The Golden Tiger of Taichung A Man of Yi

This autobiography details the history and journey of Grandmaster S. L. Martin from his early days growing up in South Philadelphia through his 23 year active military service, his time spent in Asia learning the martial arts, 26 years as a public school teacher, and a brief career as a musical entertainer, to present day.

Grandmaster S. L. Martin began his martial arts training in 1955, and has studied exclusively in the far east under noted Asian Grandmasters and Masters. His studies include training under Grandmasters S. Nagamine (Matsubayashi Shorinryu), E. Shimabukuru (Shorinryu), H. Soken & F. Kise (Matsumura Shorinryu), R. Okuyama (Hakkooryu Jitsu), Y. Kotani (Kodokan Judo), Y. S. Lee (Shaolin & Praying Mantis), Y. Ansei (Shorinjiryu), Chen Man-Ching (Yang Tai Chi Chuan), Lu Hung Bin (Tai Chi Chuan, Shaolin & Pa Kua Chuan), Wang Shu-Chin (Hsing-Yi Chuan & Pa Kua Sword Techniques), Hung Yen Fung (White Crane), And Honorable Grandmaster Hung, Wen-Hsueh (Shaolin Dragon, White Crane & Pai Hur Chi Gung).Additionally, Grandmaster Martin holds the rank of 6th degree black belt in Shorinryu Karate, 4th degree black belt in Hakkoryu Jitsu, 3rd Degree Black Belt in Shorinjiryu Karate, 1st Degree Black Belt In Kodokan Judo, Gold Sash In White Crane Kung Fu and 9th Generation Heir & Grandmaster in Ching Lung Kuoshu. Grandmaster Martin is also an honorary Grandmaster in Okinawan Seidokan Karate by S. Toma of Okinawa.Grandmaster Martin has personally conducted martial arts instruction and programs for the FBI, military police, special forces, medical institutions, academic institutions - and instructed countless numbers of military and civilian students. He is a graduate of Saint John Neumann Catholic High School in Philadelphia, PA, an honor graduate of Burlington County College in New Jersey, and an honors graduate of Trenton state college in New Jersey where he received a Bachelor Of Science Degree in education with a minor in psychology.Grandmaster Martin is a retired serviceman who served for 23 years of active service. He earned more than thirty awards and decorations and is a Vietnam veteran who served in the combat zone for two military tours of duty. He was the "Coors" 1988 man of the year, recipient of the prestigious martial arts virtue award presented by Grandmaster Lu Hung Bin Of China, leader of the IFCMA student tour/demo group to Taiwan, ROC, a lecturer, New Jersey state certified teacher, an occasional competitor. Grandmaster Martin is the chairman of the "United Martial Arts Referees Association", a multi style organization. He is a member of the executive committee of the US Kuoshu Federation, president of the Martial Arts Masters Association and president of the IFCMA.He was officially adopted into the "Hung" family in 1995. He was also officially awarded the banner of the "Taichung Hsueh Dau Kwang" organization and authorized as the U.S. Grandmaster of the Taichung Fukien White Crane System. He was officially named "Hung, Jin-Hu", which was legally recorded in Taiwan, ROC.Grandmaster Martin has been featured in "Who's Who In Karate," and prominently featured in "Masters, Founders & Leaders of American Martial Arts". Additionally, Grandmaster Martin is the recipient of the 1994 UMARA Man of the Year Award, and enshrined as a 1994 Living Legend of the Martial Arts by Nippon Kenpo Karate Do Association of Washington, DC. He was awarded the "Golden Life Achievement Award" in 1997 by the AOKA, given by Grandmaster D. Nagle, and inducted into the "IKF Hall of Fame", and also selected as Inside Kung Fu magazine's "Instructor of the Year - 2000". He was also awarded the International Chinese Kuoshu Federation's "A" medal, the highest Kuoshu award, by General Wu Hung-Chang of Taipei, Taiwan in July 2000. He was inducted into The World Kuoshu Federation Hall of Fame in 2018 and is the current President of The World Kuoshu Federation.Additionally, Master Martin was recognized as one of America's outstanding educators in "Who's Who in Education – Millennium Edition". In 2002, Master Martin was inducted into the Action Martial Arts Magazine Hall of Fame for "Outstanding Life Time Achievement. Grandmaster Martin was also inducted into The United States Chinese Kuoshu Hall Of Fame in 2002.