our instructors

Master Daniel Tomizaki was born and raised in Brazil. He started practicing kung fu in 1980 under Sifu Dirceu Camargo and Master Li Wing Kay studying Seven Star Praying Mantis and Eagle Claw. He was the first student in Brazil to earn a Black Belt in Seven Star Praying Mantis. In 1989, he relocated to the USA where he started learning Choy Lay Fut under Master Tat Mau Wong. He became a Sifu in 1997. He is also a black belt in Shuai Chiao under Master Li Wing Kay and a certified escrima instructor under Grandmaster David Ducay. In 2008, he co-founded the International Traditional Kung Fu Association with his long time friend and partner, Master Marco Serra of Brazil. 

His dedication for kung fu becomes obvious when one looks at his list of accomplishments:

31 – 1st place in forms, weapons, sparring, Lion Dance, and full contact in competitions in the USA, Canada and Brazil

8 – Grand Championship awards

Current 4 Star International Grand Champion

Has performed in USA, Canada, Brazil and Singapore

Has traveled and trained at the Shaolin Temple in China

Has been teaching kung fu to kids, adults, seniors for over 30 years.

He brings the intensity and joy he gets from kung fu to the school. “More practice makes more perfect” he tells his students as he begins leading technique drills. He is a firm believer in the importance of repetition and attention to details in order to master the basics, without which the more advanced techniques would simply fall apart.

Although a lifelong practitioner of kung fu, he has played other sports, such as soccer, European handball, swimming, table tennis, track and field events, volleyball, basketball and gymnastics. His desire to improve himself, to be an “all around grand champion” in every area of his life and to be the best example for his students is always evident.

Master Tomizaki is also active in the community, having volunteered his time teaching in the local elementary and middle schools a program that teaches making healthy choices regarding alcohol, tobacco and drugs.

Steffani Tomizaki started kung fu in 2000, after an attempted kidnapping by gunpoint. She has been training forms, weapons, sparring, escrima, lion dance and shuai chiao. She started teaching kung fu in 2003.

Steffani has competed locally and Nationally in the U.S – in San Franciso, Seattle, Dallas, Oakland and Concord, where she has won 20 1st place awards in forms and weapons and has been runner-up Grand Champion twice. She has been performing since 2002, demonstrating self-defense techniques, weapons, forms and shuai chiao. She’s also performed numerous times in Brazil.

Steffani hold the rank of “Sifu” with the International Traditional Kung Fu Association.

Besides teaching kung fu, Steffani teaches a Strengthening & Conditioning HIIT class” – a great cardio and strengthening class to music. She also teaches self-defense classes for women and girls.

Prior to kung fu, Steffani was active in Taiko, dance and competitive soccer.

Steffani is also very active in the community. She coached youth soccer for over 10 years and has volunteered her time for over 12 years in the local elementary, middle and high school, teaching programs that helps educate our youth on making healthy decisions regarding alcohol, tobacco, drugs and refusal skills.

Steffani sees the numerous benefits achieved from the training at Tomizaki’s Champions Kung Fu; from increased concentration, better grades, self-confidence, self-control, respect, health, coordination and improvement in other sports & activities.

Yas Yamamoto began his study in martial arts in 1990 with Judo (2 years) and Kenpo (3 years). His practice in Choy Lay Fut began in 1998. He started training directly under Master Tomizaki in 2002. In 2003, he received his first black belt in Choy Lay Fut. He has also studied Wushu at CSU Sacramento. Yas has been involved in numerous competitions, performances and demos. In the summer of 2007, he traveled to Beijing, China and studied Wushu for two weeks under renowned Coach Lu Yan. Yas is currently a 9th degree black belt. Besides Choy Lay Fut, he also trains Praying Mantis, Shuai Chiao and Lion Dance under Master Tomizaki.

Yas holds the rank of  “Sifu” with the International Traditional Kung Fu Association.

He started assisting classes in 2002, and became an Instructor in 2006. “Without my teacher’s knowledge, I would not be here today sharing my knowledge of Choy Lay Fut at Tomizaki’s Champions Kung Fu Institute.” – Yas. Yas also taught at the Martials Arts Club as CSU Sacramento.

Yas graduated from Five Branches Chinese Medicine school in 2015, learning acupuncture, the healing properties of Chinese herbs and Tai Chi.

He has competed national and internationally. In Toronto, Canada at the Pan American Games in 2005, he won 1st place in traditional hand forms and 4th place in long weapons. He also competed in Texas at the Legends on Kung Fu Tournament in 2009 and 2010 in San Shou and forms. He placed 2nd in hand forms and runner-up in San Shou.

Yas has performed in Brazil, Sacramento, Concord, San Francisco, San Diego and different charity events. 

His experience in both competition and performance has made him an excellent instructor.