Sigung Robert Jones has over 36 years of martial arts experience and holds Black Belt certifications in three arts. Professor Jones began his study of the martial arts in 1971. He studied the art of Jung Shin Do and was first promoted to Black Belt in that discipline in 1976. He remains a personal disciple of the Grandmaster of that art Do Joo Nim Douglas Vess. Since December of 2003, He has held a 7th Dan in Jung Shin Do awarded by Grandmaster Vess. He also studied Hwa Rang Do under the personal tutelage of Supreme Grand Master Joo Bang Lee. In 1982, Professor Jones met Senior Grandmaster Edmund K. Parker of American Kenpo and began to devote his life to the further study of that discipline. He was personally promoted to 1st and 2nd Degree Black Belt in American Kenpo by the Senior Grandmaster.
Sigung Robert Jones holds a Ph.D. in Political Science with a cognate area in Education earned through Northern Arizona University. Dr. Jones is a professional educator who is on the faculty of three institutions of higher Education in the Las Vegas valley. He serves as adjunct faculty for the University of Nevada Las Vegas, Regis University, and the Community College of Southern Nevada. He has authored and co-authored several articles on American Kenpo and education. One article, “Psychological Levels of Learning and their Implications for American Kenpo,” was published as his thesis for 2nd Degree Black Belt. Among Sigung Jones many interests are the healing arts. He is certified as a Diplomate in Oriental Medicine through the Tae Geuk Healing Arts Institute, and runs a branch campus of that Institute.
Sigung Robert Jones is the founder of the I.K.K.S. or the International Kenpo Karate Society which is the governing body for Wu Shen Pai Kenpo internationally. The I.K.K.S. has affiliates throughout the world. Professor Jones has developed a series of written manuals and video training aids designed to lead the members of his Association toward ever higher levels of proficiency in Kenpo. He is also the author of a series of books on American Wu Shen Pai Kenpo entitled Advanced Kenpo Karate: the Wu Shen Pai Method, Volume I: The Master Keys. This is part of a three volume set. The remaining books in this set are entitled: Advanced Kenpo Karate: Contact Manipulation and Control Maintenance and Advanced Kenpo Karate: Pressure Points and Cavity Presses. He has been a columnist for USA Martial Arts Magazine, Las Vegas Parents and Kidz Magazine, and for Southern Nevada Family Magazine.
It is however, his teaching activities which truly give Professor Robert Jones his greatest satisfaction. He counts among his students 2 four time Internationals winners, 6 World Champions, and over 20 State Champions, including two four time repeat State Champions. Professor Jones has actively and successfully competed in many open tournaments himself. He is a five time World Champion Self Defense Competitor and has been top rated in weapons and forms. He has won the San Diego Grand Nationals in Self Defense twice. His students are known for their speed and explosive power, as well as for their character. Students at East West International Black Belt Academy are also privileged to learn over 108 weapons in over 27 categories of techniques. Professor Jones teaches both beginning and advanced weapons applications to his students. Cane and Short Stick are among the many weapons with which Professor Robert Jones is proficient, in addition to the more traditional Kenpo weapons, the Kenpo Sticks and the single and double knife.
Professor Robert Jones has pioneered the development of a healing arts curriculum in Kenpo teaching his Black Belt students the traditional healing arts of bone setting, herbal medicines, acupressure, and acupuncture. In addition, Professor Jones is a pioneer in the development of an advanced systematic integrated curriculum studying pressure point and cavity press theory through the techniques of modern Wu Shen Pai Kenpo. Professor Jones remains active in teaching, researching, writing about, and developing his system of Kenpo and the healing arts applications associated with it.
