Print this pageHistory of the Scranton Martial Arts Center
In the Beginning
The Scranton Martial Arts Center (SMAC) TM had a very long and rich history in Northeast Pennsylvania. The roots of the Center stem from one of the first Chinese martial arts schools to open in Northeastern Pennsylvania, the Academy of Chinese Martial Arts. To the public the school was known as the Chinese Martial Arts Academy or CMAA TM for short.
The CMAA first opened its doors in 1981 and remained centrally located on the second floor of the historic Leonard Building at 346 Adams Avenue in downtown Scranton, PA. The Academy's location was marked by its famous sign that hung proudly on the heavily traveled corner of Adams Avenue and Mulberry Street as a landmark, telling the location of the studio to all interested in learning. The Academy was lead by Master Sifu Brian Felter, and within a short time after opening became known for its top notch instruction, hard training, and for producing highly skilled martial arts practitioners of all levels in the styles of Bai Lung Chuan Fa (Pai Lum Tao) and Northern Long Fist Kung Fu. Throughout its years in the downtown, the studio flourished seeing student enrollment in the tens of thousands over this period. People who were interested in the Chinese martial arts came from all over Northeastern and Central Pa, New Jersey, and lower New York State to regularly train in downtown Scranton's famous school. With the prestigious University of Scranton only two blocks away from the studio, the Academy often entertained students from all over the United States and the world, including students from such countries as Mexico, Ireland, Brazil, and South Africa.
Around 2002, a company known as DDRC Reality purchased the historic Leonard Building from its previous owner with promises of improving the aging building in order to better serve its tenants. In 2004, DDRC Reality forced the Academy to relocate from its famous location on Adams Ave, across town, to a new location on North Main Avenue on the West Side of the city. This was due to the renovation and de-commercialization of the Academy's 23 year home into loft apartments. Gone from its location many were under the assumption that the Academy had closed. It was at this time that the Academy's Headmaster and owner retired passing on the traditions of the Academy to one of his disciples and Lead Instructor Sifu PJ Zippittelli. Master Felter left Sifu PJ to carry on the legacy of expert instruction that the Academy was known for and try to build a new home for the students. Under the guidance of Sifu PJ, the Chinese Martial Arts Academy continued to produce many skilled students in the traditional Chinese arts, but with its new location in Washington Hall unable to serve the school well, the Academy was unable to continue alone.
The Scranton Martial Arts Center
In 2007 Sifu PJ called upon fellow Chinese martial artists masters and training brothers of his to band together and create a joint organization, dedicated to the instruction, promotion and preservation of the traditional Chinese martial arts. A unified body of education that became the Scranton Martial Arts Center LLC (SMAC) TM . The Scranton Martial Arts Center would carry on the traditions and standards for education that were set forth with the Chinese Martial Arts Academy, but would stand alone as its own separate entity dedicated to the future of the Chinese arts in NEPA. The creation of the Center would challenge its newly formed Board of Lead Instructors to openly offer their knowledge and experiences by putting forth methods, styles, and systems of various Chinese and Asian martial arts not ever instructed in this area before all under one roof. The Center quickly became one of the only Chinese martial arts schools in NEPA to openly teach the intermediate and advanced training methods of the traditional Chinese martial arts, and was one of the only full time martial arts schools in operation in Northeastern Pennsylvania. The Scranton Martial Arts Center offered separate classes and curriculums for adults and children, and incorporated into its various programs many traditional and modern training aspects. With nearly 3200 square feet of hardwood floor space, the Scranton Martial Arts Center easily accommodated class sizes into the double digits. The Lead Instructors along with their black sash teachers of the Center taught a full complement of daily classes, often beginning at 10am and continuing until 9pm. Many instructors enjoyed teaching in house seminars and traveling throughout the country teaching seminars. Students and instructors came from all over to learn and train with the Lead Instructors of the Center.
But as they say, all good thing must come to an end. Like many of the thousands of small business across the United States, the poor economy took its toll. In early 2010 the Center was forced to close its doors leaving a 29 year old legacy behind. The knowledge and traditions will be carried on with the instructors and students who stuck with the Center until the very end and continue to keep the traditions alive in their hearts and minds.