Our Instructors
The We Love Kempo studio provides an upbeat, effective, and authentic training environment with positive instructors who genuinely care about each student. Our Kempo instructors have grown through the ranking system from white belt and have demonstrated themselves as exemplary students and fantastic communicators. We Love Kempo is also proud to offer additional training by in-house Masters in areas such as Choi Lai Fut Kung Fu, Chen Tai Chi, and Eskrima. Our goal is to provide students with authentic training by experienced Masters.
- Chief Instructors: Brian and Kristen Colwell
- In-House Choi Lai Fut Master: Sigung Frank Primicias
- In-House Chen Tai Chi Master: Sigung Jesse Tsao
- In-House Eskrima Master: Guro Mario Gajo
- Assistant Instructors: Matt Haines, Angie Zanolini
- Student Leaders: Jeff Hutton, Peter Hudson
Chief Instructors: Brian and Kristen Colwell
Husband and wife team, best friends, and dedicated students of the Martial Arts, Brian and Kristen do everything they can to help others explore the many benefits of training. Brian began his training in Martial Arts as a child in Virginia. He enjoyed learning traditional Karate with his Father and has fond memories of their time together in Karate class. As adults, Brian and Kristen began training together in the Shaolin Kempo system. The couple quickly excelled and learned early on that they loved teaching. Both Brian and Kristen trained 5 to 6 days per week developing their own Martial Arts abilities as well as the ability to effectively teach students of different ages and temperments in the Shaolin Kempo system.
After completing their Instructor Academy training, both Brian and Kristen were appointed as Chief Instructors for their own locations within a larger Martial Arts Franchise teaching Shaolin Kempo for United Studios of Self Defense. Brian's school in Poway and Kristen's school in Carlsbad flourished quickly and each school developed a strong and supportive studio community. After several years of successful studio management, the couple decided that they wanted to create something different in the Martial Arts community...a studio that embraced the beauty of various systems, challenged students to have fun while developing fighting ability, and removed all of the red tape that historically comes between instructor and student in modern Martial Arts schools. No contracts, no testing fees, no enrollment fees. Weapons training included in all programs at no additional fee. And most of all: a positive, uplifting environment and teaching method that promote good fortune for our students, inside and outside of the studio!
In-House Masters
Sigung Frank Primicias: Choy Lai Fut Kung Fu
Master Frank Primicias teaches the Choi Lai Fut style of Kung Fu. He began martial art training in 1959 and became a black belt instructor under Sensei Richard Tokumoto, a highly respected instructor of kenpo karate in the Kajukenbo System. At the recommendation of Sensei Tokumoto, who was moving back to Hawaii, Master Primicias began learning Kung Fu from Grandmaster Share Lew, who also taught him Chi Kung.
Grandmaster Lew was formerly a monk at the Wong Lung Kwan Monastery in mainland China and has over 50 years experience in the healing arts. Additional training was received from Masters Howard Lee and Doc Fai Wong, both of which trained under Grandmaster Lau Bun of the Hung Sing Kwoon in San Francisco. Advanced training was received from Grandmaster John Lem for over 10 years. Grandmaster Lem trained from childhood directly at the Wing Foon Monastery in mainland China.
Master Primicias began teaching Kung Fu in the Los Angeles area in 1969 and later he moved to San Diego in 1979 where he continues to teach Choi Lai Fut as well. In addition to the regular Kung Fu classes Master Primicias teaches special seminars on Chi Kung and Choi Lai Fut in the United States as well as Europe and Mexico. More and more karate schools that teach weapon forms are now showing an interest in learning staff sparring in seminars that Master Primicias also teaches.
Emphasis on application
Primicias considers himself fortunate to have had such great teachers. From Tokumoto he learned to push the body and mind beyond normal limitations. Early training in Kajukenbo included remaining in stances for extended periods of time and taking strikes to the body without protection. This included strikes to the groin. Fortunately this practice was not continued in his Kung Fu training where health is considered an important benefit.
Where most Kung Fu teachers concentrate primarily on teaching forms, Grandmaster Lem was different. Lem's emphasis was on teaching application of Kung Fu principles and patterns for use in combat. This is a primary difference at our school. While we consider mental and spiritual development an integral and very important part of martial art training we feel that you must learn how to apply the movements so you can use them for self defense if it ever becomes necessary.
