Zen Martial Arts
The official chronicle of Zen Martial Arts (ZMA) — from its beginnings in Dr. Phil Yip's Gig Harbor clinic to a modern hybrid combat curriculum in Seattle, WA.
Zen Martial Arts first existed as a Taekwondo school in the back room of Dr. Phil Yip's chiropractic clinic in Gig Harbor, WA. Co-founded with Master Diane Miller, the curriculum synthesized Yip's youth Taekwondo in Hong Kong with Japanese Goju-Ryu Karate and Kodokan Judo.
Entering as a seasoned martial artist (Wing Chun, Arnis, Kung Fu weapon forms), Richard Stillwagon initially joined Yip's school as a student ready to learn more. Later, as an instructor, he infused ZMA with his Living Arts system.
Greg Di Loreto established the Seattle school in 2004, compiling a comprehensive curriculum that integrated Yip's foundations, Stillwagon's Living Arts, external MMA coaching, and internal Tai Chi into the modern standard of ZMA.
Having joined Greg Di Loreto's class as a child in 2006, James Swartwood grew into leadership and had branched out into studying other martial arts systems as well. Once he was of age to be an instructor, Di Loreto and Swartwood collaborated to progress their school and the Zen Martial Arts system as a whole into what it is today.
"Dr. Yip taught me sword and other aspects of Tam Tui while I provided 'thumper services for his highly skilled senior students.' ... Since we never exchanged cash, our exchange in martial arts was based on services rendered. A very thought provoking 'old school' level of mutual respect!"— Kelly Warden, High-Level Arnis Practitioner & Mentor
A century-long journey tracing geographic migrations, cultural cross-pollination, and the living martial arts lineage of ZMA.
The foundation begins with the indigenous striking traditions of Okinawa (Te/Ti). These arts were deeply shaped and refined by heavy Southern Chinese Kung Fu influences (Fujian White Crane and Tam Tui systems) via centuries of maritime trade.
Karate migrated to mainland Japan as a contemporary of Western Boxing. Supported by Judo founder Kano Jigoro, the art adopted modern training uniforms and Dan grading, paving the way for instructors to exercise agency and develop their own distinct styles.
Karate spread across Korea under the name Tang Soo Do ("Way of the Tang Hand"). Pioneer schools such as Song Moo Kwan arose before the Korean government initiated the movement to unify and formalize these kwans into Taekwondo.
Dr. Phil Yip spent his youth training under the only Korean Taekwondo instructor teaching in Hong Kong. This dynamic kicking curriculum built upon the martial arts foundation provided by his parents—his father practicing Tam Tui 18 Weapons and his mother practicing collaborative Wushu.
Living in Japan through early adulthood, Phil Yip trained in Goju-Ryu Karate (a style where his sister became the highest-ranked female under Gogen Yamaguchi) and studied Judo at the Kodokan, weaving powerful close-quarters grappling into his foundation.
Dr. Phil Yip moved to Gig Harbor, WA, opening the first Zen Martial Arts school in the back room of his chiropractic clinic alongside co-founder Master Diane Miller, blending Taekwondo, Karate, and Judo into a unified system.
Master Richard Stillwagon integrated Wing Chun, Arnis, and weapon practices into the school. Students such as Greg Di Loreto, Johanna Windisch, and Clem Hong trained heavily in Stillwagon’s Living Arts system before taking on their own instructorships.
Master Greg Di Loreto established the Seattle school, compiling a modernized standard curriculum that combined Yip's ZMA foundation and Stillwagon's Living Arts with external cross-training alongside MMA coaches and Tai Chi masters.
James Swartwood partnered with Greg Di Loreto in running and instructing at the school over the past decade. Through collaboration and bringing in additional influence from their practice in other martial arts systems, too, Di Loreto and Swartwood refined the curriculum into what it is today.