About Our School

Metrowest Kung Fu was founded by Shifu Eliot Prisby, and opened for classes January 2nd 2016.

Metrowest Kung Fu, along with our parent school New England Kung Fu, are branches of Authentic Shaolin Kung Fu.

We teach the following Kung Fu styles as part of our classes:

  • Shandong Shaolin (山东少林), a style created by the late master Gao Daosheng (高道生) which synthesizes Northern Praying Mantis (北螳螂拳) with Shaolin Kung Fu (少林拳).

  • Traditional Huaquan (华拳), upon which many contemporary Changquan (長拳) forms are based.

  • Luóhànquán (罗汉拳), meaning “Arhat Fist” or “Buddhist Fist”, one of the most well-known styles originating at the Shaolin Temple.

As part of our Kung Fu curriculum, we also teach weapons and sparring. We compete regularly but competition is not mandatory.

We primarily teach Yang Style Taijiquan (杨氏太极拳). We teach both the “Short” (24) and “Long” (108) forms, as well as several shorter more beginner-friendly forms. We secondarily teach Chen Style Tai Chi (陈氏太极拳) and Sun Style Tai Chi (孙氏太极拳). We also practice weapons and push hands (推手).

We have both beginner and advanced classes in yoga. We frequently host other classes such as Zumba and dance.

We are accredited with the BBB. We are a member of the Assabet Valley Chamber of Commerce and the Maynard Business Alliance, and participate regularly in the many events and community initiatives.

We are a member of the IAGLMA and Durga Corps.

We believe strongly in uplifting and supporting our community. We contribute regularly to many charitable organizations, including (but not limited to):

We would love to have you become a part of our Kung Fu community!

Instructors

  • Shifu Eliot Prisby

    OWNER & INSTRUCTOR

  • Jo Gao Irene Gruber

    TAI CHI

  • Jo Gao Mark Globerson

    TAI CHI

  • Jo Gao Diya Arun

    KUNG FU

  • Jo Gao Justen Force

    KUNG FU

  • Jo Gao Grey Shea

    KUNG FU

  • Jo Gao Kevin Sheppard

    KUNG FU

  • Jo Gao Jasper Weeks

    KUNG FU

  • Jo Gao Cassie Johnson

    KUNG FU

  • Jo Gao Elizabeth Webb

    TAI CHI

  • Jo Gao Yolanda "Pi" Stafford

    KUNG FU

  • Karen Larsen

    YOGA

  • Shifu Gary J. LaChapelle Jr.

    HEAD INSTRUCTOR

About Our Instructors

Shifu Eliot Prisby

Shifu Eliot began practicing martial arts in 1993, at the age of eight. He has black belts in Northern Long Fist Kung Fu, Yang Style Taijiquan, Isshin Ryu Karate, and I.T.F. Taekwondo. He has experience in many other styles of martial arts. He has competed and won forms, weapons, and fighting divisions in many local and national tournaments.

Shifu Eliot is an activist who advocates for immigrants and racial justice. He believes in the capacity of martial arts to strengthen not just people, but communities.

When he is not practicing martial arts or helping vulnerable neighbors, he enjoys snowboarding, surfing, hiking, weight-lifting, and reading (especially political theory and fantasy). He loves spending time with his friends and family. He continues seeking to expand his knowledge and improve himself as a martial arts instructor and a community organizer.

Shifu Eliot teaches all Adult Kung Fu, Kids Kung Fu, and Tai Chi classes.

 

  • As a child, Shifu Eliot was small of stature, meek of nature, bespectacled, and bookish, and thus, struggled with being physically and emotionally bullied. Eventually, to instill confidence and teach him how to protect himself, his parents decided to enroll him in karate lessons.

    In 1993, at the age of eight, Shifu enrolled at Rising Dragon Karate in Bow, New Hampshire, and, alongside his mother and sister, began learning Isshin Ryu Karate (一心流空手) from Shihan Richard BenAvram. Shihan Richard was a student of Ron and Lorie Rosenberg, who were students of the style’s founder, Tatsuo Shimabuku (島袋龍夫). Eventually, Shifu became an assistant instructor at the school, as well as an official member of the Isshin Ryu World Karate Association.

