Hong Kong Athletic Association - Life Member / Instructor
Efficient Warrior Enterprises - Executive Director
Empire Media - Author
Mastering Wing Chun - The Keys to Ip Man's Kung Fu
Wooden Dummy - Ip Man System
Wing Chun Weapons - Ip Man System (April 2011)
Featured in Empire Media Instructional DVDs
Mastering Wing Chun Series 1 - 5
Wing Chun Weapons (2011 Release)
Close Quarters Striking (2011 Release)
Close Quarters Chin-Na (2011 Release)
Wing Chun Training Drills (2011 Release)
Martial Arts Masters Magazine - Columnist
What is it that makes Tony Massengill "The Instructor" to learn from?
Tony Massengill has had a very deep background in the Martial Arts as well as a 25+ year career in public safety which has given him a very different understanding than that of most instructors who have only experienced the Martial Arts from the perspective of the sterile environment of the commercial Martial Arts school or sports arena.
Tony began his journey into the Martial Arts at the age of five in 1966. In the 44+ years that have followed he has earned Black Belt rank or equivalent instructor certification in many Martial Methods, but it is Ip Man Wing Chun that has become his method of choice.
• Tae Kwon Do – 3rd Degree Black Belt • Chinese Kenpo – 3rd Degree Black Belt • Kajukenbo Karate – 3rd Degree Black Belt • Tai Jutsu Kenpo – 6th Degree Black Belt • Chin-Na (Chinese Grappling) – Master Instructor • Stick & Knife Combatives - Instructor • Ip Man Wing Chun Kung Fu – Master Instructor
Massengill has also researched many other systems including cross training with Shihan Pablo Ramos, student of Carlson Gracie jr, in the Gracie Jiu Jutsu system.
Massengill is a published authority who is internationally respected. He is the co-author of the only book to ever carry the full endorsement of both son’s of Bruce Lee’s teacher. At the time of this writing, he has a second book due out in early 2010, and is working on his third. He is also a regular contributor to all of the major Martial Arts publications, and is recognized as the Nation’s leading authority on the Ip Man Wing Chun system, as passed directly by BOTH sons of Bruce Lee’s teacher, through their top student, Samuel Kwok.
Tony has trained in Mainland China as well as in Hong Kong. He represented the United States at the World Kung Fu Conference in Hong Kong in 2005, and in 2007 was honored in Foshan,China by having his first book placed in the Ip Man (Bruce Lee’s teacher) museum.
In addition to this very complete Martial Arts background, Tony worked for over 25 years in public safety, where he served as a police officer, firefighter and paramedic.
It was his career in public safety that introduced Tony to the differences between the MYTH taught in most Martial Arts schools and the HARSH REALITIES of “Real World” violence. According to Massengill “I began my career as a police officer, and thought I knew how to fight. I already held Black Belt ranks in several systems, and was successful in sport Martial Arts, so I was kind of cocky when I began my “Street Education”.
Massengill further states “I was very fortunate to have had a career that has given me an education in the psychology of violence from both the predator’s perspective, as well as from that of the victim. As a police officer I had to subdue, control and arrest violent criminals, and make a detailed study of their mind set and methods. As an Emergency Medic, I was dealing with the victims of violent crime. On a very regular basis I was dealing with victims of assault, rape, shootings, knife attacks, and home invasions. I interviewed them and treated their injuries. I learned the mistakes that made them victims.”
Medical training also gave Tony a much better understanding of effective application of his Martial skills. He was trained in the cause and effects of different kinds of trauma.
All of this has given him a very unique practical education which greatly benefits his students.
Unlike most instructors, Massengill’s knowledge is the result of practical experience, not mere theory and speculation. He has lived with and dealt first hand with violence. So he is an instructor who has "Walked the Walk, and not just Talked the Talk!"
Massengill is recognised as one of the World's leading authorities on Reality Based Combat and writes the EFFICIENT WARRIOR Column for MARTIAL ARTS MASTERS MAGAZINE!
The Daily Press called him “A World-Renowned Master with Loads of Experience and Heaps of Accolades under his Black Belt!” -Nov. 15th 2007
Martial Arts Masters Magazine called him "One of the Nations Leading Authorities on the Ip Man System as Passed DIRECTLY By Ip MAN'S SONS!"