Shi Gong Steven Burton
Steven Burton has been studying and promoting Chinese Martial Arts around the world for over 43 years. During his time training he has met and studied with some of the highest ranking masters in the world.
In the mid 1990’s Steven met the Dragon Society International, who were instrumental in sparking a great interest in pressure points, ways to enhance techniques through structure and understanding of Traditional Chinese Medicine. This led to him travelling to China to look at how those concepts linked with Chinese martial arts.
During the 20 + years of travelling to China, Steven has studied in numerous arts, including Five Thunder Dim Mak, Ghost Valley Master Kung Fu, Shaolin, Wudang, Chen Style Tai Chi and Shen Wu Ling Chuan.
Steven was the most senior student of the late Grandmaster Li ZhiYi and was the 1st Non Chinese Inheritor of the art. Following the passing of Grandmaster Li in 2022, Steven became the inheritor of Five Thunder Dim Mak & Shen Wu Ling Chuan and the global head of the art.
Through the 43 years of training, Steven has attained the following ranks:
- Five Thunder Dim Mak – Shi Gong – Head and keeper of the style
- Shen Wu Ling Chuan – Shi Gong – Head and keeper of the style
- Chen Style Tai Chi – Senior Indoor student and 12th Generation direct line inheritor under Chen Zheng Lei. Steven’s Chen Family name is ‘Chen Wen De’
- Lau Kar Leung lineage Hung Gar Kuen – Disciple under the tuition of Master Mark Houghton
- Torite Justu- 5th Dan Black Belt and Senior Instructor – under the tuition of Grandmaster Rick Moneymaker (DSI)
Steven utilises the knowledge gained from the Dragon Society International and seamlessly blends them with all the other arts he has studied to give a deep understanding of how to maximise the true combat potential of the Chinese martial arts.
Steven is the Principle Director of the global Five Thunder Chinese Martial Arts Association and head of the Tian Men Shan Taoist Association.
Steven Burton holds Duan Wei Grades issued by the Chinese Wu Shu Association having qualified in China following rigourous testing.
He has also studied with such auspicious masters as the late Grandmaster Kong Jie Gou (Chen Tai Chi), Grandmaster Liming Yue (Chen Tai Chi), Shi De Jun (31st Generation Shaolin Monk) and many other great masters.
Steven has featured on Chinese television demonstrating his martial skill and has produced over 150 instructional DVD’s / online streams on Chinese Martial Arts which have sold throughout the world. Steven was also a co-author of Tai Chi for Health book, which focuses on Chen Style Tai Chi.
Steven has won Gold and Silver medals in the World Invitational in China (2005) for his kung fu skills in empty hand and weapons.
Teaching serving law enforcement, military personnel and close protection operatives around the world has given Steven the experience to bridge the gap between ancient and modern application of martial skills. Steven has also worked in the world of law enforcement for many years and so you know that he teaches from practical, hands on experience.
Steven is committed and dedicated to promoting Chinese Martial Arts and the Five Thunder ethos helping martial artists around the world join together in the furtherance of Chinese Martial Arts for future generations.
To quote Grandmaster Rick Moneymaker (DSI), “Knowledge is not power. The application of knowledge is power.”
Through the DSI and Steven’s teachings, the knowledge is applied and is accessible for all martial artists, with Steven’s specialism in Chinese martial arts helping those to fully understand the missing links and lost skills that were once inherent in all Chinese martial arts.
Steven has many students around the world that have qualified as instructors in Five Thunder Dim Mak and those instructors have added the knowledge to their already existing arts, there has never been a need to change art or allegiance. The Five Thunder Dim Mak and DSI teachings are a ‘Bolt On’ to everyone’s existing art / skill set.
Steven’s lifelong goal is to help martial artists develop their full potential and understand true combative applications in the ‘Real World’.
Online training for all programs is available at www.SifuStevenBurton.online