Sifu Derrick Wright is the chief instuctor at UNITED STATES Martial Arts Academy. He has approximately twenty years of experience in the martial arts. Sifu Wright is a student and certified instructor under Master John Cheng of the U.S. Kung Fu Exchange and the International Seven Star Mantis Style of the LEE KAM WING MARTIAL ART ASSOCIATION.

Sifu Derrick is originally from Poplar Bluff, Missouri a small midwestern town, approximately 150 miles south of St. Louis, Missouri. He began his martial arts instruction in the Korean Art of Tae Kwon Do in his early teens, after sometime, he was unable to continue training, because of family financial hardships.

Upon graduation from high school in Cape Girardeau, Mssouri, he moved to St. Louis, and a year later, joined the U.S. Marine Corps. After basic training, he was assigned to a military police unit and was given orders to Okinawa, Japan.

While in Okinawa, Sifu Derrick began training with Master Hokama Masamitsu of Shuri, Okinawa, Japan and his then senior american student, Sifu Norman Burland. Sifu Burland was a member of the U.S. Air Force and has since retired and now reside in Tampa Florida.

Master Masamitsu taught Hysing Yi, Paqua and Tai Chi Chuan. Sifu Derrick was taught the basics of Hsing Yi and Tai Chi Chuan from Master Masamitsu and Lung Pai Chuan Sho or "Arts of the Dragon Fists, " from Sifu Burland.

According to Sifu Burland, He learned this style from Mr. Ken Thomas of Hawaii. Mr. Thomas taught Southern Mantis and Green Dragon which he learned from Mr. S.L. Martin (a student of Hung, Wen Hsue of TaiChung, Taiwan and Manny Agrella (a student of "Old Man Wang" in Taiwan who taught "Flat Plate" Mantis).

Lung Pai Chuan Sho or "Arts of the Dragon Fists" was the name of Hung Wen Hsue's school in TaiChung, Taiwan. It may be similar to a form of the five animal style from Kwangtung Province, China.

Upon arriving back to the U.S. and upon discharge from the Marine Corps, Sifu Derrick moved to Southern California and began studying Northern Praying Mantis Kung Fu and Tai Chi Chuan at the Shan Tung Kung Fu Association of U.S.A. in Pasadena, California under Sifu Kenneth Edwards. Under Sifu Edwards, Sifu Derrick was formally tested, certified to teach and was given formal persmission to open his own school and propagate Northern Praying Mantis Kung Fu.

Because of his interest in the fighting principles and theories of the Seven Star Praying Mantis System, Sifu Derrick sought, to receive additional instruction in Seven Star Praying Mantis Kung Fu and began learning under Master John Cheng, M.D, Founder and Master Chief instructor of the California Martial Arts Academy in Orange County, California. Master Cheng, is a lifetime student of Master Raymond Fogg of the US Texas Kung Fu Exchange and a disciple of Grandmaster Lee Kam Wing of Hong Kong.

Sifu Derrick Wright appreciates the opportunity to continue training with Master John Cheng and the doors he has opened for him to attend and participate in workshops, seminars, tournaments and meet with other instructors, gaining diverse prospectives in Seven Star Praying Mantis Kung Fu.

Sifu Derrick has made several accomplishments in local and regional martial arts tournaments in areas of prearranged fist and weapon forms and fighting.

Sifu Derrick Wright looks forward to continuing his studies under his teacher, Master John Cheng, his Si-Gungs' Master Raymond Fogg, and Grandmaster Lee Kam Wing, and the senior instructors of the U.S. Kung Fu Exchange.