Chinese: 老师 – Lăoshī (teacher)
Classes at the Baltimore Academy of Defence are taught by David “Dai” Andrews, a lifetime martial artist with more than a decade of experience in teaching.
Andrews is also a multiple Guinness World Record holding performance & visual artist who often includes traditional martial arts demonstrations as a feature in his internationally renown stage performances.
Dai first learned Wrestling and Tae Kwon Do as a youth, then Classical Italian Fencing as a teenager. In 1996 he began studying Chinese martial arts, learning Northern Style Kung Fu and Yang Taiji Quan. In 2000 his practice changed focus to Hebei style Xingyiquan and the Sun, and Dragon styles of Baguazhang when he became the private student of Huang Chien Liang.
Granted formal permission to teach in 2008, and awarded the rank of First Tuan (Degree) by The World Kuoshu Federation in July of that same year. He was promoted to the rank of Second Tuan in July 2010, and qualified for promotion to Third Tuan as of 2014 but has not sought formal promotion.
Beginning in 2014 Dai embarked on a comprehensive study of traditional Chinese swords and swordsmanship as well as tui shou, and nei gong as a disciple student of Scott M. Rodell.
Since 2017 Andrews has continued to deepen his study of the Shanxi style of Xingyiquan, as well as Sun style Baguazhang as a private student of renown teacher Tim Cartmell.
Besides teaching Kung fu, and Chinese, & American swordsmanship, Andrews regularly engages with the martial arts community performing and participating in tournaments, fundraisers, and seminars to continuing to deepen his knowledge and understanding of the martial arts.
