkey Master Paulie Zink is
Sixth Generation Monkey Master Michael Matsuda. Matsuda and Zink are considered
the pioneers of bringing Monkey Kung Fu (Tai Shing) to America and both are
part of the few non-Chinese to master all "five" monkey forms. Matsuda
is also considered one of the world's leading authorities on the history
of Monkey. He is also Master Paulie Zink’s most senior and advanced
student. Upon completion of all five forms
of the monkey, Zink has selected Matsuda
as the only student of his to succeed him
and continue passing on the art.
Michael first began training in 1968
in the art of Judo at a local Japanese
Community Center. After learning from a strict, traditional teacher for over
a year, Matsuda began to study both Karate and Jiu Jitsu. During his Jiu
Jitsu class the instructor invited his friend, a kung fu artist to join the
class for the evening. After seeing his performance, Matsuda was hooked.
In
1974, Matsuda enrolled in a Hung Gar gung fu (Siu Lum Pai/Choi Lay Fut)
class taught by Sifu Lyle Fujioka. Two years later he transferred to the
main school. After studying Hung Gar for nearly three years, Paulie Zink
enrolled in the class. Matsuda and Zink became friends and studied under
Buck Sam Kong for over 15 years. When Zink began learning Monkey kung fu,
he began teaching Matsuda some of the forms he had learned.
Matsuda has been studying Ta Sheng Pek Kwar under Master Paulie Zink for the
past 28 years and is Zink’s first and longest student. He has also studied
Wing Chun under one of Dan Inosanto's students and learned kickboxing under
Full-Contact Legend Cecil Peoples. Matsuda is also the founder of the United
States Ta Sheng Pek Kwar Association. Matsuda continues to teach both Hung
Gar and Monkey Kung fu privately.
Matsuda, considered one of the foremost authorities on the history of Monkey
kung fu, has co-authored two books with Master Paulie Zink, has written over
50 articles on Monkey kung fu for Inside Kung Fu, Black Belt, Martial Art Magazine
and Qigong Kung Fu magazines.
A former Sports Magazine publisher, Matsuda was instrumental in producing a
three-part documentary entitled “The Martial Arts Influence on America.” He
has been the Advertising Director and Production Manager for several magazines
and newspapers. He has ran the Los Angeles Marathon four times and was inducted
into Marquis' Who's Who in Multimedia in 1998 and 1999. He is also listed as
one of the Nation's Top 100 Producers in Producer Magazine for the year 2000
and 2002 and has also appeared on the two magazine covers. He has appeared
on a total of five magazine covers. He has a certificate in graphic design,
an associate degree in journalism and a bachelor's degree in management and
attended the American Film Institute for three years. Other studies include
Business Law, Computer Programming, Global Economics, Marketing, and more.
On
his Latin influence, Michael Gonzalez-Matsuda is the bloodline descendent
of one of the founding families of the City of Los Angeles and also the bloodline
descendent of one of the founding families of the City of San Diego. He is
the great....great grandson of California Governor Jose Dario Arguello, the
last Spanish-ruled Governor. Michael is also the great...great grandson of
Santiago Arguello, the Alcalde of San Diego, brother of Luis Antonio, the
Mexican-ruled California Governor. In addition, he is the great...great grandson
of Augustin Zamorano, the provisional Governor of California and Secretary-of-State.
The same Zamorano that the San Diego art school is named after who was also
the first person to bring the printing press to California. Michael is also
the bloodline descendent of Jose Maria Flores, General of the Mexican army
that won a decisive battle against America. The same Flores that the Flores
Adobe in Los Angeles is named after. Point Arguello in Mid-California is named
after Michael's great grandfather.
He has authored a number of articles and interviews featuring such artists
as Dan Inosanto, Y.C. Wong, Brendan Lai, Benny Urquidez, Cecil Peoples, Simon
Rhee, Phillip Rhee, Jun Chong, Bong Soo Han, Gini Lau, Graciella Casillas,
James Lew, Eric Lee, Alvin Prouder, Philip Rhee, Bong Soo Han, Tak Kubota,
and Peter "Sugarfoot" Cunningham, Blinky Rodriguez, Douglas Wong,
Carrie Ogawa-Wong, Albert Leong, Ken Ota, and more.
Sifu Michael Matsuda currently teaches Monkey kung fu to a group of students
in Glendale, California and continues his kickboxing training under Former
Full-Contact Champion Cecil Peoples. He is our choice for September 2003.
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