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Executive Director Robert Boyd
Bob began his martial arts training at the age of 18 - signing
up for karate lessons at the first martial arts school to open in Vermont in
March of 1968.
Bob went on to study Okinawan Uechi-Ryu Karate for the next 15
years. In 1973 he visited Okinawa and trained with Master Uechi and other
Okinawan masters. After two months of intensive training, Bob was promoted to
third degree black belt and came back to Vermont to open his first school in
Essex Junction, Vermont.
In 1974, Bob was invited to participate in a series of seminars
for teachers of the Uechi Karate system. At the first of these seminars, he met
John Conroy of Providence, Rhode Island. John would be Bob's mentor for the next
25 years.
John Conroy taught karate in the Providence area, but also began
studying Tai Chi with Master Chu Gin Soon, the second Disciple of Yang Sau Chung
of Hong Kong. Master Chu came to Boston in 1969 to teach authentic Yang Family
Tai Chi. John became Master Chu's first non-Chinese student, and went on to
become his first Disciple in 1988.
In 1983, John began teaching Bob as a private 'indoor' student.
One year later, he encouraged Bob to teach Tai Chi one night a week at his
Karate school in Vermont. By 1985, Bob had retired from Karate and was teaching
Tai Chi at the Burlington Tai Chi Club.
John Conroy brought Bob to Hong Kong in 1999 and introduced him
to Master Ip Tai Tak. Bob became a Disciple of Master Ip in March of 2001.It is
a testament to the character of John Conroy that he urged his longtime friend
and student to become a Disciple and follow Master Ip's teaching.
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