Master John Buckley

Career Highlights:

• First Generation Disciple and First Disciple of Grandmaster Richard Lee.

• 6th Degree Richard Lee Black Belt.

• 7th Tuan through The World Kuoshu Federation.

• 2nd Degree Black Sash in Tien Shan Pai under Grandmaster Huang, Chien-Liang.

• Inducted into the prestigious United States Kuo Shu Hall of Fame in 2011.

• Three-Time United States Team Head Coach:

- 1st World Kuoshu Tournament, Brazil 2003.
- 2nd World Kuoshu Tournament, Singapore 2006.
- 3rd World Kuoshu Tournament, Germany 2009.

• United States Coach of Full Contact (lei tai) Teams:

- European Kuoshu Championships, Germany 1998, 2003, 2005, 2006.
- European Kuoshu Championships, United Kingdom, 2003.
- 1st TWKSF European Kuoshu Cup, Germany 2004.
- 2nd TWKSF European Kuoshu Cup, Switzerland 2006.
- 4th TWKSF European Kuoshu Cup, Poland 2010.
- Americas Cup, Brazil 2011.

• Certified International Referee ‘A’ by The World Kuoshu Federation.

• Vice President of the United States Kuo Shu Federation (USKSF).

• Director of Instructor Committee for the World Kuoshu Federation (TWKSF).

• Represented the United States Kuoshu (Kung-Fu) teams in World Competition:

- 1996 8th World Kuoshu Championships, Republic of China.
- 1992 7th World Kuoshu Championships, Republic of China.

• Represented the United States Kuoshu (Kung-Fu) teams in International Competition:

- 1996 8th European Cup, London.
- 1995 South American Cup, Brazil.
- 1991 4th Asia Cup, Hong Kong.
- 1991 1st American Cup, USA.

• Awarded the Class A Chinese Kuoshu Medal from I.C.K.F. President, General Chen, Shou-shan - 1995.

• Master Instructor of the Year – 2002.

• United States Chinese Kuoshu Federation's Judge of the Year - 2006.

• Head coach of Grandmaster Lee’s West Coast Team that has won the overall team grand championships at the International Kuoshu Championships in Baltimore, Maryland, eleven years in a row (2001-2011).

• Head of Richard Lee’s Five Star East-West Kung-Fu Schools in Alamo (West Coast Headquarters), San Ramon, and Lafayette, CA.

Mr. Buckley demonstrating during a East- West Tournament in 1990. >

Brief Bio:

John Buckley began his journey in Bok Fu Do in 1986. He walked into Grandmaster Richard Lee’s East-West Kung Fu School in Alamo, California, and immediately felt like he was at home. His first meeting with his teacher confirmed that he had found something very special.

Mr. Buckley immediately dedicated himself to Bok-Fu-Do and quickly became one of the top students in the school. In 1989, he made an important decision to enter into the subject full-time and became the first to commit his life to following in the footsteps of his teacher, Grandmaster Lee. He quickly achieved his black belt in 1991, but that was only the beginning for Mr. Buckley.

Master Buckley’s competition experience is extensive. He has traveled all over the globe to compete with some of the best Chinese martial artists in the world. Mr. Buckley has represented the United States in world and international competitions including: The 7th and 8th World Kuoshu Championships in the Republic of China (1992 and 1996), London (1996), Brazil (1995), Fourth Asia Cup, Hong Kong (1991), and 1st American Cup, USA (1991).

 

< Mr. Buckley receiving his black belt from his teacher, Grandmaster Richard Lee

In 1989, Mr. Buckley was one of four people in the first group of students that Grandmaster Lee sent to the National Kuoshu Championships in Baltimore, Maryland. Hosted by Grandmaster Huang, Chien-Liang, this tournament is regarded as being one of the most prestigious Chinese martial arts tournaments in the world. By chance, one of Grandmaster Lee’s students had come across an article in Inside Kung-Fu Magazine announcing Grandmaster Huang’s 2nd Kuoshu Championships. Grandmaster Lee remembered Grandmaster Huang from their first meeting at the 1975 World Kuoshu Championships in the Republic of China. Although they had not spoken since, Grandmaster Huang invited Grandmaster Lee to bring some of his top students to the tournament that year to try out for a spot on the National Team that would go on to represent the United States in the 6th World Kuoshu Championships in Las Vegas later that year. With only three other teammates, Buckley went on to represent his teacher and the system at the national tournament.

Mr. Buckley (yellow) in Lei Tai competition at the 8th World Kuoshu Tournament in the Republic of China, 1996. >

Master Buckley is a pioneer of the Bok-Fu-Do system. Since that first small group in 1989, each year the team that travels to the national tournament in Baltimore has grown. Now the West Coast Team consists of well over 100 people, much to the delight of Master Buckley. This impressive team is in a large part due to his leadership and example. He has been the head coach of Grandmaster Lee’s West Coast Team that has won the overall team grand championships at the International Kuoshu Championships in Baltimore, Maryland, six years in a row (2001-2006).

While Master Buckley’s accomplishments and martial arts ability are remarkable, what is more impressive is his ability to influence the students of the system. He has affected the lives of thousands of students in a positive way. He has consistently encouraged the students to gain tournament experience, to obtain their ranking, referee status and certifications through the international governing bodies, in an effort to help them to better their understanding of the martial arts.

< Mr. Buckley (bottom, left) and the other three members of Grandmaster Lee's four member team with Master Joe Dunphy (center, standing) in Grandmaster Huang's school in Towson, Maryland.

Master Buckley performing the classic flying side kick his teacher, Grandmaster Lee performed nearly twenty-five years earlier in the same spot - Tsuen Ta (Pagoda), Sun Moon Lake, Republic of China, 1996.

