About Rob LaPointe
Sparring and Pushing Hands Gold Medalist Rob LaPointe is a native of Austin, Texas, where he graduated from the University of Texas in 1982. He began his martial arts training in 1973 as a "backyard" student of Tony Esqevido, a marine who had just returned from Vietnam, where he learned Tae Kwon Do while assigned to a Republic of Korea commando unit. When Tony moved, Rob took up training at a formal martial arts school, studying Kenpo. He eventually earned his black belt from Brian Duffy, a student of the late Ed Parker.
After receiving his M.A. from the University of Essex, U.K., Rob settled in Washington, D.C. There he began studying Tien Shan Pai Kung Fu in Washington's Chinatown. He was fortunate enough to learn from Chao Chi Liu who is a disciple of the late Chu Jen Wang.
Rob is currently a 4th degree Black Sash under Chao Chi Liu.
In 1989 he founded White Birch School of Kung Fu & Tai Chi. Though the martial arts schools he received his training in were traditional rather than "tournament" schools, Rob has judged and competed on the national and international levels. In 1994 he attended the 1st World Tai Chi conference in Beijing, China, where he received a certificate in Taiji, Meditation Qi Gong, and Chinese Health Massage.
In the year 2000, to mark his 40th birthday, Rob competed at Wong's Traditional Kung Fu Tournament - the largest All Traditional Tournament on the East Coast - in Washington, D.C., where he won Gold Medals in both Pushing Hands, and Advanced Sparring.
In addition to Tien Shan Pai and Yang Style Tai Chi training with Chao Chi Liu, Rob has studied Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (at camps and seminars featuring Helio, Rorion, Relson, and Royce Gracie), and the following Qi Gong: Soaring Crane (fron Niam Zu Li), Eight Pieces of Brocade (from Shawn Liu), Six Healing Sounds (from Nian Zu Li), Qi Gong Wu Xhi Wah (from Chao Chi Liu), Micro-Cosmic Circle Qi Gong (from Shou-Yu Liang), and meditative Qi Gong (Conference Staff, Beijing).
Being located inside the Washington Beltway has given Rob some unique opportunities. In addition to teaching martial arts and presenting workshops to members of all the Armed Services, including special forces members, as well as CIA, DEA, FBI, Department of State Foreign Service Officers, U.S. Customs Officers, the Defense Intelligence Agency, and Exxon-Mobile Corporation, Rob has presented numerous health and fitness demonstrations and workshops to Washington, D.C. area law firms, businesses and agencies, including Georgetown University Hospital, Northern Virginia Hospital Center, Alexandria Hospital, Arlington Public Schools, USA Today, and Intelsat.
In 1999 he received an invitation from the American Physical Therapy Association, and was a featured speaker at their Annual Convention, which took place that year in Washington, D.C.
Rob is a freelance writer who has sold articles and fiction to Inside Kung Fu Magazine, Black Belt Magazine, Tai Chi Magazine, MA Success Magazine, and Aboriginal Science Fiction Magazine. His articles have also appeared in numerous on line publications. Additionally, he has been adjunct faculty in writing and social sciences at National Lewis University.
After receiving his M.A. from the University of Essex, U.K., Rob settled in Washington, D.C. There he began studying Tien Shan Pai Kung Fu in Washington's Chinatown. He was fortunate enough to learn from Chao Chi Liu who is a disciple of the late Chu Jen Wang.
Rob is currently a 4th degree Black Sash under Chao Chi Liu.
In 1989 he founded White Birch School of Kung Fu & Tai Chi. Though the martial arts schools he received his training in were traditional rather than "tournament" schools, Rob has judged and competed on the national and international levels. In 1994 he attended the 1st World Tai Chi conference in Beijing, China, where he received a certificate in Taiji, Meditation Qi Gong, and Chinese Health Massage.
In the year 2000, to mark his 40th birthday, Rob competed at Wong's Traditional Kung Fu Tournament - the largest All Traditional Tournament on the East Coast - in Washington, D.C., where he won Gold Medals in both Pushing Hands, and Advanced Sparring.
In addition to Tien Shan Pai and Yang Style Tai Chi training with Chao Chi Liu, Rob has studied Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (at camps and seminars featuring Helio, Rorion, Relson, and Royce Gracie), and the following Qi Gong: Soaring Crane (fron Niam Zu Li), Eight Pieces of Brocade (from Shawn Liu), Six Healing Sounds (from Nian Zu Li), Qi Gong Wu Xhi Wah (from Chao Chi Liu), Micro-Cosmic Circle Qi Gong (from Shou-Yu Liang), and meditative Qi Gong (Conference Staff, Beijing).
Being located inside the Washington Beltway has given Rob some unique opportunities. In addition to teaching martial arts and presenting workshops to members of all the Armed Services, including special forces members, as well as CIA, DEA, FBI, Department of State Foreign Service Officers, U.S. Customs Officers, the Defense Intelligence Agency, and Exxon-Mobile Corporation, Rob has presented numerous health and fitness demonstrations and workshops to Washington, D.C. area law firms, businesses and agencies, including Georgetown University Hospital, Northern Virginia Hospital Center, Alexandria Hospital, Arlington Public Schools, USA Today, and Intelsat.
In 1999 he received an invitation from the American Physical Therapy Association, and was a featured speaker at their Annual Convention, which took place that year in Washington, D.C.
Rob is a freelance writer who has sold articles and fiction to Inside Kung Fu Magazine, Black Belt Magazine, Tai Chi Magazine, MA Success Magazine, and Aboriginal Science Fiction Magazine. His articles have also appeared in numerous on line publications. Additionally, he has been adjunct faculty in writing and social sciences at National Lewis University.