Professor Robert Jones has been certified as a Black Belt or expert in American Kenpo by Ed Parker. Sigung Jones was awarded his 3rd Degree Black Belt by Senior Master of the Arts Paul Mills, and his 4th Degree Black Belt by Master of the Arts John Sepulveda. He has been certified as a master instructor (or 5th Degree Black Belt) by Master Larry Tatum. He has been recognized as a 6th Degree Black Belt and also as a 7th Degree Black Belt by Grandmaster Phillip Porter of the USMA and by the I.K.K.S. Board of Directors in Wu Shen Pai Kenpo. Professor Jones was recently awarded 7th Degree Black Belt by the International Kenpo Karate Society Board of Directors. All of the Grandmasters serving on this Board are seasoned veterans who have more than 200 years experience between them. The I.K.K.S. Board of Directors, consisting of such martial arts notables as Grandmaster Rick Alemany (10th Dan), Grandmaster Ron Carlson (10th Dan), Grandmaster Don Phillip (9th Dan), and Grandmaster Max Togisala (9th Dan), unanimously endorsed Sigung Jones also by the Board of Directors of the United Martial Arts Alliance in Wu Shen Pai Kenpo. Since 2006, he has assumed the role of hereditary DoShu of Washin-ryu Kamishin-Kai Kenjutsu, a traditional sword ryu that he has actively studied since 1979.
Sigung Robert Jones has been formally recognized as the founder of Wu Shen Pai Kenpo, a new approach to the Kenpo system. This method has been formally acknowledged by Grandmaster Phillip Porter of the United States Martial Arts Association and by the United Martial Arts Alliance Board of Directors. He is the advisor and style head for the U.M.A.A. in both American Kenpo and Wu Shen Pai Kenpo. Dr. Jones has been inducted into the United States Martial Arts Association Hall of Fame a total of four times. In 2000, he was awarded Martial Arts Author of the Year for the publication of his Kenpo guidebooks, his Belt Manuals, and the publication of his first published work on Wu Shen Pai Chu’a Fa. He was awarded Instructor of the Year in 2001, and then Master Instructor of the Year in 2002. Finally, in 2003, Professor Jones was inducted into the U.S.M.A. Hall of Fame when he was awarded the Silver Life Achievement Award by the USMA in recognition of his years of training and contributions to the Martial Arts. Professor Jones was one of four individuals nationwide to be named Instructor of the Year by the United Martial Arts Alliance. He was also awarded the Teaching Excellence award by the UMAA in 2004. Sigung Jones has been inducted for a second time into the United States Martial Arts Hall of Fame as Master Instructor of the Year in 2006, and for a third time in 2007. He was also inducted in 2007 into the prestigious Master’s Hall of Fame. Dr. Jones was also inducted as a charter member of the Tracy International Kenpo Hall of Fame in 2007, recognizing his years of dedication and service to the art of Kenpo. He is a lifetime member of the American Teacher’s Association of the Martial Arts (ATAMA).
Today Sigung Robert Jones serves as the President of the International Kenpo Karate Society. He serves on the Board of Directors for the United Martial Arts Alliance and is the System Head for Wu Shen Pai Kenpo, American Kenpo, and Jung Shin Do in that body. He is the Vice-President of the American Jung Shin Do Association and the U.S. Director of that body. He also serves on the Board of Directors for the United States Martial Arts Association where he is the Nevada State Representative. He is also the Nevada Representative for the International Martial Arts Council – USA. He is a lifetime member of the International Combat Kenpo Union, International Combat Martial Arts. He is certified through that organization as 7th Dan in Jung Shin Do and 7th Dan in American Kenpo. He is also a member of the ICMA Founders Union for his role as founder of the Wu Shen Pai Kenpo system, in which he holds a 7th Degree Black Belt. Dr. Jones is also the founder of the International Martial Arts College, an educational organization devoted to encouraging excellence in martial arts instruction. He also serves as President of the Board of Regents for the Wu Shen Pai Healing Arts Foundation, which serves as the certifying body for healing arts instruction in Wu Shen Pai Kenpo.
Dr. Robert Jones continues to serve his art and his students through the continued research and development of Wu Shen Pai Kenpo which he teaches at his headquarters school in Las Vegas, Nevada.
For more information about Sigung Robert Jones and Wu Shen Pai Kenpo visit his school website at http://www.unitedkenpokarate.com and the Warrior Spirit Martial Arts Academy listing on the Martial Arts Schools and Businesses Directory by clicking on the image on the left.
