SiFu Barry Adkins
and his
Ten Tigers

The Ten Tigers of Canton was a group made up of the ten top Kung Fu masters in Southern China during the Qing dynasty. Wong Yan-Lam, a White Crane master, was considered by many to be the leader of this group. In a show of respect to these masters of the past, Sifu Adkins has chosen to recognize his ten most accomplished students - five students of White Crane, and five kickboxing competitors - by naming them as his “ten tigers”. These few represent the many students Sifu Adkins has developed during his over forty years of teaching martial arts.

To be considered a candidate as one of the ten, White Crane students had to have achieved a senior black belt level of knowledge, have invested a considerable amount of time as a member of the fighting team, and have made a strong contribution to the school’s development. Competitive kickboxers needed to have been a professional or amateur titleholder, or have a significant fight record. As well, they needed to have invested time training in the traditional martial arts school, as well as having helped with the school’s development.

Allan Echino is a senior black belt who has competed thoughout British Columbia and Alberta, as well as internationally. He won his weight class free fighting (knees, elbows, and throwing permitted) in Hong Kong. He helped the growth of the art by opening a school in North Bay, Ontario.

Jan Steffen is a senior black belt who has competed throughout western Canada, the United States, and internationally. He won his weight class in Hong Kong free fighting competitions two years in a row, as well as touring internationally with our demonstration team. While in Hong Kong, he studied the White Crane Lion Dance style, bringing that tradition with him to our school in Kamloops.

Dev Mitra is a senior black belt who has represented the school competitively, as well as in various demonstrations, including being a member of the 1986 World’s Exposition demonstration team. He has given valuable service to the school as a senior instructor, and as event manager for a variety of demonstrations and sanctioned fight cards.

Terry Stone is a senior black belt who has represented the school in competition, as well as in many demonstrations, including being a member of the 1986 World’s Exposition demonstration team. He has served the school with distinction as a senior instructor, and published a White Crane journal as a source of inspiration and information for the school’s students.

Robert Wielgoz is a senior blackbelt instructor who has achieved the highest level of certification of any of Sifu Adkins’ traditional students. The longest serving black belt, Rob is an instructor in both the fighting and traditional classes. The only student of Sifu Adkins to be formally adopted into the White Crane family through the BiSi ceremony, he acted as manager of the Kamloops school from 1992 to 2010.

Mark Hermiston captured the World Welterweight Championship as a professional kickboxer, as well as winning Canadian and North American professional titles. As an amateur, he has won British Columbia and Alberta Golden Gloves boxing titles, and has represented our school throughout Canada, the United States, and in Hong Kong. A student of the traditional school as well, Mark has served as a kickboxing trainer, showing the blend of gentleness, respect, and competitiveness necessary to help novice competitors develop.

Tom Laroche won the World Welterweight kickboxing championship as a professional, successfully defending his title three times. He also captured the Pacific Northwest title as a professional competitor. He has competed as an amateur and professional throughout North America, as well as in Hong Kong and Australia. A White Crane black belt, Tom has also served as an instructor and demonstration team member.

Bill Chin has fought as an amateur and professional kickboxer throughout North America, and was at one time ranked fourth worldwide as a professional lightweight competitor. He reached a significant level as a White Crane martial artist, and represented our school in Hong Kong as both a competitor and demonstration team member.

Darrel Faulk won the Canadian Amateur Heavyweight Championship, and was undefeated as a competitor, only once needing to go into the second round to knock out his opponent. A traditional student as well, Darrel represented our school as a competitor and demonstration team member throughout North America, and in Hong Kong. He has served the school as a professional trainer and corner-man, cornering four world title bouts.

Kent Gannon won the Canadian Amateur Welterweight Kickboxing championship, and was at one time ranked tenth worldwide as a professional welterweight competitor. He has also won British Columbia and Alberta Golden Gloves Amateur boxing titles. He has fought as an amateur and a professional throughout Western Canada and the United States, as well as studied traditional White Crane.