    In 2000, Shihan Richard and his family moved to Florida, and the school was taken over by two of Shihan Richard’s senior students, Sensei Steve Hassan and Sensei Mike Walls. Sensei Steve was an experienced and well-connected martial artist who incorporated several other styles into the Rising Dragon curriculum. As such, Shifu Eliot had the opportunity to study Kali Silat and Judo (柔道), working with respected teachers such as Guro Steve Perrin and Sensei Mikel LaChapelle.

    In 2002, due to the combination of a reduced training schedule, and his own admitted frustration with the more intricate and complicated styles of Silat and Judo, a hot-headed teenage Shifu Eliot sought out another hard art. In addition to continuing his studies of Isshin Ryu, he began training I.T.F. Taekwondo (유병철) under Master Patricia Cole at Cole’s Martial Arts & Fitness Center in Hooksett, New Hampshire. Master Pat was a student of Grandmaster B.C. Yu (최홍희), creator of the “eurythmic method” of learning, and a student of the father of modern Taekwondo, General Choi Hong Hi (최홍희).

    After ten years of training, Shifu received his first degree black belt in Isshin Ryu Karate on August 22nd 2004, shortly before leaving for college at Fitchburg State University. Sadly, Rising Dragon Karate closed shortly after Shifu and two of his fellow students received their black belts, but he continued his Taekwondo training with Master Pat.

    Upon arriving at Fitchburg State University, Shifu Eliot sought out a local martial arts club at the college, and finding that it existed in name only, took the reins into his own hands. Over the next four years, with help from several other dedicated college students and faculty interested in martial arts, he was able to grow the club into one of the largest, most active student-run organizations on campus. It is still operating today.

    There was a valuable pool of martial arts experience to draw from the university’s student body. In addition to gaining valuable administrative and executive experience through running the organization, Shifu Eliot had the opportunity to study several other styles of martial arts. He studied Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu Iaijutsu (無雙直傳英信流), a style of samurai sword, under Professor Susan Wadsworth, a student of Sensei Carl Long and Master Masayuki Shimabukuro. He studied Ninjutsu (忍術) under Bonnie Specht. He studied the Russian art of Systema (Система) under Alex Allrich. He studied Chinese American Goju Ryu under Sensei Coelynn McIninch, a student of Master Gary Card.

    All the while, he did his best to continue his Taekwondo training. Cole’s Martial Arts closed in 2005, when Master Pat moved to Florida. The school was re-opened as Chon Ji Martial Arts & Fitness Center by one of Master Pat’s senior students, Master Karl Wiegelman. Shifu Eliot continued training under Master Karl and the other instructors at Chon-Ji and received his first degree black belt in I.T.F. Tae Kwon Do on May 20th 2006. He continued his Taekwondo studies with Master Karl, and was also the only student from New Hampshire to travel to Florida to continue to train with Master Pat.

    After college, Shifu Eliot continued training in Taekwondo, between working his job in the human services and searching for a job relevant to his college degree (photography.) He received his 2nd degree black belt from Master Karl on December 13th 2008. During this time he reconnected with Sensei Steve and continued his studies of Kali Silat at Sensei Steve and Sensei Mikel’s new school, Multicultural Martial Arts.

    Eventually he was offered a healthcare job in Massachusetts, and made the hard decision to bid farewell to New Hampshire. Immediately upon moving to Worcester Massachusetts, he began searching for a new martial arts school. He decided to try Kung Fu (功夫), thinking it would be best for his overall experience as a martial artist, as most of the other styles he had done were hard martial arts styles. He visited several Kung Fu schools, but eventually settled on The Kung Fu and Tai Chi Academy of New England. (At the time it was called “Shaolin Kung Fu Centers”, and formerly known as “Maury’s Kung Fu.”) Impressed by the depth of skill knowledge, and sincerity of Sifu Gary LaChapelle, he became a student in August 2009, studying Northern Long Fist Kung Fu. He also began studying Tàijíquán (太極拳) under Sifu Gary and Sifu Karim-Ben Saunders, a student of Dr. Shou Yu Liang (梁守渝) and Narcyz Latecki. Eventually, after many years of growth, he received his black sash in Kung Fu on July 7th 2013.

