Meet Our Instructors
Master Derek Croley
Derek Croley began studying martial arts at the age of 8 and began teaching at the age of 13 as an assistant instructor. He received his first Black Belt at age 15 under Shihan Dave Kovar in Sacramento, California. Kovar now operates some of the largest and most successful schools in the country and is internationally known for his teaching methods.
While still 15, Derek moved to Aiken, South Carolina where he became an Instructor in the TAI Martial Arts Systems as founded by David German.
He is a 6th Degree Black Belt and Master Instructor of TAI Martial Arts.
After completing a degree in Business Management from Clemson University Master Croley and his wife Brook moved to Jilin City, in the Jilin Provence of Manchurian China. There, he further perfected his skills under Grand Master Shifu Lui Chan Shan. Under Grand Master Lui, Master Croley was the first Westerner ever to learn the art of Taiji Yuan Gong Chan Chuan, and is one of a few people in the world who knows this secret art. With the blessing of then 88 year old Grand Master Po Rin Fu he is allowed to teach this art openly in America. While in Northeastern China he also earned the title of Shifu (teacher) in Liu Style Tai Chi Chuan as well as Yuan Gong Chan Chuan.
Derek now trains and is honored to be a Master Instructor under Grand Master George (Guo Ming) Xu in the arts of Xu Shen Chuan. He has been awarded a 7th degree Black Belt under Grand Master Xu and along with Jim Green has recently been named an indoor student. This is a great honor as only the indoor students learn the highest level secrets.
Master Croley has written four books on the Martial Arts (including The Physical Structure of Martial Arts and How to Approach Tai Chi Like a Master), published several articles, and produced several educational videos on a wide variety of topics- much of which is available at www.TaiChiMadeSimple.com. Recently, he was highlighted in the silver screen documentary The Why of Tai Chi by filmmaker Bruce Kennedy and has choreographed theatrical fight scenes.
In 2008 Master Croley was awarded an honorary PhD in Asian Martial Arts Philosophy from the University of Asian Martial Arts Study via the USA Martial Arts Hall of Fame. This is an honorary martial arts industry award for contribution to the arts and years of service.
Along with Shifu Jim Green he has also been greatly honored to have been appointed as a Vice President of WACIMA (Worldwide Association of Chinese Internal Martial Arts) by the International President of the organization, Grand Master Xu.
Master Croley now resides in Asheville, North Carolina with his wife and children. He has numerous Black Belts and Instructor Certifications, he is the Founder and President of Croley's Martial Arts Center, a founder of the White Oak Institute, President of The White Oak Martial Arts Association, the founding Chairman of the ASTM Martial Arts Safety Standards Committee F08.29, the 2008-2009 President of the Asheville West Rotary Club, and a member of the US Martial Arts Hall of Fame.
Go to www.FaceBook.com to become Master Croley's "friend," and join the White Oak Institute Group!
Lineages of Master Derek Croley
Shifu James M. Green, P.E.
James M. Green, P.E. is a Professional Forensic and Civil Engineer who owns his own Firm Specializing in Bike Accident Recosntruction and Forensic Civil Environmental Engineering. He has a 2nd Degree Black Belt in TAI Martial Arts and a Black Sash in Tai Chi. Not only has he taught university level classes on engineering and ethics for years, he completed his CIT training and received his Certified Instructors Degree in the White Oak Martial Arts Association.
Along with Master Croley, he has been greatly honored to have been appointed as a Vice President of WACIMA (Worldwide Association of Chinese Internal Martial Arts) by the International President of the organization, Grand Master George (Guo Ming) Xu.
Shifu Green has been been honored to have been awarded a 6th Degree Black Belt in Xu Shen Chuan and the title of Shifu under Grand Master Xu. Along with Derek Croley, Jim has also been greatly honored to have been named as an indoor student of Grand Master Xu.
Jim is a strong advocate of the application of high level Internal Martial Arts such as Tai Chi Chuan and Qigong to the stresses and pressures involved in daily living. In his Professional Engineering practice he has applied these practices to high stress situations experienced by his industry, state, and professional clients- predominately with the principles of Bushido (the Code of the Warrior) and Aiki (Internal Power). To this end Master Croley, and Shifu Green have partnered to form the White Oak Institute, a company designed to provide high level Martial Arts Seminars for a variety of applications.
Jim is past president of the National Academy of Forensic Engineers and is a Fellow in the Academy. Jim is the Consulting Engineer for the ASTM Safety Committee for the Marital Arts Instructional Industry, of which Master Croley is the Chairman. Jim also sits on the White Oak Martial Arts Association Board of Directors.
Jim completed 5 Ironman triathlons, hundreds of triathelons and races, and was an All-American Swimmer in College. He is recently retired from racing, but still coaches swimming on an individual basis to serious athletes.
Shifu Willie Smith
Willie Smith is a life long resident of Asheville, Willie Smith is a 4th degree Black Belt who was forced to stop the more arduous forms of Martial Arts when he developed a degenerative bone disease and his body just couldn't do what it once did.
Shifu Smith began his martial arts training in 1958, learning boxing from his father. They used to fight in Cherokee, NC until, after winning too much, they were no longer welcome at that venue.
From there he trained with Robert Dok-Le in what was called "boxing self defence." This was a military special ops based art that focused on using internal power and environmental weapons; i.e. learning to use the random items as weapons.
Next, Shifu Smith trained in Ishin-Ryu Karate, and then became certified in the art of Aikido. After that he spent the next several years training in traditional Tae Kwon Do and Hapkido.
He began training in the internal Martial Arts with Master Croley, and quickly received his Black Belt level ranking in these arts. When he first entered into training with us he had a brace or a bandage on every joint in his body and walked with a cane. Now, after several years of training with our internal Martial Arts Program, he no longer has need of any of these things.
Willie has since earned the title of Shifu in the TAI Martial Arts International Association as well as the White Oak Martial Arts Association, and is a member of the Hillside Baptist Church Board of Ushers.
He is now a Certified Shifu of Xu Shen Chuan as awarded by Master Croley under the direction of Grand Master Xu. He is also a 4th degree Black Belt In Xu Shen Chuan.
A true inspiration and an absolutely amazing instructor, Shifu Smith has a lifetime of martial arts knowledge and experience. He also has an incredible ability to put the concepts of the internal martial arts into terms that are easily understandable for any level of practitioner.
Jordan Harris
Jordan Harris is a Black Belt in TAI Martial Arts and a Certified Martial Arts Instructor, receiving his Certified Instructors Degree in 2008. He is a rare talent in the martial arts, having begun his training with the White Oak Martial Arts Center as a freshman in high school, he quickly began training in our Leadership Program and then entered into the CIT Training Program. Soon he worked his way up to being an Assistant Instructor, and now he is a Certified Instructor.
Currently an honors student at UNC, Chapel Hill, Jordan has been accepted into their Business College and is working on getting his BS in Business.
We absolutely guarantee that you will be greatly impressed with this young man’s ability and charisma.
