Wim Demeere
Wim Demeere began training in the martial arts at the age of 14, studying the grappling arts of judo and jujitsu for several years before turning to the kick/punch arts of traditional kung fu and full-contact fighting. He studied a traditional Chinese style called hung chia pai, which is renowned for its ruthless training methods and emphasis on body conditioning. It also gave him a strong foundation in traditional Chinese free-fighting and self defense techniques called sanshou. This style was a steppingstone to research the sanshou systems of many different Chinese arts. Over the years he has studied a broad range of other fighting styles, including muay Thai, kali, pentjak silat and shootfighting. Since the late 1990s, he has been studying combat tai chi chuan.
Mr. Demeere’s competitive years saw him win four national titles and a bronze medal at the 1995 World Wushu Championships. In 2001, he became the national coach of the Belgian Wushu fighting team.
A full-time personal trainer in his native country of Belgium, Mr. Demeere instructs both business executives and athletes in nutrition, strength and endurance, and a variety of martial arts styles. He has managed a corporate wellness center and regularly gives lectures and workshops in the corporate world.
As an author, Mr. Demeere co-authored The Fighter’s Body: An Owner’s Manual and Timing in the Fighting Arts both with Loren W. Christensen and both published by Turtle Press. He is also a contributor to Warriors and Fighter’s Fact Book 2 by Loren W. Christensen published by Paladin Press and Turtle press respectively. Mr. Demeere filmed a DVD program on sanshou with Paladin Press that will be released in 2007. You can contact Mr. Demeere through his website The Grinding Shop at www.grindingshop.com