    Shifu Eliot moved to Maynard Massachusetts with his wife in October 2014. He felt ready to pursue his lifelong dream of opening a martial arts school, and began searching for places to teach Kung Fu and Tai Chi. He had little luck until nearly a year later, while strolling through downtown Maynard, he walked into Warrior’s Way on a whim. Run by Master Andrew Bloch and his wife Karen, Warrior’s Way had a little bit of everything; Taekwondo, fencing, yoga, spinning, etc. Shifu Eliot asked Master Bloch for permission to add Kung Fu and Tai Chi to the extensive list of classes. Master Bloch agreed, and Shifu Eliot began attending Master Bloch’s classes as an orientation in addition to his continued training with Sifu Gary.

    Only a few months later, ready for the next stage of his own journey, and aware of Shifu Eliot’s aspirations, Master Bloch offered to sell the school to him. Shifu accepted. Warrior’s Way was reopened as Metrowest Kung Fu on January 2nd 2016.Shifu left his job in healthcare in November 2016 to devote more time to his family, and to grow Metrowest Kung Fu into a pillar of martial virtue in the Metrowest region.

    Shifu Eliot continues to train with Shifu Gary, and has augmented his learning from many other martial arts masters. Shifu loves learning martial arts and meeting new people, and has worked with a wide variety of instructors and masters. He has continued learning Tai Chi from Shifu Gary and Shifu Karim, as well as Sifu Lindsay Lambert. He has also worked extensively with Coach Michelle Lin, a closed-door student of Dr. Yang Jwing-Ming. He has refined his Push Hands 推手 (tuīshǒu) with Jon Woodward, and Steve Broadbent. He has refined his qìgōng (氣功) with Dr. Shou-Yu Liang, Master Fang-Chih Li, Paul and Rosalie DiCrescenzo, and the legendary Taoist master Kwan Saihung. He has refined his swordsmanship with Kenneth Van Sickle and Master Guo Naihui. He has refined his Bāguàzhǎng (八卦掌) with Joe Gallop and Master Zhong Xuechao (钟学超).

    Shifu Eliot received his black sash in Tai Chi and his first degree black sash in Kung Fu August 17th 2019. He received his second degree black sash in Kung Fu on October 14th 2022. He was promoted to Shifu ("teacher" or "master") August 3rd 2024, and became Sifu Gary's disciple (入室弟子 - "Yup Sut Dai Gee" in Cantonese or Rù Shì Dì Zǐ in Mandarin) August 10th 2024.

    Shifu Eliot is an activist and organizer. He founded “Maynard Welcomes You” in 2017, a mutual aid group for immigrants and refugees in his community. Fluent in Spanish, he volunteers for the Casa del Trabajador in Framingham MA, as well as Together & Free. He has mentored with activist Monica Cannon-Grant and is a member of the Fight for Monica team, as well as Maynard for Palestine. He was a founding member of the Maynard Human Relations Committee, where he successfully led the effort to make Maynard a “sanctuary city” for immigrants in 2020. He helped to bring legal action against a local landlord who was abusing tenants of subsidized housing in Maynard. He has helped construction workers, restaurant workers, and hospitality workers to fight cases of wage theft, in Maynard and beyond. He provides mutual aid to people in Maynard and the surrounding areas, and participates in many other social justice actions and political initiatives.

