Master Ian Chisholm
Master Ian Chisholm

Master Chisholm is a 65th Generation student of Tien Shan Pai and a direct disciple of Grandmaster Huang, Chien-Liang. He started his training with Grandmaster Huang in 1989 and, under Grandmaster Huang’s supervision, has studied traditional Tien Shan Pai, including lei tai fighting, Qi Gong, Nei Gong, tie sha zhang (iron palm), cao long zhuang (grass dragon pole), and Qin Na, as well as Yang Style Tai Ji Quan.

Master Chisholm is a 5th degree Black Sash in Tien Shan Pai under Grandmaster Huang and a 6th degree Black Sash under the certification standards of The World Kuo Shu Federation (TWKSF). He is also an internationally certified level A referee in accordance with TWKSF standards. Master Chisholm served as Director for the 2005 United States Chinese Kuo Shu Federation (USCKF) International Tournament and as Assistant Director for the USCKF tournaments in 1999 and 2001 through 2004. He also served as Director of the United States Kuo Shu Federation (USKSF) International Championship Tournaments from 2012-2014. He was also the United States Kuo Shu Federation Secretary General from 2007-2015, and is now a USKSF Vice-President. In 2019, Master Chisholm was inducted into the USKSF Hall of Fame.

Master Chisholm competed in USKSF events for many years and was a member of the United States national team at the 7th and 8th World Kuo Shu Championship tournaments, held in Taipei, Taiwan R.O.C. in 1992 and 1996. In 1992, at the 7th World Kuo Shu Championships, he won 1st place in empty hand two person sets and 3rd place in weapon two person sets. In 1996, at the 8th World Kuo Shu Championships, he won 1st place in empty hand two person sets and 2nd place in weapon two person sets. Master Chisholm received the World Martial Arts Hall of Fame’s “Outstanding Achievement of the Year” award with his induction into the hall in 1992 following his first world championship title in Taiwan. He has also been awarded Kuo Shu Medals A and B by the International Chinese Kuo Shu Federation.  Master Chisholm has competed, demonstrated, and judged at events in the U.S., Europe, and Asia. He has also been a member of several Tien Shan Pai demonstration teams which raised funds for September 11th relief efforts, the Maryland Chapter of the Multiple Sclerosis Society, the St. Jude Children’s Research Center, and The Children’s Home. Master Chisholm’s efforts to help promote Chinese Kuo Shu and Tien Shan Pai have been recognized by citations from Congressman C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger, Maryland Governor Robert Ehrlich, Baltimore Mayor Martin O’Malley, and Baltimore County Executive Jim Smith, in addition to Inside Kung-Fu magazine, Action Martial Arts Magazine’s Hall of Fame awards, and the Owings Mills Times.  His first book, Introduction to Tien Shan Pai, which he co-authored with Grandmaster Huang, was released by Turtle Press in 2012.

Having taught in Baltimore County Public Schools for over twenty years, Master Chisholm was also named Baltimore County’s Elementary Educator of the Year in 2003. He now works as a consulting teacher for Baltimore County, helping to train first year teachers in the system.  He feels privileged and honored to be a student of Grandmaster Huang and strives to propagate Tien Shan Pai and help pass the torch to the next generation at the US Kuo Shu Academy in Owings Mills, Maryland.