< U.S. Coach, Master Buckley congratulates elated U.S. Team member, Morgan Newman after winning her championship fight - 1st T.W.K.S.F. World Kuoshu Tournament in Sao Paulo, Brazil 2003.

Now past the competition stage, Master Buckley has dedicated himself to producing the highest quality martial arts students. He has coached students that have become national, international and world champions. In 2003, Master Buckley followed in the footsteps of his teacher, Grandmaster Lee, when he was selected as the United States Kuoshu (Kung-Fu) team’s head coach for the World Kuoshu Championships in Brazil. Out of the seventeen member USA team, eight were from Grandmaster Richard Lee’s East West Kung Fu School in Alamo, California, and trained personally by Master Buckley. The United States team did remarkably well overall with a 2nd place finish, behind only the host country of Brazil. In 2006, Master Buckley was chosen for the second time to coach the US team. The team had their best performance ever and for the first time took the gold medal in the overall team standings. As in 2003, eight of the seventeen US team members came from Grandmaster Lee’s school. The entire United States Team came away from the Singapore world tournament with seven world champions, five of which were personally trained by Master Buckley. His students regard him as simply the best.

Master Buckley accepting the Lei Tai (full-contact) team award for Grandmaster Richard Lee's West Coast Team in 2005 at GrandmasterHuang's International Kuoshu Championship Tournament in Baltimore. >

In 2003, Grandmaster Lee celebrated a tremendous milestone in his martial arts career. Master Buckley was honored to be able to document that milestone by writing and compiling a 50th anniversary book in honor of his teacher. This incredible book had letters of congratulations from not only colleagues, students, and some of the best martial artists from around the world, but also many of the most well known political figures of our time. Master Buckley also helped Grandmaster Lee put together the three foundation books of the Bok-Fu-Do System.

Master John Buckley is a first generation disciple and the first disciple of Grandmaster Richard Lee. He currently holds the rank of Fifth Degree Black Belt in Bok-Fu-Do and Sixth Tuan in Chinese Kuoshu. He is an international certified referee ‘A’ for the World Kuoshu Federation.

< Master Buckley with his teacher, Grandmaster Lee along the Vlatva River.
In the background is the Karlov Most (Charles Bridge) and on the hill, Castle Prague - Czech Republic 2006.
The Bok Fu Do, United States Lei Tai (full contact) team at the 2nd TWKSF World Kuoshu Tournament - Singapore, 2006. From left to right: Angie Dominguez, Ashley Dong, Morgan Newman, Master Buckley (Coach), Morgan Malone, Allen Parco, Dennis Saenz, Meghan Mannion, and Gene Stein (not in photo). The Bok Fu Do squad brought home an impressive five of the seven total world champions the United States produced.

Grandmaster Lee and Master Buckley in front of St. Basil's Cathedral in Red Square - Moscow, Russia, 2006.

 

United States Coaches, Master Joe Dunphy and Master John Buckley accepting first place overall for the United States Team - 3rd TWKSF World Kuoshu Tournament, Germany, 2009.

 

 The Bok Fu Do Lei Tai (full contact) squad at the 3rd TWKSF World Kuoshu Tournament in Germany, 2009. Seated in the front are Grandmaster Huang and Grandmaster Lee, President and Vice President of the World Kuoshu Federation, respectively. Master Buckley (in front of the USA flag) was the United States Team Coach for a third time. Members of the team (from left to right): Michael Melendez, Kaylee Baker, Meghan Mannion, Michelle Brown, Angie Dominguez, (Buckley), Morgan Newman, Allen Parco, and Collin Lee. The Bok Fu Do squad accounted for all seven world champions the United States produced and helped the United States to first place in the overall medal count.

Master Buckley and Master Ozuna in action at the Acropolis (Parthenon in background) - Athens, Greece, 2009.

 

 

 Master Buckley with Morgan Newman (left) and Angie Dominguez (right) at the 2009 U.S. International Kuoshu Tournament in Baltimore, Maryland. Newman and Dominguez both earned a spot on the United States Lei Tai (full contact) for a third time with their outstanding performances. Master Buckley trained and coached them along with six others and was selected to coach the United States team for a third time.

Grandmaster Lee presenting Master Buckley with his 6th degree Black Belt in Bok Fu Do - the highest rank Grandmaster Lee has ever presented in his fifty-seven years teaching martial arts. The private ceremony was held at Lee's home and included a short list of guests.

 Among the honored guests that Grandmaster Lee invited to attend Master Buckley's 6th degree presentation were: (From left to right) - Grandmaster Bob Maschmeier, Grandmaster Jeff Speakman, Grandmaster Ted Sumner, Grandmaster Ming Lum, Grandmaster Ray Arquilla, Grandmaster Huang, Chien-Liang, (Buckley and Grandmaster Lee), Professor Carlos Navarro, and Grandmaster Janet Gee.

Master Buckley is inducted into the prestigious U.S. Kuo Shu Hall of Fame in 2011.

 

 U.S. Kuo Shu Hall of Fame Members from left to right (plus induction year): Master Buckley (2011), Master Kevin Preston (2004), Grandmaster Steve Martin (2002), Grandmaster Lee (2001), Grandmaster Huang (2000), Master Joe Dunphy (2001), Grandmaster Jiang Jing Sung Beck (2007) and Master Calvin Chin (2009); members not present: Grandmaster Chan Pui (2003), Grandmaster Wai Hong Eng (2003), Grandmaster Henry Look (2004), Grandmaster Wai Lun Choi (2005) and Master He Wei Qi (2006).