Chi Kung Meditation
Chi is the inner energy that gives life to and activates the physical body. Chi is the link between our body and mind. Use of chi along with physical dynamics produces an internal power called ging (also spelled jing). Ging makes kung fu especially devastating when used for self defense. The flow of chi also affects our health. This is the principle behind healing by medicine, herbs, massage, and acupuncture, etc. Chi can be controlled by specific methods called Chi Kung. Chi Kung includes standing and sitting exercises, breath control, and direct use of the mind to control the chi. Your control of your chi leads to control of your own mind. These are necessary steps on the path to true meditation, to true peace and harmony within yourself. Master Primicias teaches seminars on chi kung that include the "Cloud Hands Short Set" and Choi Lai Fut's "18 Buddha Hands" which is a part of the Lohan system. In addition Master Primicias practices Raja Yoga meditation.
Back to the topSigung Jesse Tsao: Chen Tai Chi
Master Jesse Tsao, internationally known Tai Chi master, Qigong therapist, and alternative medicine and wellness consultant, is the founder of Tai Chi Healthways. He is specialized in the areas of self-healing, preventive therapies, stress management and mind-body wellness. Born and trained in China, he has been practicing Tai Chi for over 40 years, including 10 years of intensive study with world renowned Grand Master Li Deyin in Beijing, China. He was the gold medallist in the Beijing Collegiate Wushu Competition in 1980. He is the 12th generation of direct-line lineage holder of Chen style Tai Chi. He makes teaching tours internationally since 2005, Germany, France, England, Ireland, Netherlands, Spain, Belgium, and Italy.
With over 30 years of teaching experience, Master Tsao has dedicated his life to promote the ancient Tai Chi and Qigong as alternative medicines to heal the modern world. He provides services to several prominent healthcare firms; conducts workshops, group and private trainings; and produces a series of instructional DVD videos and manuals for all levels of practitioners. He also makes frequent national and local television appearances. Master Tsao coaches many athletes who have won U.S. national Tai Chi competitions. He also certifies Tai Chi instructors worldwide.
Master Tsao is the creator of Compact Tai Chi™. An article titled "Compact Tai Chi is a Perfect Fit" in the San Diego Union-Tribune praised his special design as a perfect fit in corporate wellness program.
Master Tsao was born in Penglai, in the Shandong Province of China. He was exposed to the rich Taoist culture in his hometown. Taoist healing and self-defense skills made a great impression on him. He started training at 7 years old with Tao masters among the folk people of the country. He learned Taoist breathing methods, stretching techniques, energy collecting and nourishing, as well as kung fu. He later spent 10 years of intensive study with the world-renowned Professor Li Deyin (click for lineage) in Beijing, China. He is a formal disciple of Chen Style Tai Chi grandmaster Chen Zhenglei (click for lineage). Master Tsao has also gained knowledge from workshops with Grandmasters Chen Xiaowang, Chen Zhenglei, Zhu Tiancai, Abraham Liu, and Daniel Lee. He has also taken advice from meetings with Wu Bin (Jet Li's coach), Li Ziming, Wu Tunan, Zang Hongxian, Chen Sitan, Su Zifang, and many more.
Guro Mario Gajo: Eskrima
Guro Mario Gajo is a certified Black Tiger Muay Thai Kru, 6th Khan. Certified by World Renowned Muay Champion, Ajarn Vince Soberano of Black Tiger Muay Thai. Master Gajo teaches FMA training in Eskrima, Kali and Arnis as well as Black Tiger Muay Thai. Filipino Martial Arts is a versatile and unique style of martial arts that incorporates many aspects of self defense that include the use of weapons, empty hand techniques, submissions and grappling to name a few.
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Assistant Instructors
Matt Haines
Matt has a deep appreciation for Martial Arts that comes through in his techniques, his discussion of Martial Arts principles, and his teaching. Since starting his Martial Arts training at the age of 7, Matt has excelled in forms, weapons, and sparring using his dedication to training and meticulous practice. Matt has been an Assistant Instructor with Sensei Kristen for over four years and despite his young age, has established himself as an effective Instructor for adults, teens, and children alike. Matt is our resident Wakizashi instructor and is the go-to guy for weapons and Martial Arts historical knowledge.
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Angie Zanolini
Biography coming soon!
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Student Leaders
