Joe Rea Phillips



Joe Rea Phillips has practiced the martial arts since 1977. He received his first black belt in In the early 1980's he was teaching a Kung Fu class for Volunteer State Community College. During this time he began training with Doug Smith. While training, he taught classes for Doug Smith at the Hendersonville School of Martial Arts. In 1984 he was issued a black belt by Sifu Smith in KickBoxing and Wing Chun.

In 1984 Sifu Phillips began studying with James Cravens who is seated on the left side in the photo. Professor Cravens is the President of Chinese Boxing Institute International (CBII). Sifu Phillips first curriculum in CBII was Pa Kua Chang (Celestial Circling Dragon) . He soon began training in Yang Style Tai Chi Chuan and the Chinese Boxing Synthesis Short Core Curriculum. He went on to receive teaching certificates from Professor Cravens in Pa Kua Chang, Tai Chi Chuan, and the Chinese Boxing Synthesis Short Core Curriculum. In 1994 Sifu Phillips was honored by Professor Cravens with the promotion to "Senior Student".

In 1996 Sifu Phillips began studying Chen Style Tai Chi Chuan (Old Large Frame) with Professor Cravens. In 2003 Phillips began training in the method of Chen Xiao Wang through James Cravens who has become one of Chen Xiao Wang's disciples. This has included several seminars and a trip to Chen Village with James Cravens to train with Chen Xiao Wang. Phillips has trained with the following martial artists inluding:

* James Cravens (CBII curriculum, Pa Kua, Yang Style Tai Chi, Chen Style Tai Chi )

* Tao Ping Siang (Yang Style Tai Chi )

  1. *Chen Quanzhong, Chen Zhenglei, and Chen Xiao Wang. ( Chen Style Tai Chi )

  2. *Chen Xiaoxing

  3. *Chen Zhenglei

  4. *Chen Bing

  5. *International Tai Chi Symposium 2009 - trained with  Chen Zhenglei ( Chen Style), Yang Zhenduo ( Yang style), Wu Wenhan ( Wu Hao style),  Ma Hailong (Wu  style ),  and Sun Yongtian ( Sun style)


In 1989 Joe Rea Phillips and a group of students at Vanderbilt University started the Vanderbilt University Kung Fu Club. Since that time Sifu Phillips has had the pleasure of serving as the faculty advisor and instructor of the club. As advisor to the club he has had the opportunity to teach excellent students and create lasting friendships. He was awarded Faculty Advisor of the Year in 1999 by Vanderbilt University.




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