Sifu Donna Russert
Born in Burlington County, NJ, Donna Russert has studied martial arts since 1994. She has studied a variety of styles including, but not limited to: Southern Shaolin Kung Fu, Five Animal / Five Family, Hung Gar, Taiji Quan (Traditional & Contemporary), Northern Wushu, Qin Na, Bagua Zhang, Wing Chun and White Eyebrow. Beginning later in life, her skill in the art was honed by spending long hours with her instructors on a daily basis over the course of many years. Her diligence, work ethic, study and training have proven her to be a well-rounded and skilled practitioner and teacher.
Donna Russert began her formal teaching career in 1998 and went through a vigorous training to first earn assistant instructor status. While teaching hundreds of classes and gaining immeasurable experience as a teacher, she was also continuing to gain skill in the art itself. Undergoing an extremely rigorous Black Sash Testing Cycle which lasted for 16 weeks, she completed and passed the difficult exam to achieve her advanced degree of Black Sash in 2002. Upon earning her Advanced degree of Black Sash in Shihe Quan Kung Fu, the Grandmaster of that system awarded her the title of Sifu and Head Instructor at Phoenix Academy of Martial Arts.
She has continued to expand her scope of skill and knowledge through various seminar training with martial artists from many genres such as: Dixon Fung, Raul Ortiz, the late Zhang Luping, Willie Lam, Norman Smith, Jamal El and Christopher Viggiano, to name a few. Sifu Russert has also enjoyed the privilege of meeting both T.T. Liang and Master Jou Tsun Hwa at the original Tai Chi Farm, prior to their passing.
Competing in dozens of tournaments over her years on the competition circuit, she has given a number of gold-medal performances at both Local and International tournaments. These include empty hand forms, fighting sets and weapon forms at some of the more renowned competitions, such as: The Wong Fei Hung Tournament and The US International Kuoshu Tournament.
She has also held membership in numerous professional organizations such as NAPMA (National Association of Professional Martial Artists) and ACMA (The Cooper Institute’s, American Council on Martial Arts). Sifu Russert has been certified in a number of genres including CardioKick through NAPMA, Primary Group Fitness Instructor through AFAA, as well as advanced certifications in Taiji. Sifu Russert has been certified in TaiChi for Arthritis through Master Paul Lam. She has also been certified as a Speaker and Level II Instructor with The Arthritis Foundation having delivered the Discoveries Program and The Tai Chi from the Arthritis Foundation Class as a community outreach to hundreds of people in the community. In 2010, Sifu Russert was inducted in to the United Fellowship of Martial Artists (UFofMA) Hall of Fame and recognized as Southern Shaolin Instructor of the Year.
Sifu Donna Russert, has trained extensively with her primary Shaolin teacher, Sifu Louis Diaz with whom she honed her skills in the traditional art of Five Animal / Five Family. Her Taiji Quan & QiGong practice have also been honed under the direction of her primary internal art instructor, Sifu W.C. Bey. She is a part of the Northern Shaolin Academy Family which is headed by Grandmaster Norman Smith, through her instructor Sifu Louis Diaz. She also enjoys a connection to the school of Grandmaster Stephen L. Sun through her long-time student/teacher relationship with his “closed-door” advanced student, Sifu W.C. Bey.
She is Co-Owner and Head Instructor of Phoenix Academy of Martial Arts and is responsible for the Educational Department. Her duties include: Curriculum Development and implementation, as well as maintaining instructional staff standards of proficiency. Sifu teaches all ages and levels of students from beginner through advanced ranks and served as the primary coach to members of The Phoenix Academy National Competition Team.
Sifu Russert co-hosted the Annual Kung Fu Training Retreat, held at Wildwood Crest, NJ for 10 years. The emphasis of her current workshop offerings has changed to a focus on Women’s Physical and Spiritual Training. Phoenix Academy has also changed the emphasis of its focus to deliver a program in martial arts that is Christ centered. These programs are delivered to their core population of private students as well as to the public through workshops and seminars.
Donna Russert began her formal teaching career in 1998 and went through a vigorous training to first earn assistant instructor status. While teaching hundreds of classes and gaining immeasurable experience as a teacher, she was also continuing to gain skill in the art itself. Undergoing an extremely rigorous Black Sash Testing Cycle which lasted for 16 weeks, she completed and passed the difficult exam to achieve her advanced degree of Black Sash in 2002. Upon earning her Advanced degree of Black Sash in Shihe Quan Kung Fu, the Grandmaster of that system awarded her the title of Sifu and Head Instructor at Phoenix Academy of Martial Arts.
She has continued to expand her scope of skill and knowledge through various seminar training with martial artists from many genres such as: Dixon Fung, Raul Ortiz, the late Zhang Luping, Willie Lam, Norman Smith, Jamal El and Christopher Viggiano, to name a few. Sifu Russert has also enjoyed the privilege of meeting both T.T. Liang and Master Jou Tsun Hwa at the original Tai Chi Farm, prior to their passing.
Competing in dozens of tournaments over her years on the competition circuit, she has given a number of gold-medal performances at both Local and International tournaments. These include empty hand forms, fighting sets and weapon forms at some of the more renowned competitions, such as: The Wong Fei Hung Tournament and The US International Kuoshu Tournament.
She has also held membership in numerous professional organizations such as NAPMA (National Association of Professional Martial Artists) and ACMA (The Cooper Institute’s, American Council on Martial Arts). Sifu Russert has been certified in a number of genres including CardioKick through NAPMA, Primary Group Fitness Instructor through AFAA, as well as advanced certifications in Taiji. Sifu Russert has been certified in TaiChi for Arthritis through Master Paul Lam. She has also been certified as a Speaker and Level II Instructor with The Arthritis Foundation having delivered the Discoveries Program and The Tai Chi from the Arthritis Foundation Class as a community outreach to hundreds of people in the community. In 2010, Sifu Russert was inducted in to the United Fellowship of Martial Artists (UFofMA) Hall of Fame and recognized as Southern Shaolin Instructor of the Year.
Sifu Donna Russert, has trained extensively with her primary Shaolin teacher, Sifu Louis Diaz with whom she honed her skills in the traditional art of Five Animal / Five Family. Her Taiji Quan & QiGong practice have also been honed under the direction of her primary internal art instructor, Sifu W.C. Bey. She is a part of the Northern Shaolin Academy Family which is headed by Grandmaster Norman Smith, through her instructor Sifu Louis Diaz. She also enjoys a connection to the school of Grandmaster Stephen L. Sun through her long-time student/teacher relationship with his “closed-door” advanced student, Sifu W.C. Bey.
She is Co-Owner and Head Instructor of Phoenix Academy of Martial Arts and is responsible for the Educational Department. Her duties include: Curriculum Development and implementation, as well as maintaining instructional staff standards of proficiency. Sifu teaches all ages and levels of students from beginner through advanced ranks and served as the primary coach to members of The Phoenix Academy National Competition Team.
Sifu Russert co-hosted the Annual Kung Fu Training Retreat, held at Wildwood Crest, NJ for 10 years. The emphasis of her current workshop offerings has changed to a focus on Women’s Physical and Spiritual Training. Phoenix Academy has also changed the emphasis of its focus to deliver a program in martial arts that is Christ centered. These programs are delivered to their core population of private students as well as to the public through workshops and seminars.
