PLIMSHOF Inductee #33
Grandmaster Dr. David M. Grago
Dr. David M. Grago grew up in Central New York where he began his martial arts studies in Kodakan Judo at the age of 12. Master Grago began to train in the Chinese Boxing Art of Southern Shaolin Chuan Chuang Fa (Kung Fu) as a closed door student of Master Sam (Iron Tiger) Wing at age 13 and opened the first Chinese Martial Arts School in Central New York in May of 1970. Dr. Grago attended college at Walsh University in North Canton, Ohio and is an Alumnus of Spring Hill Jesuit College in Mobile, Alabama.
Sifu Grago continued his studies in Shaolin Kung Fu with Sifu’s Bruce Ledger and James Cook while in Ohio. Sifu Grago opened up the first Martial Arts Club at Walsh University with over 100 participants and a demonstration team of 15 athletes. Grago opened three Martial Arts Schools in Ohio during his two year stay and taught Ohio State Police Self Defense and Security Defense and Training Courses for Merket Security and Buckeye Security Officers.
While finishing his undergraduate studies in Mobile, Alabama Sifu Grago began the Spring Hill College CMA Club with an enrollment of more than 200 on campus students and faculty. During this timeframe Dr. Grago also worked with Grandmaster Kam Yuen the technical advisor for the David Carradine Kung Fu Show.
Master Grago continued advanced instruction in Chinese Martial Arts, his first love, with: Grandmaster Norman Pedelahore (Lung Shou Pai - Dragon Claw Family Style); Grandmaster Mok Poi On (Pao Fa Lien Wing Chun); Dr David Wei Kash (Emperor’s Shaolin Temple Boxing); Grandmaster WL John Ng (former Coach of the Peking Wu Shu Team - Wing Chun and Ng Family Style); and Grandmaster Andrew Tamper (Yee Chong Mu Gwan International)
Currently, Dr. Grago has accepted the US Leadership of one of the most complex internal Kung Fu Styles under Patriarch (Inheritor) Ngoc An formerly of South Vietnam now residing in Moscow, Russia.
In the early 1980s, Sifu Grago received permission from Grandmaster Leung Ting (of the Ving Tsun Kuen - Ip Man Wing Chun derivative) to develop his Art under the auspices of the Hong Kong International Chinese Martial Arts Federation. Grandmaster Leung Ting had made the personal introduction and recommendation to Grandmaster Mok Poi On, for Grago’s advanced study in a non-Ip Man style of Wing Chun Boxing.
Sifu Grago established the Combined Wing Chun Association which was later accepted as a Group Member of the Chinese Kuoshu Worldwide Promotion Association by famous Grandmaster Chen Shou-Shan, President of the Kuoshu Worldwide, ROC, Taipei, Taiwan. Master Grago’s ICBA World Wide Organization and earned rank is recognized by: The Kuoshu Association of the Republic of China under President Chen Shou-Shan, The Hawaii Martial Art International Society under Professor Jaime Abreganna and Grandmaster Ming Lum. The World Congress of Amateur Athletes - TEAM USA Martial Arts - Dr. HL Mayle; The American Karate Black Belt Association - Grandmaster James Toney; The World Independent Chinese Martial Arts Federation under Grandmaster Klaus Schuhmacher, The Universal Tae Kwon Do Brotherhood under Grandmaster Eugene Humesky and others.
Dr. Grago is also the Dean of Chinese Studies for the American College of Martial Sciences in Indiana.
Dr. Grago is a Board Member or Executive Member of:
Chuck Norris’ KickStart Organization
The International Chinese Boxing Association
American College of Martial Studies
International Black Belt Organization
American Karate Black Belt Association
Lung Shou Pai Wu Shu Association
American Chinese Martial Arts Association
Taiwan Pugilism Association
Kuoshu Association of the Republic of China
Ving Tsun Athletic Association of Hong Kong
Hawaii Martial Arts International Society
World Chinese Martial Arts Federation of Germany
World Congress of Amateur Athletes
Honors:
Dr. Grago received his advanced Degree in Chinese Philosophy and Comparative Eastern Religions. As a former senior executive with IBM, Xerox and Andersen Consulting, Dr. Grago acts as an executive Business and IT Consultant to many of the Fortune 500 Corporations.
Sigung Grago resides in Plano, Texas with his wife Veronica and their children; Jami; Sean; David Jr.; Anthony and Gia.
