CHI TU DO

Grandmaster (8th Degree) Brian Cunnings began  

training in Kwon Bup in Fresno, California in 1972. After joining kickboxing team, he competed in many PKA and full contact matches. Soon Da’Shifu Al  Moore Jr. took an interest in his training. Shortly thereafter he began  

training with Moore in Shoú Shú Kung Fu and attained a Black Belt. In the early 1980s, as a pastor on a trip to Korea, he met fellow-minister and evangelist, Grandmaster  Edward B. Sell (on the left in the photo) and began cross-training in the Chung Do Kwan style  of Taekwondo.

Mr. Cunnings opened a Taekwondo school in Oakhurst, California in 1985 as a 3rd Degree Black Belt. Many of his martial arts schools were housed at local churches throughout the 80s & 90s.  In the early 1990s he successfully tested for 6th Degree Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do. In the late 1980s Master Cunnings met and began working with Soke Clement Riedner in both the Shiho Karano Ju Jitsu and Ba Men Chuan Fa martial art systems. He attained a 5th Dan in Ju Jitsu and a 6th Dan in Ba Men Chuan Fa. In the 80's, he met and began training with Grand Master Ramiro U. Estalilla Jr. in the Estalilla Kabaroan system of the Filipino Weapons Arts. Apo Cunnings reached the Associate  Grandmaster (8th Degree) level in that system.

As a Deputy Sheriff he was the Head Defensive Tactics Instructor for the Madera County Sheriff’s Dept. He qualified in tactical firearms and was an instructor for law enforcement agencies. 

In the middle of the 1990s, after achieving his Master’s Degree in each of the individual styles, he incorporated his knowledge of these 4 styles into one integrated system. This was the birth of Chi-Tu-Do. The style is formally recognized by both Soke Riedner and GM Estalilla as a valid martial arts system. In 2000, Master Cunnings was promoted to the rank of 7th Degree Black belt and recognized as an Associate Grandmaster in Kabaroan Eskrima. In August of 2011, he was recognized as an 8th Degree Black Belt by Soke Riedner gaining the title of Grandmaster.

 He passed the martial art systems onto his 2 sons Bonner Cunnings & Brent Cunnings. The family art expanded after Hannah Cunnings (wife to Bonner) and Melissa Cunnings (wife to Brent) taught as black belt instructors in the family martial arts schools.

The third generation of black belts have continued the legacy in Master Cunnings' grandchildren. Cunnings black belts are now entering the MMA ring employing the art of COMBAT CHI-TU-DO.