Master Dennis “Bear” Kirby
Dennis Kirby was born in Flint, Michigan on September 29th 1951. Dennis was an active and curious boy. His family broke apart at the age of 5 and his mother moved the family to a small town is south east Missouri. After two years the family moved again to Paramount, California. Dennis was an average student in school, played sports with some success but was not a standout player. By the time Dennis was fifteen, physical confrontation became a regular occurrence. The streets of Paramount were tough, filled with racial overtones and criminal activities. Dennis started working when he was 13 to help support his family, and wandered the streets in the off hours. There was always trouble available if you wanted to be involved, and he often was as a young man. There were many times when, by the grace of God, Dennis was saved from falling into a lifestyle which would have destroyed his life.
When Dennis was eighteen years old his life was forever changed, he fell in love with a beautiful girl, named Kitty, from a neighboring town and when he was twenty Kitty and Dennis were married. That same year, another event altered his life forever. Dennis Kirby walked into the Frank Woolsey Kung Fu Studio. Because of his past street experience, Dennis recognized there was something extraordinary about this art. It was not like the other martial arts he had seen, this art was REAL. The effectiveness of the movements astonished Dennis and his career in Nam Pi Kung Fu started in March of 1972 in the studio of Frank Woolsey in the city of Downey, California. Dennis’ workout schedule was one of the most brutal of all the students. His passion for the art drove him to workout 6 days a week, 4 to 6 hours per day. He preferred working out with the more advanced practitioners because he could pick up extra techniques. But the workouts came with a cost. There were many times Dennis would go home bruised and battered from the grueling workouts. But, after only a short time, he was given a moniker, “BEAR” . This name was tagged on him because of his aggressive workout style and tenacious attitude toward application and practice if the Nam Pi Kung Fu art. “Bear” became one of Frank Woolsey’s top students and Head Instructor of the Woolsey school in Anaheim in 1974.
In 1975, “Bear” left the Frank Woolsey school. “Bear” opened the Nam Pi Kung Fu Studio in Anaheim and began studying with Grandmaster Chin Siu Dek, Frank Woolsey’s original instructor, in the Grandmasters school in the city of El Monte, California. “Bear” was amazed by the skill of Grandmaster Chin and studied with him twice weekly while operating his own kung fu school in Anaheim. In 1978 “Bear” left California and moved to Kalispell, Montana. The distance between Montana and California did not stop “Bear” from continuing his instruction. In 1979, he began making trips twice a year to southern California to study. First, with the late Master Al Rubin, until his untimely death in 1985, and then with Master Ted Sias. Both of these men were top master instructors of Grandmaster Chin. In 1986, after 14 years of workout and learning, Dennis “Bear” Kirby earned his Masters degree. It was especially gratifying for “Bear” when Grandmaster Chin arrived personally to witness and participate in the promotion and demonstration with Master Ted Sias.
In 1979 ‘Bear” opened the Nam Pi Kung Fu Studio in Kalispell, Montana, which continues to this day as the oldest martial arts school in Montana. He was turned out 5 Master Instructors, 12 Black Belts along with thousands of students at many levels of learning. But it is not the number of students that Master Kirby is concerned with, it is the individual relationship with the student along with the instruction that is vital. That is the reason he insists on making this site as personal as possible. “Bear” wants to know YOU.
Master Dennis “Bear” Kirby is still active in sports, assistant coach for basketball, golfing, swimming, while operating as a successful Real Estate Broker with RE/MAX Glacier Country in Kalispell, Montana. Of course, he continues as the Grandmaster of the CyberKungFuStudio. “Bear” is also an active Pastor at The Dwelling Place, in Kalispell, where he is also one of the Worship Leaders and helps spread the Gospel of Jesus to all who will listen.
Master Dennis “Bear” Kirby has been teaching the Nam Pi Kung Fu art for 28 years. That moniker “Bear” has held on for over 28 years, and his attitude for proper instruction has not altered over the years. He has an exceptional grasp on the art and its applications. He never tells a student, “do it because I told you to do it”, he believes that the creators of the Nam Pi Kung Fu art did not do anything without a reason. If you are to perform the art correctly you must know the real reasons why the techniques work. He believes the idea for the cyberkungfustudio is the most innovative idea for teaching the Nam Pi Kung Fu art ever. His prayers are that you will allow us to assist you in learning an interesting and fun self defense art.
A special message from “Bear”
“Hello, I hope you are enjoying the learning experience with the CyberKungFuStudio. Although I have had many physical confrontations, I do not subscribe to the theory that might makes right or fighting is the solution to any problem. I believe you should defend yourself only when there is no other way to escape. I believe we should all try to make ourselves better and live in peace when ever possible. God has made us for a greater good, and I hope the confidence I received from Nam Pi Kung Fu will pass onto you, so you can accomplish you God given destiny.”
