Meet Kurtis Fujita of Tiger Crane Kung Fu in Simi Valley

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kurtis Fujita.

Kurtis, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Growing up near Los Angeles, I was a fan of comic books, video games, Japanese Animation, and Kung Fu movies. It enthralled me to watch the adventures of the various heroes depicted in each genre as they encountered challenges, developed super human powers, and saved the day. This led me to attend Art College in San Francisco where I was studying illustration and animation. During that time, I began to study the Martial Arts of Hung Gar Kung Fu and Tai Chi in San Francisco Chinatown, under the renowned Grand Master, Y.C. Wong. Although my initial intent was to earn an Art Degree, it soon became apparent to myself and everyone around me, that I had fallen passionately in love with Kung Fu. Those formative years of watching fictitious characters develop super powers and conquer their own fears, paled in comparison to the reality of learning the skills and overcoming the challenges of Kung Fu. To me, Kung Fu was more than exercise, more than philosophy, more than even Martial Art. It was a revelation and I found it began to encompass every fiber of my being and my outlook on life itself.

Upon graduating, I returned back to Southern California to pursue a career in video games. It was during this time that my first instructor, Grand Master Y.C. Wong, introduced me to his close friend. Grand Master Raymond K. Wong of Rosemead. Under Raymond Wong’s tutelage, I became versed in the Kung Fu styles of Tai Chi Praying Mantis, My Jong Law Horn, and the highly secretive Do Gar system. Eventually I was approved as an Instructor under both of my teachers, and with their encouragement, began to build the school which is now known as Tiger Crane Kung Fu in Simi Valley.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
While it has not been a smooth road by any stretch of the imagination, it has been a truly rewarding experience. There have been many challenges to starting my own business and even more to maintaining it. As a career in the art industry requires very long hours, there was no way I could open a Martial Arts Studio and keep my job in the video game industry. As such, I gave up my lucrative career as an artist in order to facilitate the transition of becoming a Martial Arts Instructor. This decision was extremely difficult and at one point, required me to work 6-part time jobs daily in order to support myself while maintaining a schedule conducive with teaching Kung Fu classes. In recent years, the challenge I face is finding a worthy successor to my Kung Fu system which requires a great deal of dedication to fully master.

Tiger Crane Kung Fu – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Our school began with the mission to offer Martial Arts in its purest form without the compromises to quality seen in most commercial schools. We teach the original method of Martial Arts where there are no belts. Students mark their progress not by what color belt they wear, but the way the original Masters did, by the quality of their skill and development of their character while following our structured step by step program.

For over a decade, we have provided quality instruction, teaching the arts of Kung Fu and Tai Chi with an emphasis on their practical usage, artistic beauty, and health benefits. We have repeatedly been guest instructors at Local Law Enforcement agencies who want the tactical advantage in their hand do hand combat encounters. Our students have competed in Tournaments at the National level, consistently winning 1st place and developing an exemplary reputation in the Martial world.

We hold ourselves to the values of the past, while utilizing skills for today, and progressing forward to the future.

What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
My proudest moment occurred the first time I got to see my students interacting with my Master. To witness two generations of Martial Art practitioners coming together was such an honor. To be able to say that I am the conduit between Kung Fu’s past and its future is one of the greatest responsibilities and one of the greatest joys I could hope for.

Pricing:

• Kung Fu Tactics Class (For Beginners) $125
• Tai Chi Class (For Beginners) $60
• Kung Fu Legacy Class (Intermediate Level) $145

Contact Info:

• Address: 1733 E. Los Angeles Ave
  Simi Valley, CA 93065
• Website: http://www.tigercrane.net
• Phone: (805) 341-4696
• Email: instructor@tigercrane.net
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tigercrane805/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tigercranekungfu
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/tigercrane805
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/tiger-crane-kung-fu-simi-valley?utm_campaign=www_business_share_popup&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=(direct)

Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.