Praying Mantis Kung Fu
Sifu John M. Newberry - Sifu Newberry started the martial arts at the age of 13, taking Kenpo Karate for two years. In 1980 he met a White Crane Kung Fu instructor named Master Red Sarber. Sifu Newberry studied with Master Sarber until 1990, when he set out to learn other styles. In the fall of 1989, Sifu Newberry met Sifu George Lisjak of Eight Step Praying Mantis; the two soon became good friends. Sifu Newberry opened his school in 1998 in Wellsville, NY, under the guidance of Sifu Lisjak . In 1999 Sifu Newberry was taken as a closed-door disciple of Sifu Lisjak.
In the fall of 1990 Sifu Newberry started to train in Iron Palm under the guidance of Master Brian Gray. In 1998 Sifu Newberry earned the rank of Master of Iron Palm by reaching the standards set forth by the Iron Palm International Organization. He now conducts seminars and demonstration in Iron Palm.
Sifu Newberry has also studied the arts of Shao Lin San Kung Fu With Master Brian Gray, Wing Chun with Master Steve Lee Swift, Thai Boxing with Sifu Kevin Seamen, Western Boxing with Ed Stevens, Southern Dragon Kung Fu with Sifu Lee Snider, and Pekiti-Tirsia with Guru Mike Marrini.
Sifu Newberry is currently training under the guidance of Master Ilya Profatilov.