    Main Teachers (In Chronological Order)

    1993 - 2000: Shihan Richard BenAvram (Isshin Ryu Karate 一心流空手)

    2000 - 2004: Sensei Steve Hassan (Isshin Ryu Karate 一心流空手)

    2002 - 2005: Master Patricia Cole (I.T.F. Taekwondo 유병철)

    2005 - 2009: Master Karl Weigelman (I.T.F. Taekwondo 유병철)

    2009 - Present: Sifu Gary J. LaChapelle Jr. (Northern Long Fist Kung Fu 功夫 , Yáng Tàijíquán 楊太極拳)

    2009 - Present: Sifu Cheyenne LaChapelle (Northern Long Fist Kung Fu 功夫)

    2009 - Present: Sifu Karim-Ben Saunders (Yáng Tàijíquán 楊太極拳, Sūn Tàijíquán 孙太極拳, Chén Tàijíquán 陳太極拳, Liáng Bāguàzhǎng 梁八卦掌)

    2020 - Present: Karen Larsen (Yoga)

    2020 - Present: Master Andrew Bloch (I.T.F. Taekwondo, Yoga)

    2021 - Present: Cassie Johnson (Classic Pilates)

    Recurring Teachers (In Alphabetical Order)

    Steve Broadbent (tuīshǒu 推手)

    Joe Gallop (Yǐn Bāguàzhǎng 尹八卦掌)

    Shifu Lindsay Lambert (Yáng Tai Chi sword 楊氏太極劍, Liùhébāfǎ 六合八法)

    Coach Michelle Lin (Yáng Tàijíquán 楊太極拳, tuīshǒu 推手)

    Jon Woodward (tuīshǒu 推手)

    Master Zhong Xuechao (Wǔdāng Bāguàzhǎng 武當八卦掌, Wǔdāng Kung Fu 武當拳)

    Dr. Yang Jwing-Ming (Qínná 擒拿)

    Shifu Gregg Zilb (Luóhànquán 罗汉拳, Chén Shì Tàijíquán 陈氏太极拳, Sanda 散打)

Jo Gao Irene Gruber

Shifu Eliot often jokes that Irene “came with the property.” Irene began her martial arts journey as a Taekwondo mom, bringing her two sons to Giorgio’s Taekwon-do in Sudbury MA, then following Master Andy Bloch when he left Giorgio’s to establish Warrior’s Way in Maynard in the early 2010s.

Irene eventually began participating in classes herself, particularly yoga under Karen Larsen. 

When Shifu Eliot took over Warrior’s Way and re-opened it as Metrowest Kung Fu in 2016, Irene stuck around, participating in the Tai Chi and yoga classes. A strong and balanced yogi as well as a rooted and quietly powerful Tai Chi player, Irene is a consistent and helpful presence in the school and does very much behind the scenes to support the school and her instructors.

Irene received her Tai Chi Black Sash May 30th 2024.


Jo Gao Mark Globerson

Mark began studying Karate at age thirteen, and received his first degree black belt at age seventeen. He continued training in different styles with various clubs during college. 

After moving to Massachusetts in 1987, he studied Kung Fu and Tai Chi under Sifu David Simeone, an instructor in Wah Lum Kung Fu and Tai Chi, and a student of Bow-Sim Mark). When that school closed, Mark studied Yang Tai Chi at Yang’s Martial Arts Association. 

Work and family responsibilities provided an extended break of over twenty years from formal training. In 2017 he found his new Tai Chi home at Metrowest Kung Fu with Shifu Eliot Prisby. He studied both Kung Fu and Tai Chi from Shifu Eliot. He began studying yoga to help build a better foundation for martial arts. He continues his yoga and Tai Chi training with a focus on integrating the two arts. 

Jo Gao Mark received his Tai Chi Black Sash June 4th, 2024.

Jo Gao Diya Arun

In 2017, Diya began her Kung Fu journey at just 10 years old, initially viewing it as a fun after-school hobby in the kids' class. As she transitioned to the adult class, her interest quickly evolved into a deep passion for martial arts. 

Over the years, she has worked hard to progress through the ranks even if the transition to the adult class slowed it down for a bit. Her curiosity pushes her to explore the limitless possibilities that await her beyond the Black Sash.  

