Master Kevin Loftus

Heir Master, Kevin Loftus, is the Vice President of the American Chinese Martial Arts Federation (ACMAF) and its Director of Educational Affairs. In 1990, Mr. Loftus temporarily relocated from his home in South Dakota to Buffalo, New York, where he was first introduced to Eight Step Praying Mantis Boxing and Shyún Tai Chi Boxing under the instruction of Shifu Dean Economos. Mr. Loftus remained in Buffalo for two years under Shifu Economos, during which time he was introduced to Grandmaster James Shyún (Guǒng Lóng), 4th generation inheritor of Eight Step Praying Mantis Boxing. After returning home to South Dakota in 1992, Mr. Loftus, set about finding like-minded martial artists to open South Dakota’s first school under the ACMAF. In 1993, Mr. Loftus returned to Buffalo, NY, for formal testing before Grandmaster Shyún, and was certified by the ACMAF as “Shifu.” By 1996, Shifu Loftus had trainees who themselves were also certified as “Shifu” under the ACMAF, at which time Shifu Loftus was accepted by Grandmaster Shyún, as his disciple. Shifu Loftus continued his training and education under the direct supervision of the Grandmaster. Grandmaster Shyún endowed Shifu Loftus with the disciple-name, Shyún Dì Lóng or Shyún Earth Dragon. Shifu Loftus is a Master of Eight Step Praying Mantis Boxing and upon reaching the rank of 7th duan, now an Heir Master of the Shyún System of Eight Step Preying Mantis Boxing. Having been a member of the ACMAF for 35 years, so far, Heir Master Loftus has sworn himself to preserve and protect Eight Step Praying Mantis Boxing and the Shyún System of Eight Step Preying Mantis Boxing, intact, for future generations.