Ba Gua Zhang Instructor
David Jones has been training martial arts since the age of 12. Starting with Isshin-ryu Karate, over the years he studied Tae Kwon Do, Hung Gar, and Hung Fut. After moving to Georgia in 1994 Dave spent six years training Northern Shaolin Kung Fu with Craig Kiessling.
In the year 2000, Dave was introduced to Allen Pittman and began intensive training in Ba Gua Zhang and Xing Yi Quan, specializing in the former.
After years of training and assisting in classes, Allen authorized David to teach his system. In the fall of 2006, Allen Pittman relocated to overseas to France, and Dave took over the Ba Gua classes in Atlanta and Athens, Georgia.
In addition to his martial arts background, David has worked as a professional musician, a zoo keeper, and an animal control officer for the Humane Society. He is currently working as a high school physical education instructor and basketball coach at Academe of the Oaks in Decatur, and developing and expanding PATHS.
Dave now lives in Atlanta with his wife, dog, cat, and baby Olen.
Northern Shaolin Kung Fu Instructor
A native of Atlanta, Craig has enjoyed the martial arts since early childhood. After a brief stint in Japanese Karate, Craig quickly realized that he was addicted to the martial arts, and later, Qigong as well.
Having taught for over 10 years in his specialized system of Northern Shaolin Kung Fu, Craig continues to teach with passion and push each student individually to reach their fullest potential.
Craig has given various lectures at The University of Georgia, appeared on Channel 11's Noonday program and in various print articles, and has given numerous demonstrations around the state of Georgia. As a practitioner himself, he has competed, placed and judged in various martial arts tournaments.
As a lifetime student, Craig has devoted time in Atlanta and Singapore to gain experience in Japanese Ninjutsu, Korean Tae Kwon Do and Brazilian Capoeira, Hung Gar, Hop Gar, Southern Preying Mantis, Bak Siu Lam Ying Jow Pai, Chang Quan, Xing Yi Quan, Ba Gua Zhang and Chen & Yang styles of Tai Chi or Taijiquan, Chin Woo, and lesser known systems such as Da Bei Quan & others, as well as various styles of Qigong, some of which he still practices today.
Craig is active in more than martial arts and Qigong, however, lending his experience & skills in Online Marketing, SEO (Search Engine Optimization) and Web Development to PATHS Atlanta, as the resident Webmaster.
When not engaged in martial arts or online activities, he can usually be found teaching and / or playing Mahjong.
Xing Yi Quan Instructor
Allen's martial arts training started when he was nine years old. In 1963 he started boxing, weight training and photography and has not stopped training in all three in over forty-six years.
Years of training has led him to discover many other forms of martial arts, physical training, psychological and spiritual/philosophical studies. During the 70's & 80's, Allen studied Tang Soo Do and periodically studied with Arthur Jones the founder and developer of Nautilus Training System.
The 80's also led him to continuously expand his knowledge of physical fitness training, such as cross referencing Arthur Jones' theories of frequency/intensity with established free weight and performance based training. 1984 he began studying Sports Psychology and Hypnotherapy to improve athletic performance.
Allen started training with Allen Pittman fifteen years ago in 1994. He started studying both Gao Bagua and Xing Yi under Allen Pittman but soon specialized in Xing Yi. Allen learned both Jang Jun Feng's and Chen Pan Ling's Xing Yi system and Chen Pan Ling's/ Wang Shu Jin's Bagua system under Allen Pittman. Pittman authorized him to teach Xing Yi in 2000 and Chen Pan Ling's/ Wang Shu Jin's Bagua in 2004. He spend the entire year of 2000 developing and refining his individual skills as well as developing his teaching style before starting to teach in May of 2001.
His classes are very informal. No master or grand master here but he does not mind if you call him God-Emperor every once and a while. Classes are geared around students developing fighting skills as quickly as possible, while learning a traditional system.
Chen Style Taijiquan Instructor
Carl Lindberg is a 20th generation disciple of Chen Style Taijiquan and 3rd generation disciple of Hunyuan Chen Shi Xinyi Hunyuan Taiji under Master Chen Zhonghua.
Beginning his love affair with Chinese martial arts in 1995, Carl logged countless hours practicing Yang Style Taijiquan, Baguazhang, Xingyiquan, Shaolinquan, and Chen Style Taijiquan before beginning his apprenticeship under Master Chen Zhonghua in 2002.
Lindberg became a certified instructor of Master Chen's international Hunyuantaiji Academy upon completion of his full-time instructor training intensive in Edmonton, Alberta in 2003, became an official disciple of Chen in 2004, and traveled to China later that year for more intensive training with Master Chen and some of his fellow Masters and their students.
He has attended numerous Taiji and Qigong workshops and conferences in Alberta, Arkansas, New York, and Georgia. Since 2000, Lindberg has taught private students and conducted group classes at the University of Georgia, the Classic Martial Arts Club, Roots Farm, Farm 255, Virgin Islands Sustainable Farm Institute, Floorspace, and Five Points Yoga.
In addition, he has also taught Chen Style Taijiquan Broadsword at the Hunyuan Taiji Academy, Milwaukee, Wisconsin branch, at the annual international Taijiquan conference, Hunyuan World Seminars, held at Camp Cadicasu in Alberta and Unicoi State Park in Georgia as well as at Tai Chi Traditions in Victoria, British Columbia.
Chen Style Practical Method Instructor
Todd Elihu is a 20th generation disciple of Chen Style Taijiquan & 3rd generation disciple of Chen Shi Xinyi Hunyuan Taiji under Master Chen Zhonghua. Todd has studied & traveled extensively in China with Master Chen and other teachers from the same lineage.
Since 2003 he has taught classes, workshops & private lessons - both at home and abroad. In 2006, Todd and Carl Lindberg co-founded the Hunyuantaiji Academy of Athens, a branch of Master Chen's broad organization.
He has been published in T'AI CHI Magazine and served as editor for Chen Zhonghua's translation of Hong Junsheng's Chen Style Taijiquan Practical Method Volume One: Theory.
In 2009, Todd served as an instructor for a full-time training program at Daqingshan in the mountains of Shandong Province, China.
Currently, Todd studies Chinese Language and Literature at the University of Georgia. When not training, he enjoys translating classical texts and exploring Traditional Chinese Medicine. Todd lives with his wife and daughter in Athens, Georgia - just down the street from where he was born.
