Today we’d like to introduce you to Clinet Furr.
Hi Clinet, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I started martial arts in college at Appalachian State University majoring in Science Education in September (2012). After I graduated, I realized to stay in Boone or anywhere around there really, I’d probably never get to teach since the market was flooded with teachers graduating from ASU.
I began working as a Health Inspector for a county below Watagua which was Caldwell County. After a few years, I realized I missed teaching so I opened a martial arts school called Blue Ridge Kung-fu Arnis academy. Eventually, my school grew so large, I decided to stop renting space and buy land and built my own school. Once my school income tripled my health inspection job, I quit and focused exclusively on teaching martial arts.
After 15 years teaching in Caldwell County, it became necessary to move to Charleston because we had family in the area and my mother-in-law was experiencing some health issues. She had to have a liver transplant and she lived with us for a while, before moving back to the Island of Palms.
I opened a school in Belle Hall Shopping Center for about six months but realized my heart wasn’t into having a school again and I noticed that I’d get a lot of calls about lessons but they weren’t available for group lessons. Mount Pleasant has a lot of martial arts schools but I noticed that people needed more flexibility in their schedules. It seemed to me that it wasn’t fair that professional people who couldn’t attend group classes during set hours should miss out on such wonderful discipline.
So, I decided to start teaching private lessons by going to the students and teaching them at home, their gym, or their back yard. It was very well received and as I suspected there were plenty of professional people who wanted lessons. To date, I’ve taught actors, doctors, college professors, navy personnel, business owners, and the list goes on.
When Covid first appeared, I suspended classes due to social distances issues. Honestly, I enjoyed the break but it’s time to gear back up and I have a waiting list with dozens of new students wanting to get started. The advantage of a home-based business is that there is no overhead to worry about now. In the past, I had employees, electric bills, and a mortgage and it would have been very difficult to navigate the pandemic in those situations.
Over the years, I’ve had the great honor to train with some of the world’s finest martial artists such as Wally Jay, George Dillman, Rick Ward, Remy Presas, Gaudiosa Ruby, Joe Lewis, and Norman Pedlehore. It just goes to show how teachers are really valued. I couldn’t be where I am today without their help. From each one, I learned something unique.
I’ve written four books that are sold on Amazon, Barnes, and Noble. Their titles are Physics in The Martial Arts, Healing Meditations, 105 Things Every Martial Artist Should Know, and Martial Arts History, Science Meditation, and Health.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It was a little difficult to get the word out that I was here and available. I tried several things but nothing seemed to work at first but then I realized that I should create a webpage. Once I created my website ckfaa.com, people started finding me. The internet was very useful.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I teach traditional Shaolin Kung-fu. It includes grappling, kicks, punches, sweeps, takedowns, weapons such as staff, escrima sticks, nunchaku, rope dart, broadsword, and many others. I also teach Tai Chi and Modern Arnis.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
I love to see my students make the connections in their minds. They learn moves and then see how they all fit together to make a form. When they are excited about what they are learning, I’m excited for them as well.
Contact Info:
- Email: masterfurr@gmail.com
- Website: ckfaa.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100057311655102
