White Oak Martial Arts Center - Asheville, NC

Master Derek Croley

Derek Croley began studying martial arts at the age of 8 and began teaching at the age of 13 as an assistant instructor. He received his first Black Belt at age 15 under Shihan Dave Kovar in Sacramento, California. Kovar now operates some of the largest and most successful schools in the country and is internationally known for his teaching methods.

While still 15, Derek moved to Aiken, South Carolina where he became an Instructor under Grand Master Andy Watford. Grand Master Watford is a 10th Degree Black Belt under Grand Master David German and Grand Master Virgil Kimmey.

After completing a degree in Business Management from Clemson University Master Croley and his wife Brook moved to Jilin City, in the Jilin Provence of Manchurian China. There, he further perfected his skills under Grand Master Shifu Lui Chan Shan. Under Grand Master Lui, Master Croley was the first Westerner ever to learn the art of Taiji Yuan Gong Chan Chuan, and is one of a few people in the world who knows this secret art. With the blessing of Po Rin Fu he is allowed to teach this art openly in America. While in Northeastern China he also earned the title of Shifu (teacher) in Liu Style Tai Chi Chuan as well as Yuan Gong Chan Chuan.

In 2005 he was awarded the title of Master Instructor in the US TAI Martial Arts Association.

Derek now trains and is a Master Instructor under Grand Master George (Guo Ming) Xu in the arts of Xu Shen Chuan. He has been awarded an 8th degree Black Belt under Grand Master Xu and is honored to be an indoor student.

Master Croley has written four books on the Martial Arts (including The Physical Structure of Martial Arts and How to Approach Tai Chi Like a Master), published several articles, and produced several educational videos on a wide variety of topics-much of which is available at TaiChiMadeSimple.com. Recently, he was highlighted in the silver screen documentary The Why of Tai Chi by filmmaker Bruce Kennedy and works with the Asheville Community Theatre as a fight scene choreographer.  Most recently choreographing the fights between Peter Pan and Captain Hook in their 2009 production of Peter Pan.

He is currently working on a revised version of “Karate Blows: The Medical Implications” with the original author Grand Master Brian Adams.

In 2008 Master Croley was awarded an honorary PhD in Asian Martial Arts Philosophy from the University of Asian Martial Arts Study via the USA Martial Arts Hall of Fame. This is an honorary martial arts industry award for contribution to the arts and years of service.

Along with Shifu Jim Green he has also been greatly honored to have been appointed as a Vice President of WACIMA (Worldwide Association of Chinese Internal Martial Arts) by the International President of the organization, Grand Master Xu.

Master Croley now resides in Asheville, North Carolina with his wife and children. He has numerous Black Belts and Instructor Certifications, he is the Founder and President of The White Oak Martial Arts Center, a founder of the White Oak Institute, President of The White Oak Martial Arts Association, the founding Chairman of the ASTM Martial Arts Safety Standards Committee F08.29, the 2008-2009 President of the Asheville West Rotary Club, and a member of the US Martial Arts Hall of Fame.

Martial Arts Education

• 8th Degree Black Belt, indoor student, and Certified Master Instructor in Xu Shen Chuan under Grand Master George Xu.
• 6th Degree Black Belt and Certified Master Instructor in TAI Karate/Kenpo/Jujitsu under Grand Master Andy Watford and authenticated by Grand Master “Kenpo” Joe Rebelo and Grand Master Brian Adams.
• 5th Degree Black Belt in TAI Karate/Jujitu under Grand Master Andy Watford and Founding Grand Master David German and authenticated by Grand Master Brian Adams.
• 4th Degree Black Belt in Shotokan Karate under Master Kevin Hudson.
• 1st Degree Black Belt under Shihan Dave Kovar.
• Certified Shifu of Liu Style Tai Chi and Yuan Gong Chan Chuan under Grand Master Liu Chan Shan. He is the only westerner to ever learn both of these secret arts.
• Certified Yang Style Tai Chi Instructor under Master Dennis Brown.
• Certified 10 Animal Hsin Yi and Chen Style Tai Chi Instructor under Grand Master Xu.
• Trained under Grand Master Brian Adams in his Integrated Martial Arts.  This is a combination of Kenpo, Escrima, Jujitsu, and White Tiger Kung Fu that relies heavily upon the principles of stick and knife fighting application and dynamics.

Lineages of Master Derek Croley

James M. Green, P.E.

James M. Green, P.E. is a Professional Engineer who owns his own Firm.  Along with Master Croley, he has been greatly honored to have been appointed as a Vice President of WACIMA (Worldwide Association of Chinese Internal Martial Arts) by the International President of the organization, Grand Master George (Guo Ming) Xu.