“Bear”
Master Matt Rubin
Master Matt Rubin was born in Craig, Colorado in October of 1971. When Matt was one year old, the Rubin family moved up to the Flathead Valley. Matt grew in the small town of Kalispell, Montana. He enjoyed camping, fishing, hiking, and hunting in the Flathead Valley and enjoyed the outdoors. Matt was active in sports including basketball where he showed talent and intensity. In August of 1987, Matt walked into the kung fu studio and his life would never be the same.
Matt began, like all new students, with desire and some apprehension. Matt studied Kung Fu San Soo under Master Dennis "Bear" Kirby and from the first day, Matt realized that kung fu would be a valuable skill. Passing up a variety of other sporting activities, Matt pursued his study of kung fu and could see the value and potential of this fine art. After four years of hard work, in the spring of 1991, Matt obtained his black belt. He had proved to have a great aptitude for the kung fu art. Later that year, he was invited to participate in the 1991 International Chinese Martial Arts Tournament, in San Francisco, CA. Matt was to compete in the black belt forms division. It was exciting, having the opportunity to test his skill against some of the finest martial artists in the world.
Matt continued his study of the kung fu art and entered college locally, where he graduated with honors. He continued his education in engineering by relocating to Bozeman, Montana to attend the University of Montana. Matt continued his study of kung fu and worked out as often as possible. Matt obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering specializing in telecommunications design from Montana State University in 1994.
In the spring of 1995, Matt moved to Denver, Colorado where he was hired as a designer for a major telecommunications firm. He also began working out at Bob Neumann's Kung Fu San Soo school in Arvada, Colorado. Matt’s skill in kung fu was evident from the beginning of his workouts. Matt showed the same tenacity in his workouts that he had displayed in Montana. He also would come back to Montana and receive advanced instruction from Master Kirby, and never broke the relationship with his original Master Instructor.
Matt has always been aggressive in his approach to life and, after further instruction at the University of Denver, he received his Masters In Telecommunication Degree in the fall of 1997.
Matt continued to work hard at his profession and his kung fu art. In October of
1999, Bob Neumann along with Master Instructor Dennis "Bear" Kirby awarded Matt his Master's degree in Kung Fu San Soo. Master Matt Rubin is highly respected by his contemporaries and has shown to have extraordinary skill in the art of kung fu. Master Rubin is a valuable asset to the Cyber Kung Fu Studio.
Senior Black Belt Richard Dasen
Richard Dasen Jr. was born on May 9th, 1963 in Hancock Michigan. At the age of 5, his family made the migration from Michigan to Kalispell, Montana. Throughout his youth he was active in a variety of sports including Basketball, Football, Wrestling and Track. He was a standout athlete, setting the State record in the Triple Jump and receiving many other accolades. Later in his sports career he gave up organized team sports in pursuit of individualized sports such as Snow and Water Skiing, Mountaineering and Triathlons.
In 1983 he received his degree in Business Management and shortly thereafter was married to Gina Dasen. It was also that year he walked into Dennis “Bear” Kirby’s Nam Pi Kung Fu Studio. He immediately fell in love with the art, recognizing its power and the talent of Master Kirby. He trained relentlessly for several years, eventually becoming the main instructor for the afternoon classes held at the Studio. In 1986 he accompanied Mr. Kirby to California to witness and to participate in his promotion to Master. There he met and practiced with Grandmaster Chin Siu Dek along with many other highly respected masters. In 1987 Richard and his family moved to Huntington Beach, California, and although he trained in Nam Pi Kung Fu whenever he had the chance, his active participation was put on hold for several years. During that time Richard studied American Kenpo Karate and Ti Qwan Do Karate. In 1993, back in Kalispell, Montana, Richard resumed his Nam Pi Kung Fu training and vowed to learn every aspect of the art. He started picking apart each lesson and, with on-going one on one training sessions with Master Kirby, began to learn the art as never before. His aim now is to become Master of Nam Pi Kung Fu.
Still very active in sports such as Snow Skiing, Mountaineering and Triathlon’s he also spends a great deal of time with his family. He and his wife of 18 years, Gina, his daughter, Anah, and sons, Isaiah and Micah spend lots of time together. He is a Certified Personal Trainer, Certified soccer referee and coach and sits on the governing board of a large Church camp in the area. He currently works as a developer in the Northwest United States, owns a General Nutrition Center and is called upon frequently for small acting parts in movies and television commercials. His dedication to God, Family, work and the community is evident in all he does.
He keeps a grueling training schedule that begins with a 6:00 am run, intense mid-day weight training or swimming and afternoon and evening kung fu classes.