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Owners & masters

Master Joe and Master Sheryl Schaefer started their first school in 1987. Since then they have started 10 schools and trained thousands of adults and kids. Now they focus all their energy and attention on the North Austin Kung Fu & Tai Chi school. They are involved in teaching all programs, all belt levels and all ages.

Master Joe Schaefer

Elder Master, 8th degree black belt

  • Has trained in Shaolin Kung Fu since 1984. His first instructor was Tony Gutman.
  • Has taught Kung Fu/ Tai Chi since 1987.
  • Was promoted to 5th degree Black Belt in 1999 by Grandmaster Sin
  • Was promoted to 6th degree black belt in 2005 by Grandmaster Sin
  • Was promoted to 7th degree black belt in fall 2011 by Grandmaster Sin.
  • Was promoted to 8th degree black belt 2019 by Grandmaster Sin.
  • He taught neurophysiology for 6 years at UT.
  • He received his Ph.D. (doctorate) in Neurophysiology from UT in 1997.
  • He was awarded young researcher of the year in 1996 and became a published Neuroscience author, in the most prestigious Neuroscience publication in the world.
  • He won first place and Grand Championship trophies in several national level full contact, point sparring and forms competitions.
  • In 2003 he took 2nd place in the Master Sparring Division against 5th-7th degree black belts.
  • Has performed three times at the Shaolin Temple in Henan province
  • Performed at Chen Tai Chi village, where he fought and won a challenge match with a 3 times Chinese National Push Hands Champion, and nephew of the head coach.
  • He teaches over 200 traditional Kung Fu and Tai Chi forms.
  • He is a certified coach in the neurofeedback based Open Focus™ method and neurosynchrony trainer.

Master Sheryl Schaefer

Senior Master, 7th Degree Black Belt

  • Began training in 1988
  • 30+ years teaching Kung Fu and Tai Chi.
  • Has taught University level Comparative Physiology,
  • Has taught University level Entomology,
  • Has taught University level Developmental Biology
  • Earned a Master Degree In Physiology in 1998 from UT at Austin.
  • 10+ Years facilitating Women’s empowerment retreats and seminars.
  • Has personally taught Kung Fu and Tai Chi to over a thousand adults.
  • Winner of national level Kung Fu tournament
  • Promoted to 5th degree black belt by Grandmaster Sin in 2011
  • Promoted to 6th degree black belt by Grandmaster Sin in 2017
  • Promoted to 7th degree black belt by Grandmaster Sin in 2024
  • One of the highest ranked Women in Shaolin-Do
  • Co-founder of the largest Shaolin-Do school in the world
  • Founded the Shaolin-Do Marathon team and has run multiple marathons
  • Founded “Yarned and Dangerous”, a community action group that knits and crotchets items for the homeless and other needy groups.
  • GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT – Returned to training and advanced in rank TWICE (after each child)

Masters From The Austin School

Elder Master Joe Schaefer, Co-Owner, Head Instructor

Elder Master Joe Schaefer, Co-Owner, Head Instructor

8th Degree Black Belt

Began training 1983

Tested To 5th Degree Associate Master 1999

Tested To 6th Degree Master 2005

Tested To 7th Degree Senior Master 2011

Tested To 8th Degree Elder Master 2019

 

Elder Master Joe’s Students Who Have Attained Master

16 years required for 5th degree and 21 years for 6th degree

Sheryl Schaefer, Co-Owner

Sheryl Schaefer, Co-Owner

6th Degree Master

Tested To 5th Degree 2011

Tested To 6th Degree 2017

Promoted to 7th Degree 2024

 

Don Duncan

Don Duncan

7th Degree Master

Tested To 5th Degree 2008

Tested To 6th Degree 2014

Promoted To 7th Feb.2021

 

Matt Southard

Matt Southard

6th Degree Master

Tested To 5th Degree 2011

Tested To 6th Degree 2017

Sean O'Brien

Sean O'Brien

6th Degree Master

Tested To 5th Degree 2011

Tested To 6th Degree 2017

Ryan Howard

Ryan Howard

6th Degree Master

Tested To 5th Degree 2013

Tested To 6th Degree 2019

Corey Machado

Corey Machado

5th Degree Master

5th Degree Aug. 2015

 

 

Jason Hammond

Jason Hammond

6th Degree Master

5th Degree Aug. 2015

Promoted to 6th Aug. 2021

 

George Lingenfelter

George Lingenfelter

6th Degree Master

5th Degree Aug. 2015

Promoted to 6th Aug 2021

 

Shawn Smith

Shawn Smith

5th Degree Master

5th Degree  Feb. 2016

 

Rusty Toth

Rusty Toth

5th Degree Master

5th Degree Feb. 2016

 

 

Lou Bright

Lou Bright

5th Degree Master

5th Degree Feb. 2016

 

Ben Bender

Ben Bender

5th Degree Master

5th Degree Aug 2016 

Lesa Walker

Lesa Walker

5th Degree Master

5th Degree Feb 2017 

Anh-Thu Nguyen

Anh-Thu Nguyen

5th Degree Master

5th Degree  Feb. 2017

 

Rob Stevens

Rob Stevens

5th Degree Master

5th Degree Aug 2017 

 

Curtis Richardson

Curtis Richardson

5th Degree Master

5th Degree Feb 2017

 

Jeffrey Blackburn

Jeffrey Blackburn

5th Degree Master

5th Degree Mar 2018 

Anh Nguyen

Anh Nguyen

5th Degree Master

5th Degree Mar 2018 

Michael Sandham

Michael Sandham

5th Degree Master

5th Degree Mar 2018 

 

Maiky Tran

Maiky Tran

5th Degree Master

5th Degree Aug 2018 

Warren Yetman

Warren Yetman

5th Degree Master

5th Degree Aug 2018

Nathan Harman

Nathan Harman

5th Degree Master

5th Degree Feb 2019

 

 

Jess Skolnitsky

Jess Skolnitsky

5th Degree Master

5th Degree Aug 2019

 

 

Evette Alvarado

Evette Alvarado

5th Degree Master

5th Degree March 2021

Darin Marple

Darin Marple

5th Degree Master

5th Degree March 2021

 

 

Kathy Pendelton

Kathy Pendelton

5th Degree Master

5th Degree March 2021

 

 

Janice Pierce

Janice Pierce

5th Degree Master

5th Degree March 2021

Thanks