Beyond the physical training, Kung Fu has taught her a profound respect for the art and its traditions, shaping her into a dedicated martial artist. In her free time, she likes to read, play the piano, and watch movies. Diya received her Kung Fu Black Sash August 10th 2024.

She is currently studying at Rutgers University.


Jo Gao Justen Force

Jo Gao Justen began practicing martial arts at the age of five at Metrowest Kung Fu with Shifu Eliot. He earned his black belt in Huaquan Kung Fu in 2024. He has competed and won medals in advanced teen division empty hand forms and weapons in numerous martial arts tournaments throughout New England and New York. Justen continues his studies with Shifu Eliot and Shigong Gary and is very grateful for them sharing their knowledge of martial arts. 

Justen’s journey into martial arts began when he was inspired by a live performance of the “Nutcracker.”  Shortly after, he began practicing Kung Fu at Metrowest Kung Fu and dance at the Acton School of Ballet and with the Commonwealth Ballet Company. Since 2019, Justen has solely devoted his time to the study of martial arts.

In his free time, Justen enjoys computer programming, gaming, reading, and spending time with his family and cat and dog. 

Justen received his black sash August 10th, 2024

Jo Gao Grey Shea

Grey started his Kung Fu journey in 2017 with Metrowest Kung Fu just shy of his 9th birthday, and after a short-lived debate over whether to continue soccer practice or do Kung Fu, he has not looked back. At first, the classes offered quality social time which included lessons on discipline, but when his friend stopped taking classes in 2018, Grey became more invested in his training. 

Grey has always tried to have an active role in the school and helping younger kids since he began training in the adults class in 2021. He firmly believes in the quality of the Kung Fu in the kids class; The training they received there is close to his heart because they learned so much about functioning as a person and being aware of the impact of one’s actions on others– lessons that continue to reverberate in his life today and no doubt into the future. Grey is mainly driven by his respect and admiration for the school culture, as well as the desire to teach others. He is deeply excited about all of the learning opportunities after black sash, as well as what their rank means in terms of being a role model for younger and/or aspiring students.

Outside of Metrowest Kung Fu, Grey enjoys drawing and crafts, creative writing, and the occasional good book when time allows. He is extremely driven to foster friendships and maintain the close relationships he has with others in his life.

Jo Gao Grey received his black sash August 10th 2024.


Jo Gao Kevin Sheppard

Martial arts have always been a part of Kevin’s life. He began studying Ueichi Ryu Karate at the tender age of three years old. After studying for twelve years and receiving his second degree black belt in 2016, his Karate school closed. 

Kevin first joined Metrowest Kung Fu in 2017, initially intimidated of the practice and something new after studying Karate all his life, but was willing to learn a new style from the very beginning and now finds Kung Fu a new language of martial arts.

Kevin has great respect and dedication to the art and physical practice of Kung Fu, and does his best to commit to the craft and honor his teachers. 

Outside of martial arts, Kevin is a talented artist. He majored in digital filmmaking at Lesley University and BA in fine arts. He enjoys, movies, photography, art, music, video games, science, history, literature, and comic books.

Kevin received his black sash under Shifu Eliot August 10th, 2024.


Jo Gao Jasper Weeks

Jasper also started as a student in the kids’ classes in 2018. Over the years he worked hard and took his training seriously, eventually transitioning into the adult class. In addition to helping instruct the kids Kung Fu classes, Jasper has also participated in many seminars, learning from Shigong Gary, Shitaigong Gregg, as well as other instructors such as Master Zhong Xuechao. Jasper received his Kung Fu black sash August 10th 2024.


Jo Gao Cassie Johnson

Cassie has been studying Kung Fu with Sifu Eliot since 2021. During this time she has gone to many workshops focusing on different aspects of martial arts such as self-defense applications and qín ná (擒拿). Her previous martial arts practice included Karate and Japanese Jujitsu.

