Print this pageGrandmaster Tao Chi Li David J Everett
Grandmaster Everett is the founder and head of the White Lotus Integrated Martial Arts Association (W L.A.) and considered to be Sifu PJ's most influential teacher in the development of his martial knowledge.
David J. Everett (Currently of Hartford CT ) stands out as a shining example of an individual who has always striven to represent and pass on the true principles of the martial arts as they were taught to him.
Mr. Everett's martial arts odyssey began in 1961 in New Britain, CT with the study of Judo. He later moved on to the study of the well known style of Kyokushinkai Karate, which he practiced and taught from 1964 to 1969
While in California to pursue a degree in fine arts and photography at the Brooks Institute, Mr. Everett explored and intensified his studies of the Japanese martial arts, achieving the rank of black belt in Judo and Aikido while teaching for and studying with the acclaimed master, Ken Ota. Additionally, he achieved black belt rank in Japanese Goju-Ryu Karate and Kendo while studying with various teachers. Upon returning to Connecticut in 1972, Mr. Everett's involvement in the Chinese Martial Arts began. He chanced upon Grandmaster Daniel K. Pai, head of the Pai Lum White Dragon Fist System. He became Chief Instructor at Grandmaster Pai's Fire Dragon School in Hartford, CT; and later was named Chief Instructor of all White Dragon Fist Kung Fu schools under Grandmaster Pai. From 1972 to 1976 Mr. Everett enjoyed the unique honor of being Grandmaster Pai's only live-in student and he was given the name, "Tao Pai", or Way of Pai and was well known for being a shining example for all that Grandmaster Pai had to teach. Mr. Everett was instrumental in developing, organizing and administering much of the written manuals, codes, creeds and other materials which are still in use today by many White Dragon schools. (He severed ties for personal reasons with the White Dragon Society in 1981.)
While studying in Taiwan he met another teacher important in his development as a martial artist, Grandmaster Wu Jen Dai. It was Grandmaster Wu who gave Mr. Everett the Chinese martial arts family name which he uses to this day, "Tao Ch'i Li", or "The Way of Strength and Wisdom." Throughout the 1980's, Mr. Everett traveled extensively; training with many highly skilled Chinese martial arts masters including Manfred Steiner and James Cravens the senior disciples of Sifu Kai Sai (Christopher Casey). In 1984 Mr. Everett met and trained with Daniel Inosanto, Bruce Lee's prot_g_ and noted Filipino Martial Arts Master. Mr. Everett subsequently went on to train in more depth with Guro Inosanto.
In 1985 Mr. Everett met and began extensive training under Grand Tuhon Leo T. Gaje, Jr., lineage holding head of the Pekiti-Tirsia Kali System. Grandmaster Gaje named Mr. Everett Connecticut State Representative for Pekiti-Tirsia. Additionally, Mr. Everett trained with Tuhon William R. McGrath, Grand Tuhon's Senior Student and instructor. Mr. McGrath later named Mr. Everett Northeastern Regional Director for the Pekiti-Tirsia International System.
In addition to his traditional martial arts training, Mr. Everett also has extensive experience as a Defensive Tactics Trainer and Instructor. He was at one time the CT State Director for Baton Training under the auspices of the US Police Defensive Tactics Association (U.S.P.D.T.A) and a certified defensive tactics instructor in the state of Connecticut.
Since 1977, Mr. Everett has served as Owner/Headmaster of White Lotus Martial Arts of West Hartford, CT. White Lotus is the oldest Chinese martial arts school in the Central CT area. He has also, along with his wife, Simu Patricia Everett, enjoyed success as an author, having had over ten articles published in magazines such as Inside Kung-Fu, Inside Karate, and Black Belt
(Portions of this page borrowed from Tao Chi Li David Everett’s biography located on white-lotus.com(external link) For More information please follow the links portion of this web site)