Sifu Jason Goldsmith, Head Instructor

Sifu Jason Goldsmith is the owner and head instructor of Goldsmith Kung Fu and Mixed Martial Arts. Sifu Jason began studying martial arts at the age of seven. He obtained his High Green Belt in Tae Kwon Do under Hung Choi, with whom he trained until he was ten. He then began studying at Oregon Martial Arts College under Mr. Ed Ferrigan. Mr. Ferrigan’s teachings were highly based upon Wun Hop Kuen Do, however the forms studied were that of Tang So Do. In June of 1998, at the age of 15, Jason received an adult Black Belt in Tang So Do (mixed with Wun Hop Kuen Do). Around this time, Oregon Martial Art College changed ownership to Sensei Steve Ward where Jason continued to study under the Japanese kentojuku system. However, this style was significantly different from his roots of Wun Hop Kuen Do and Tang So Do. In December of 1998, Jason began to study Wun Hop Kuen Do directly under Sifu Al Dacascos in Portland, Oregon. On July 19, 2003 Jason was the sole person awarded his Black Belt in Wun Hop Kuen Do. Since that time, Jason formed and taught the Wun Hop Kuen Do club at Brandeis University while pursuing his academic studies in Biochemistry. On April 10th, 2005, Jason was awarded his 2nd Degree in Wun Hop Kuen Do from Grandmaster Al Dacascos. In July of 2006, Jason was named secretary of the Wun Hop Kuen Do International Association and was granted a proxy Sifu-ship by Grandmaster Dacascos. In September of 2006, he opened a WHKD club at UNC-CH in North Carolina, where he is pursuing his graduate studies. In the spring of 2007, Sifu Jason opened his first commercial school in the greater triangle area. On July 30th, 2007, Sifu Jason was promoted to 3rd Degree in Wun Hop Kuen Do by Grandmaster Dacascos.  In June 2011, he was promoted to 4th degree.

Teaching Experience:

• 200 hours of teaching logged with Oregon Martial Arts College before the age of 15.
• Instructed 6 hours/week for 4 years at Brandeis University as the head of the WHKD Kung Fu Club at Brandeis.
• Instructed 3 semesters of organic chemistry lab at Brandeis University as a graduate-level teaching assistant.
• Instructed 1 semester of organic chemistry at Brandeis University as a graduate-level teaching assistant.
• Received the Emily Dudek Undergraduate Teaching Award.
• Tutored high school and college students in general chemistry and organic chemistry for 3 years.
• Tutor for UNC Varsity Athletics

Simo Rachel Goldsmith, Assistant Head Instructor

Simo Rachel Goldsmith is the assistant head instructor of Goldsmith Kung Fu and Mixed Martial Arts.  She is Sifu Jason's wife and has been a student of his since they met in college in 2002.  She was his first student, and earned her black sash in June of 2011.  Additionally, she studies Taekwondo Hapkido under Master Misael Rebollar and has earned her green sash.  

David Montoya, BJJ Instructor

David is the BJJ instructor at Goldsmith Kung Fu and MMA.  A Brazilian Jiu Jitsu blue belt with 5 years of training in the art, David still studies and advances his skill where he trains in Cary.  David also has extensive experience in other martial arts styles.  He trained and competed in Judo starting when he was 8 years old, and as a teenager and adult trained for many years in Karate, Taekwondo, Hapkido, Wushu, Tai Chi, and Qi Gong.

A.J Grant, Wrestling Coach

A.J Grant is the wrestling coach at Goldsmith Kung Fu and MMA.  He is a former University of Michigan All-American, and  is in his sixth season as an assistant wrestling coach at the University of North Carolina. He is in his fifth year as a full-time assistant and works with the lightweights on technique and training.

A phenomenal 125-pounder at Michigan and letterman from 1999-2003, Grant earned All-America honors in 2001 and 2003 with a pair of fourth-place finishes at the NCAA Championships. As a senior, Grant was the 125-pound runner-up at the Big Ten Championships and posted a 34-9 overall record. He was ranked fourth in the final polls by both InterMat and Amateur Wrestling News. Grant went 116-58 during his collegiate career and is ranked 14th on the Wolverines' career victories list. Grant also earned a fifth-place finish at the 2002 University nationals.

D'Juan Owens, MMA Assistant Coach and Pro Fighter

D'Juan Owens is the MMA instructor at Goldsmith Kung Fu.  He is a member of Team ECSA of Durham, and holds a 9-5 amateur record and was rated the #2 amateur in North Carolina.  He has a 1-1 pro record.  He has extensive kickboxing, BJJ, submission grappling and Muy Thai experience.

Sisook Stuart Endo-Streeter

Sisook Stuart is an assistant instructor in Wu Hun Dao, holding the rank of brown sash.  He has trained in Kajukenbo/Wu Hun Dao for 6 years.  Additionally, he has 2 years of experience in Hayashi-ha Shito-Ryu, reaching the rank of 5th Kyu, and 2 years of experience in Uechi Ryu Karate, reaching the rank of 3rd Kyu.

Sisook Neal Ritchie

Neal began his martial arts training in the summer of 2006 at the age of 23, under Sifu Lauren Carreto, with whom he studied an animals-based (Snake, Crane, Tiger, and Monkey), indonesian style of Kung Fu, as well as elements of Shorin Ryu Karate.  In the fall of 2008, he began training under Sifu Jason Goldsmith at Goldsmith Kung Fu and MMA, and has been training there since. In addition to several years teaching experience in Carrboro-Chapel Hill public schools, Neal has been teaching the Tuesday beginners classes since the summer of 2010. Neal was promoted to green sash in Kajukenbo/Wu Hun Dao on June 5th, 2011.  He won his first amateur MMA fight on January 22nd, 2011.

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