About Derek Croley
Derek Croley began his study of the Martial Arts at the age of 8 and began teaching at the age of 13 as an assistant instructor. At the age of 15 he received his first Black Belt under Shihan Dave Kovar in Sacramento, California. who now operates the largest and most successful schools in the country and is internationally known for his teaching methods.
While still 15, he moved to Aiken, South Carolina where he became an Instructor under Grand Master Andy Watford. Grand Master Watford is the President of the US TAI Martial Arts Association as begun by Grand Master David German and Grand Master Virgil Kimmey. it was here that Derek began his study of Tai Chi and other Internal Martial Arts.
While attending college he studied Tai Chi under a Chinese man by the name of Scotty- who taught him a great deal over many, many cups of coffee.
With a degree from Clemson University in Business Management, Master Croley and his wife Brook moved to Jilin City, in the Jilin Provence of Manchurian China where he further perfected his skills under Master Shifu Lui Chan Shan. Under Master Lui, he was the first Westerner ever to learn the art of Taiji Yuan Gong Chan Chuan, and is one of a few people in the world who knows this secret art. With the blessing of the Beishan Temple he is allowed to teach this art openly in America. While in Northeastern China he also earned the title of Shifu (teacher) in the art of Tai Chi Chuan. He still visits from time to time.
In 2005 he was awarded the title of Master Instructor in the US TAI Martial Arts Association.
He has also written four books on the Martial Arts, has been published with several articles, and has also made several educational videos on a wide variety of topics.
He is also a founding member of The White Oak Institute and has on several Tai Chi and Martial Art seminars with Danny Dryer of ChiRunning, Dean Duncan of FitAthletics, Karate Grand Master Bill Tayor of the Bushido School of Karate, 2 time World Champion Kevin Hudson of Hurricane Martial Arts just to name a few.
Master Croley now resides in Asheville, North Carolina with his wife and children. He has numerous Black Belts and Instructor Certifications, he is the Founder and President of Croley's Martial Arts Center, a founder of the White Oak Leadership Institute, the founding Chairman of the ASTM Martial Arts Safety Standards Committee, the President of the local Rotary Club, and he is a member of the 2004 US Martial Arts Hall of Fame.
In 2008 Master Croley recieved a PhD in Martial Arts Philosophy from the University of Asian Martial Arts Studies in Conjunction with the USA Martial Arts Hall of Fame. He has also recently been appointed as a Vice President of WACIMA, the World Association of Chinese Internal Martial Arts (
www.wacima.org), by it's President Grand Master George Xu.