Slayer News Staff Biographies

Steve Amoia joined WDK in 2005, and maintains the Slayer News Blog. Previously, he had studied under the original Ed Hutchison DK system. Steve has published articles and book reviews about alternative health, art history, career-related and historical themes, Italian and international soccer, martial arts, psychology, and sport topics. His email address is info@sanstefano.com.

Rick Collette is a 1st Degree Black Belt in Dragon Kenpo, and is the California State Director for WDK. He is a student of Kajukenbo and other martial arts. He is the owner and head instructor of Valley Dragon Kempo in Redwood City, CA. His email address is rcollet@gmail.com.

Ed DellaCroce began his martial art journey in 1979 with Shaolin Kempo. Currently, he holds a 2nd Degree Black Belt in Dragon Kenpo, and is the North Carolina State Director for WDK. He is also the Northeast (USA) Director for the International Martial Arts Union. Ed teaches a self defense street version at ABI's Mixed Martial Arts Studio in Goldsboro, NC. Currently, he works as a Police Officer for the State of North Carolina, and also does police and protection for the NC General Assembly. You can contact him at ncdragonkenpo@bellsouth.net.

Phoebe Nelson Oshirak is the mother of four (all grown), grandmother, a registered nurse, an avid gardener (Monarch Way Station #1671), a creative cook, an animal lover (owner of Irish Wolfhounds and Norwich Terriers) and during the summer, I raise and release Monarch butterflies. I have a motorcycle license, have SCUBA dived to 200 feet on a single tank of air in a sink hole in Florida that had an alligator floating on top. Obviously, I lived to tell the tale. I have a particular fondness for writing and Tai Chi, and believe it or not, (I don't) I will be 70 this year. She can be contacted at Ophoebe0077@aol.com.

Jim Patus, the Indiana State Director of WDK, began studying Kodokan Judo over 40 years ago. He is a first degree black belt in World Dragon Kenpo. He has studied Shotokan karate and has fenced competitively in both foil and epee. He began Dragon Kenpo under Ed Hutchison and has completed the Combat Kenpo Fighting Academy curriculum; he now trains under Coach Pfeiffer through WDK. Jim is a member of the International Ryukyu Karate Research Society and the Universal Martial Arts Association. As a Professor of Biology at Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana/Sellersburg, his teaching specialty is Environmental Science with research interests in human population dynamics and fish ecology. Jim may be reached at jpatus@ivytech.com.

Coach Ron Pfeiffer is the founder of World Dragon Kenpo. In 1978, he began his martial art training with teachings of a street style of Nunchaku from a friend. Then he moved into a traditional TKD class for a few years in Kenosha, WI. Ron acquired the Dragon Kenpo system in 1998 after Joe Gorman, his TKD/Shotokan instructor at the YMCA, announced his retirement (with no replacement). Ron taught friends and family the Art as preparations to open a school progressed. In September 2000, a new school opened at the Geneva Lakes YMCA. In November 2000, he assisted in the formation and establishment of the International Dragon Kenpo Association. In November 2002, Wisconsin Dragon Kenpo and the Geneva Lakes Self Defense Club were recognized by the Unified Martial Arts Association International and Coach Pfeiffer was assigned the post of Wisconsin State Rep for the UMAAI. The classes proved popular and have become a staple program of the facility. In 2006, Coach Pfeiffer received promotion to 6th Degree Black Belt through the Defensive Arts Academy and Rodney Lacey. Also in 2006, Coach Pfeiffer was certified as a Tai Chi instructor through Dr. Paul Lam. He has continued certifications in Tai Chi for Arthritis, Tai Chi for Back Pain, and Tai Chi for Osteoporosis.