Black Belts of Zen Martial Arts

Achieved black belts in Taekwondo, Karate, and Judo
Founded the Zen Martial Arts system in 1980
Taught the Zen Martial Arts system for over 35 years and trained many others to mastery
Achieved Hanshi (Grandmaster) title in 2004 when his student, Richard Stillwagon, had students who achieved shodan: Greg Di Loreto, Johanna Windisch, Clem Hong
Achieved jūdan in 2018 when Greg Di Loreto's student, James Swartwood, achieved shodan

Richard Stillwagon, Hanshi - 7th Dan - 2nd-generation ZMA

Received shodan from Grandmaster Yip in the 1990s
Founded the Living Arts system and introduced Wing Chun, Arnis, and other weapons practices into Zen Martial Arts
Earned his Hanshi (Grandmaster) title when his student, Master Di Loreto, had his student, James Swartwood, achieve 1st Dan on August 18th, 2018

Diane Miller, Renshi - 6th Dan - 1st-generation ZMA

Co-founded the Zen Martial Arts system in 1980
Trained closely with Grandmaster W. P. Yip
Taught for 15 years, putting special attention toward teaching children classes
Passed away due to cancer in 2018
Recognized as an honorary 6th-degree in memory of her contributions

Greg Di Loreto, Kyoshi - 5th Dan - 2nd-generation ZMA

Received shodan from Yip and Stillwagon on August 23, 2004
Organized the Zen Martial Arts and Living Arts system into a single curriculum
Sandan achieved in 2012
Renshi (Polished Master) title achieved on August 18th, 2018, when James Swartwood earned shodan
Godan achieved on November 7th, 2020
Kyoshi (Experienced Master) title achieved on June 8th, 2024, when Troy Swartwood and Paul Vahey entered the dan ranks

Clem Hong, Renshi - 4th Dan - 2nd-generation ZMA

Received shodan from Yip and Stillwagon on August 23, 2004
Sandan achieved in 2012
Yondan and Renshi (Master) title achieved in 2019 when Doug Hartz earned shodan

James Swartwood (Li Xiuyuan), Renshi - 4th Dan - 3rd-generation ZMA

Received shodan from Di Loreto on August 18, 2018
Achieved JFANW (Japanese Jujitsu) black belt in 2018
Nidan achieved in June 2019
Sandan achieved on September 5th, 2020
Introduced Jujitsu and Judo practices into the Zen Martial Arts, 2022
Yondan achieved on May 18th, 2024
Renshi (Master) title achieved on August 17th, 2024 when Gianna Di Loreto earned shodan

Johanna Windisch - 3rd Dan - 2nd-generation ZMA

Received shodan from Yip and Stillwagon on August 23, 2004
Sandan achieved in 2012
Competed internationally with bo staff forms

Kelsea Stillwagon Coths - 3rd Dan - 3rd-generation ZMA

Received shodan from Stillwagon
Sandan achieved in 2012

Andrew Frost - 3rd Dan - 2nd-generation ZMA

Received shodan from Yip in the 1990s
Recognized as sandan by Di Loreto and Swartwood

Chris McMonnies - 3rd Dan - 2nd-generation ZMA

Received shodan from Yip in the 1990s
Arnis Instructor under Kelly Worden
Recognized as sandan by Di Loreto and Swartwood

Nate Coths - 2nd Dan - 3rd-generation ZMA

Transferred into ZMA with nidan as recognized by Stillwagon

Doug Hartz - 2nd Dan - 3rd-generation ZMA

Received shodan from Hong in 2019
Achieved nidan on December 16, 2020
Instructor of Moo Duk Kwan Taekwondo

Troy Swartwood - 2nd Dan - 3rd-generation ZMA

Received shodan equivalent rank from Di Loreto in 2020
Nidan equivalent rank achieved on January 31st, 2022
Earned official nidan rank on June 10th, 2024

Paul Vahey - 2nd Dan - 3rd-generation ZMA

Received shodan equivalent rank from Di Loreto in 2020
Nidan equivalent rank achieved on January 31st, 2022
Earned official nidan rank on June 10th, 2024

Pete Hokensen - 1st Dan - 2nd-generation ZMA

Received shodan from Yip in the 1990s

Matt Quall - 1st Dan - 2nd-generation ZMA

Received shodan from Yip in the 1990s

Leonard Floyd - 1st Dan - 2nd-generation ZMA

Received shodan from Yip in the 1990s

Chris McMonnies - 1st Dan - 2nd-generation ZMA

Received shodan from Yip in the 1990s

Gus Garcia - 1st Dan - 2nd-generation ZMA

Received shodan from Yip in the 1990s

Len Lonning - 1st Dan - 2nd-generation ZMA

Received honorary shodan from Yip in the 1990s for his warrior spirit

Gianna Di Loreto - 1st Dan - 4th-generation ZMA

Received shodan from Greg Di Loreto and James Swartwood on August 17th, 2024

Honored Instructors Outside of ZMA

Kelly Worden - Datu (grandmaster) - Arnis
- Honored by W. Phil Yip for close friendship and practice

John Chung - 9th-degree black belt - Taekwondo (ITF)
- Lineage: Jhoon Rhee, Nam Tae-hi (who served as captain under General Choi Hong-hi)
- Honored by W. Phil Yip for expertise in traditional forms and excellence in demonstration

Daryl Willis - 6th Duan Wei - Tai Chi
- 20th-generation Taijiquan practitioner
- Disciple of Grandmaster Chen Xiaowang
- Honored by Greg Di Loreto as his instructor in Tai Chi

Al Smith - 1st-degree black belt - Taekwondo (ITF)
- Honored by Greg Di Loreto for helping teach in ZMAINW pre-2010

Daniel Won - 2nd-degree black belt - Taekwondo (ITF)
- Honored by Greg Di Loreto for helping teach in ZMAINW pre-2010

Evan Bucy - JFANW black belt - Japanese Jujitsu
- Also holds 1st Dan in Aikido
- Honored by James Swartwood as his instructor in Japanese Jujitsu

Chris Moses - Yondan Shinto Ryu - Japanese Jujitsu
- Also holds 3rd Dan in Aikido
- Founder of JFANW
- Honored by James Swartwood as his instructor in Budo Tanren

Jeremy Hulley - Yondan Shinto Ryu - Japanese Jujitsu
- Also holds 3rd Dan in Aikido and is recognized as a black belt in JFANW
- Honored by James Swartwood as his instructor in Shinto Ryu

Ben Masaoka - JFANW black belt - Hung Gar
- Honored by James Swartwood as a secondary instructor in Budo Tanren

Steve Sakahara - JFANW black belt - Budo Tanren
- Honored by James Swartwood as a secondary instructor in Budo Tanren

Sean Kim - 4th-degree black belt - Taekwondo (Kukkiwon WT)
- Honored by James Swartwood for experience in Kukkiwon Taekwondo and activity in ZMA

Lauren Kim - 4th-degree black belt - Taekwondo (Kukkiwon WT)
- Honored by James Swartwood for experience in Kukkiwon Taekwondo and activity in ZMA

ZMA Students Close to Achieving Black Belt

Gianna Di Loreto - 1st Kyū - 4th-generation ZMA (2024)
Chad Young - 1st Kyū - 4th-generation ZMA (~2025)
Michelle Young - 2nd Kyū - 4th-generation ZMA (~2026)
Becca Price - 2nd Kyū - 4th-generation ZMA (~2026)