Ray Fisher, the head instructor at the Arizona Ch'uan Fa Society, began studying the internal martial arts in 1977. His studies at that time emphasized Taoist and Tibetan Chi Kung as well as different methods of meditation and energy sets. He began his studies of external martial arts, Kenpo karate, in February 1982 at Traco International. At Traco International, Fisher’s training also included boxing and kickboxing. He achieved his Shodan (first-degree black belt) in Chinese Kenpo on June 28, 1990. Today he is ranked Sandan (third-degree black belt) in this style of martial art.

During his studies at Arizona State University, Fisher was introduced to the Japanese style of Aikido. In 1985, he graduated from the university with a Bachelor of Science in Geography and continued to branch out into other martial arts such as Tai Chi Ch'uan, Jujutsu, Hsing-I, Kajukenbo, and Kyusho Jitsu. In April of 1992, he attended a closed black-belt seminar in Hsing-I and Kajukenbo. At that time, he tested for and was awarded the rank of Shodan by the United States Kajukenbo Association. His testing panel included two of the founding members of Kajukenbo.

Fisher was introduced to the principles of Kyusho Jitsu in mid-1990. He immediately recognized the value of this knowledge and saw that it was a missing answer to many of the questions he had about the martial arts. It was a link that would connect his various studies, and it allowed him to deepen his understanding of martial arts. Fisher was able to blend together the various aspects of his training with an emphasis on the hidden art of tuite. He was awarded his Shodan from the To-Ri Karate Institute on February 22, 1992. On February 5, 1994, he received his Sandan degree.

Ranks
Yondan (6th Degree Black Belt) with Goju-Shorei Weapons System
Godan (5th Degree Black Belt) with United States Karate Alliance – Kenpo
Godan (5th Degree Black Belt) with To Ri Karate Institute – Torite Jitsu
Godan (5th Degree Black Belt) with Dragon Society International
Sandan (3rd Degree Black Belt) with Traco International – Chinese Kenpo
Shodan (1st Degree Black Belt) with United States Kajukenbo Association

Specialized Teaching
On-Site Tai Chi Ch’uan training for employees of MicroAge
On-Site Tai Chi Ch’uan training for employees of Motorola
On-Site Tai Chi Ch’uan and Qi Gong training for students of the Arizona Career Academy
On-Site Qi Gong training at the Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine
Certified Teacher for Scifukujitsu – Level 1 (Japanese Restoration Therapies)
Certified in Rieki Energy Healing – Levels 1 & 2

Other Martial Arts Experiences
Akiido, Bosing, Taoist and Tibertan Qi Gong, Hsing I Ch’uan, Iron Palm, Jiu Jitsu, Kick-Boxing, and Tai Chi Ch’uan