About Gibborrim Academy
A Close Community with Big Kung Family
Gibborrim Academy of Martial Arts is located in O'Fallon, Illinois. We offer a top-ranked martial arts education in the Applied Wing Chun Kung Fu lineage, where science, tradition, and the art of self-defense are fostered in a transformative community.
Gibborrim Academy of Martial Arts is proud to be part of a global network of schools under the Applied Wing Chun Kung Fu lineage, operating under the guidance of the International Applied Wing Chun Federation.
Our Sifu teaches the Applied Wing Chun Kung Fu as it was passed down to him by his teacher, Sifu Donald Presto—a direct disciple of Grandmaster Duncan Leung, who himself was a personal student and disciple of the legendary Ip Man.
The Gibborrim Academy of Martial Arts believes in teaching Wing Chun Kung Fu as the core of what our students learn to promote fitness, confidence, and self-defense.
Wing Chun Kung Fu is a system of self-defense created and taught in China over 300 years ago. The training methods we use are from Applied Wing Chun, the teachings of Duncan Leung a direct discipline of Ip Man. Wing Chun utilizes the structure of your body and angles to generate and move power that allows you to take advantage of an attacker.
Our Founder’s extensive background in martial arts brings over 20 years of experience teaching and training around the world. Our students learn Applied Wing Chun, and advanced concepts and principles from other systems to use opponents force against them, and to redirect their force elsewhere as the situation may dictate.
Wing Chun Lineage
Our Line of Transmission
Ip Man
GrandMaster
Ip Man became well known after several of his students, notably Bruce Lee spread Wing Chun around the World.
Ip Man learned Wing Chun system from Chan Wah Shan, a direct line from the original masters of the system.
Ip Man passed on his knowledge to many students, and a handful of disciples.
Duncan Leung
Si Tai Gung
Duncan Shiu Hung Leung, is a formal disciple of the late Grandmaster Ip Man,
His knowledge and experienced spans over several decades beginning with his private training under Grandmaster Ip Man in 1955. He has traveled the world and teaching Wing Chun in the way it was passed to him by Grandmaster Ip Man.
Applied Wing Chun is his interpretation of what was passed to him directly from Ip Man.
In 2014, Si Tai Gung Leung established the International Applied Wing Chun Federation, with a technical committee responsible for certifying members throughout the world as able to teach and pass on Applied Wing Chun.
Donald Presto
SiGung
SiGung Donald Presto began his Wing Chun journey in 1984 at the age of 13 years old in Si Tai Gung’s Leung’s Applied Wing Chun School in Virginia Beach, CA.
By the age of 15 yo Donald Presto moved into the adult class, and has attended and assisted Si Tai Gung Leung in countless Wing Chun seminars around the world.
SiGung Presto continued to teach and train in Applied Wing Chun while serving on active duty in the U.S. Marine Corps. In 2014, he was one of the founding members of the International Applied Wing Chun Federation to preserve the history, and lessons passed on from Grandmaster Ip Man to Si Tai Gung Leung.
SiGung Presto a retired Marine Corps LtCol. created his Applied Wing Chun school in Temecula, CA to continue to teach his 35+ years of Applied Wing Chun Experience.
Ken Roberts
SiFu
Sifu Roberts journey in Wing Chun Kung Fu began while stationed in Okinawa, Japan. At the time he was a senior enlisted U.S. Marine, and 2nd degree black belt martial arts instructor-trainer in the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program.
Having trained in may styles of Aikido, Krav Maga, Kickboxing, and Muay Thai, he came across Wing Chun in his research. Fortune smiled on him and he located a school in Okinawa that taught Wing Chun. It was under the instruction of a talented Italian man teaching Wing Chun as taught to him by Ip Man’s son, Ip Chun. The class however, was taught mostly in Japanese. SiFu Roberts’ Japanese at the time was conversational at best.
In 2012, SiFu Roberts met SiGung Donald Presto when he came in as a visiting instructor. Their paths crossed through martial arts, and SiGung Presto agreed to teach him Applied Wing Chun in return for teaching SiGung Presto advanced training in the Marine Corps Martial Arts.
SiFu Roberts trained with SiGung Presto while they were stationed together in Okinawa, then on frequent trips back to Okinawa when SiFu Roberts changed stations to Southern California. In 2014-2015, SiGung Presto relocated to SoCal, and SiFu Roberts resumed his training. We both retired from military service in 2017 to pursue higher education, and eventually formally open their own martial arts schools.
ABOUT THE FOUNDER
Sifu Ken Roberts
Our Founder, Ken Roberts is a retired U.S. Marine who brings with him 20+ years of teaching combative fighting and martial arts in the military, and post retirement.
- Credibility: 20 Years Combatives in the U.S. Marine Corps, 14 years teaching Marine Corps Martial Arts Program, and 11 years making Martial Arts Instructors, and 5 years developing Instructor-Trainers.
- Authority: Teaching Martial Arts since 2003. 3rd Degree Black Belt in Marine Corps Martial Arts Program, studied under Muay Thai, Kickboxing, Daito-ryu Aiki-jujistu, and Applied Wing Chun under Sifu Donald Presto.
- Benefit: Established modern framework for teaching Applied Wing Chun Kung Fu that reduces learning curves, and improves student development.
- Education: Certified Applied Wing Chun Instructor, CrossFit Level 2 Trainer, former USAT/USATF/Ironman U Certified Coach, BS in Nutrition and Dietetics, MA in Health Communications, Registered Dietitian, Licensed Dietitian Nutritionist, current doctoral student in Interdisciplinary Leadership.
STILL GOT QUESTIONS? WE GOT YOU!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I come in and just observe a class?
For the safety and security of our students we do not allow visitors to observe classes outside of family members during scheduled observations.
Do you offer trial memberships?
Yes. We offers trial memberships. Please contact us at 618-206-8302 to learn more.
Do you offer beginner classes for adults, teens, or children?
Yes. All students start as beginners, whether they are children or adult, or have a previous martial arts background.
Do you offer mix classes with adults and children?
No. Our classes are separated by age ranges for children and adults. Children are separated by (8-12yo, 13-16yo).
The adult program is for ages 16+.
We realize some schools may offer mixed classes. The reason we separate is based on emotional, mental, physical, and social development that varies throughout a child’s development.
Do you use a Belt system for your students?
Yes. The ranking system includes sashes for beginner, Novice, Intermediate, and Advanced. Each color represents a specific meaning and helps to delineate progression at the school. It helps the student know where they are in relation to their journey in martial arts, and in skill level to their fellow students.
Does your school have uniforms?
Yes. Beginner students wear black athletic pants and a plain grey shirt. Novice, Intermediate, and Advance students wear black kung fu pants and their appropriately colored school shirt and sash.
Do your students participant in competitions and tournaments?
No. Gibborrim Academy of Martial Arts is an Applied Wing Chun school and does not participate in or require students to participant in competitions or tournaments.
Do you accept older adults?
Yes. There is no age limitation to when an adult may begin their Wing Chun Journey. We welcome all adults who desire to learn.
Explore More about Gibborrim Academy
Learn more about the Gibborrim Academy education and what sets us apart.
Learn about the experience students and families have at Gibborrim Academy.
@2019-2026 Gibborrim Academy of Martial Arts
922B Talon Drive, O'Fallon, IL