Cassie’s day job is as a pilates instructor at her own studio, Dive Pilates, located in West Concord. 

When she’s not working or doing Kung Fu or Tai Chi, she is sharpening her vegan cooking skills, speed-reading books, and planning an ever expanding container garden each spring, so her giant black cat can recline like the majestic feline he is. 

Cassie received her black sash March 22nd 2025.


Jo Gao Elizabeth Webb

Elizabeth began her martial arts journey with Metrowest Kung Fu as a Kung Fu parent, bringing her son to classes. In 2019, she signed up for Tai Chi as a means of developing a discipline that would support her overall health and well-being, and continues to learn and benefit from it today.

Elizabeth is a dedicated Tai Chi student who frequently assists in instruction of classes, and particularly enjoys qigong.

Elizabeth works as a clinical social worker.

She received her Tai Chi Black Sash on June 28th 2025.


Jo Gao Yolanda “Pi” Stafford

Pi was studying basic Kenpo in her youth when that school transitioned to a different martial art style. After an extended sabbatical, she sought to resume her practice but this time in the form of Tai Chi. In 2021 she found Metrowest Kung Fu.

Through her study of Tai Chi, she developed an interest in Kung Fu as an expression of the arts.

Performing in several demonstrations and competitions, Pi most enjoys working on weapons forms.

When she is not at the guan, Pi works as an engineer for a company that builds custom research equipment. There is not a lot of free time, but she may be found at Hudson Eagles or hanging our with family and friends deciding what to eat next. Also, she is fond of her motorcycle and regularly shoots a game of pool.

Karen Larsen

The former head yoga instructor of Warrior’s Way, Karen is one of the most experienced yoga instructors in New England and has taught many students who went on to open their own studios both locally and abroad.  

She is highly experienced in many types of body movement.  She was president of NASC college dance club for four years, a student of the Dance Department of Williams College for four years.  She is certified in NEDITA, AFFA, and pilates.  She studied pilates with Patricia Fitzgerald, and ballet with Margo Parsons.  She studied Thai massage therapy with Teresa Gurnard, and studied yoga under many famous instructors, including Duncan Wong, Anna Forest, David Swenson, and Shiva Rae.

When Karen is not teaching yoga or pilates, she is usually taking care of rescue animals at her animal sanctuary, Liberty Farms.

Shifu Gary J. LaChapelle

Shifu Gary started his training back in 1988. After studying various styles of both Karate and Kung Fu, he began his focus on studying Northern Long Fist Kung Fu and Yang Style Tai Chi in 2000.

In 2003, he became one of the key instructors of the Worcester school location of Maury’s Kung Fu Academy, and became the Chief Instructor in 2005. In 2006 after years of hard work and dedication, he earned the title of Shifu. In 2017, he was awarded his 4th Degree Black Sash.

Approaching thirty-five years of experience in martial arts, Shifu Gary has chosen to further his Chinese Martial Arts education, and was invited by Shifu Gregg Zilb of Authentic Shaolin Kung Fu of Holtsville New York to become a Yup Sut Dai Gee (入室弟子 - “Rù Shì Dì Zǐ” in Mandarin.)

Shifu Gary is the Chief Instructor/Owner of The Kung Fu & Tai Chi Academy of New England, a branch location of Authentic Shaolin Kung Fu in Worcester County, Massachusetts.

Shifu Gary has been:

  • A teacher of Huaquan Kung Fu for nearly twenty years

  • A teacher of Tai Chi over fifteen years

  • Hosting the yearly public World Tai Chi & Qi Gong Day event in Worcester Massachusetts since 2008, receiving proclamations in 2012 from Worcester Mayor Joe Petty and Governor Deval Patrick.

Shifu Gary is a strong supporter of martial arts awareness, lending his support volunteering and judging at several tournaments, instruction, demonstration, and Lion Dance at public schools, after-school programs, and universities.

Shifu Gary also has been and still instructing senior citizens in Tai Chi at several area Council-On-Aging Centers since 2014.