CREATOR
SIFU KURTIS FUJITA
Kung Fu Master and Comic Book Creator
Founder, 5th Ring Studios
Kurtis Fujita is an artist, writer, and martial arts master. He has the distinction of simultaneously holding the offices of Los Angeles Chairman of the United States Traditional Kung Fu Wushu Federation and the Hung Gar Kung Fu Advisor to the International Traditional Kung Fu Association. Additionally, he is the Founder of Fifth Ring Studios, the Head Instructor of Tiger Crane Kung Fu, and the creator of the critically acclaimed comic book “Shadow Ghost: the Kung Fu Comic by a Kung Fu Master”.
His career in storytelling began at the tender age of 15 at Malibu/Marvel comics where he worked consecutively as an editorial assistant and later color designer. In the years which followed, he earned a Bachelor’s Degree of Fine Arts in Illustration at the Academy of Art University which he parlayed into a successful international concept design and digital art career in video games, animation, and film, working on franchises such as “X-Men” and “Lord of the Rings” for clients like Sony Playstation and Universal.
During his college years and subsequent decades, Kurtis developed a deep passion for Kung Fu. Initially, he studied under the legendary Grandmaster Y.C. Wong of San Francisco and later Grandmaster Raymond K. Wong of Los Angeles at the former’s behest. As a protege of both luminaries he learned a multitude of systems including Hung Gar, Tai Chi, and Do Gar, along with each system’s corresponding weaponry.
In 2003, Kurtis received the title of Sifu, or Master, and opened his own Martial Arts school, Tiger Crane Kung Fu, from which he still teaches to this day. He has been a contributing writer for the premier Martial Arts periodical, “Kung Fu Tai Chi Magazine” where his written word provides insight into the deeper aspects of Martial Arts. Kurtis has been honored to share his Martial Arts expertise in seminars across the United States and to Law Enforcement agencies as part of various Defensive Tactics programs.