Along with Master Croley, Shifu Green is honored to be an Indoor Student of Grand Master George Xu.  He has been awarded a 7th Degree Black Belt in Xu Shen Chuan and the title of Shifu under WACIMA President Grand Master Xu.

Jim is a strong advocate of the application of Tai Chi Chuan and Qigong to the stresses involved in daily living. In his Professional Engineering practice he has applied these practices to high stress situations experienced by his industry, state, and professional clients. To this end Master Croley and Shifu Green have partnered to form the White Oak Institute, a company designed to provide Tai Chi and Martial Arts Seminars for various research applications.

Jim is past president of the National Academy of Forensic Engineers and is a Fellow in the Academy, as well as a retired Engineering Professor. Jim is the Consulting Engineer for the ASTM Safety Committee for the Marital Arts Instructional Industry, of which Master Croley is the Chairman and Shifu Petrush is the Secretary. Jim also sits on the TAI Martial Arts International Executive Committee.

Having completed 5 Ironman triathlons, and was an All-American Swimmer in College, he still coaches swimming on an individual basis to athletes.

Martial Arts Education

• 7th Degree Black Belt, indoor student, and Certified Shifu (teacher) in Xu Shen Chuan under Grand Master George Xu.
• 3rd Degree Black Belt and Certified Shifu in TAI Kenpo/ Jujutsu and Internal Martial Arts under Master Derek Croley.
• Certified Instructor under Grand Master Laoshi Jiang. Grand Master Jiang is a “Living Chinese Treasure” as he is the last remaining inheritor of the 12 Animal Dragon Style of Hsin Yi Chuan (Mind Shaped Fist).
• Certified Instructor of 10 Animal Hsin Yi and Chen Style Tai Chi under Grand Master Xu.
• Trained under Grand Master Brian Adams in his Integrated Martial Arts.  This is a combination of Kenpo, Escrima, Jujitsu, and White Tiger Kung Fu that relies heavily upon the principles of stick and knife fighting application and dynamics.
• Began his martial arts training in 1964 in the art of Aikido.
• Began practicing the art of Qi Gong in 1964.

Shifu Willie Smith

A life long resident of Asheville who began his martial arts training in 1958, Willie Smith was forced to stop the more arduous forms of Martial Arts when he developed a degenerative bone disease and his body just couldn’t do what it once did.

He began training in the internal Martial Arts with Master Croley in 2001, and quickly received his Black Belt level ranking in these arts. When he first entered into training with us he had a brace or a bandage on every joint in his body and walked with a cane. Now, after several years of training with our internal Martial Arts Program, he no longer has need of any of these things.

Willie has since earned the title of Shifu in the arts of Yang and Liu Styles of Tai Chi, serves as a Board Member in the White Oak Martial Arts Association,  and is a member of the Hillside Baptist Church Board of Ushers.

He is now a WACIMA-USA Certified Shifu of Xu Shen Chuan as awarded by Master Croley under the direction of Grand Master Xu. He is also a 4th degree Black Belt In Xu Shen Chuan.

A true inspiration and an absolutely amazing instructor, Shifu Smith has an incredible ability to put the concepts of the internal martial arts into terms that are easily understandable for any level of practitioner.

Martial Arts Education

• 4th Degree Black Belt and Certified Instructor in Xu Shen Chuan under the direction of Grand Master George Xu.
• 3rd Degree Black Belt in traditional Tae Kwon Do.
• Certified Shifu of Yang Style Tai Chi, Liu Style Tai Chi, and Yuan Gong Chan Chuan.
• Certified in the art of Aikido.
• Trained in the art of Boxing beginning in 1958.
• Trained in the art of Boxing Self Defense under “Doc.”  This was a military based art that specialized in using environmental weapons.  No ranks were given in this art, however Shifu Smith trained in it for several years.
• Trained in Shito Ryu Karate for several years, however, the school at that time did not give out ranks.
• Trained under Grand Master Brian Adams in his Integrated Martial Arts.  This is a combination of Kenpo, Escrima, Jujitsu, and White Tiger Kung Fu that relies heavily upon the principles of stick and knife fighting application and dynamics.

Robert Straub

More to come on Mr. Straub.

Jordan Harris

Jordan Harris is a Black Belt in TAI Martial Arts and a Certified Martial Arts Instructor, receiving his Certified Instructors Degree in 2008. He is a rare talent in the martial arts, having begun his training with the White Oak Martial Arts Center as a freshman in high school, he quickly began training in our Leadership Program and then entered into the CIT Training Program. Soon he worked his way up to being an Assistant Instructor, and now he is a Certified Instructor.

Currently an honors student at UNC, Chapel Hill, Jordan has been accepted into their Business College and is working on getting his BS in Business.

We absolutely guarantee that you will be greatly impressed with this young man’s ability and charisma.