Today we’d like to introduce you to Keith Mosher.
Hi Keith, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I have a Bachelor’s of Media Arts degree from USC, Columbia, 1980. I have held a variety of jobs over the years: Audio Producer / Engineer for USC, Assistant to the CEO of Maurice Bessinger’s Piggy Park, a Law Office Manager, among others. I’ve had 3 business of my own: An Aquarium set up business (AquaDoc), a software business writing legal software (LegalSync), and now my own Martial Arts school – Wing Chun – SC.
I began training in martial arts when I was 14, under Sensei James Logue, here in Columbia. I went to college and could no longer train. Life moves on. I got married, had a child.
At age 9, it was decided the child would study martial arts. Through that I met Mark Mills, currently of Columbia Martial Arts and Fitness in Lexington. At the time (late 1990s), he ran Columbia Martial Arts Training Center in Oak Grove.
My primary martial arts study has been Wing Chun and Jeet Kune Do. Jeet Kune Do is the style Bruce Lee created – it is a derivative of Wing Chun. I had been teaching Jeet Kune Do at Mr. Mills’ school for about 18 years, but I wanted to get deeper into Wing Chun.
I was given an opportunity to share a studio space with Dan Bernardo, an excellent teacher of a Korean martial art – Tangsoodo. So in 2016, I left Mr. Mills’ school and began teaching and studying Wing Chun on my own.
In 2023, I had the opportunity to obtain the studio space entirely, allowing me to offer more classes. In addition to Wing Chun, I offer a Kickboxing class. I hold classes Monday through Thursday, and Saturdays.
What I teach is a mixture of art and street level self defense. I do not teach youth. Many of the techniques used are not suited to the schoolyard, and it is often difficult to expect children to not use what they are practicing. As such, I teach people 18 an over, though I have had a few mature teenagers in class at times.
I have trained with some well known individuals. My primary Wing Chun instructor is Sifu Francis Fong out of Atlanta, GA. I have trained some Jeet Kune Do and Kali under Guro Dan Inosanto – one of Bruce Lee’s primary students. I have trained under Sensei Erik Paulson in Combat Submission Wrestling. I’ve taken seminars under Ken Shamrock, Larry Hartsel, and Rigan Machado, among others.
My school is in an interesting situation. Adjacent to my school is Well Within Martial Arts. We have a sort of Martial Arts Co-Op, which is a rare situation for Martial Arts. Most schools are extremely competitive and fight over students. Our little Co-op is outside of the box.
I share my space with Zach Jenkins, who teaches Eskrima and Silat when I am not using the space. Dan Bernardo shares his space with a fellow who teaches Historical European Martial Arts (think, Knights in armor) in his space. We all offer students discounts if they want to train with one of the other teachers / schools, allowing students to mix and match their martial arts training.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Running a business is rarely smooth.
In 2016, as the school was starting up, there were financial concerns. Fortunately, I was sharing the space, so the rent was fairly low.
Students come and go. That is just a natural part of the martial arts business. You always have one or two dedicated students, but the bulk of the student population tends to be transitory.
Wing Chun is generally taught with partner drills. COVID was a bit of a challenge, finding ways to train without being in close contact. I moved most of the training outside when the weather permitted, and found or created non-contact drills. We did all we could to keep ourselves safe, and our skills up.
During the primary COVID period we did not have any serious COVID incident. By 2021, we were back inside and training like normal. Unfortunately, in 2024 COVID reared its head, inflicting two of us in the school. Fortunately they were mild cases.
In 2023, I was able to obtain the entire space I teach in. This increased my rent. That created a new financial consideration. It is also proves difficult as the landlord insists on raising the rent as an annual practice.
2025 has been challenging. The economy is changing. Adults are working harder, having less free time, and less spare cash. But we will persevere.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I originally entered USC as an applied piano student. I did not do well my first semester, so I dropped out for a year. During that time, the Media Arts Department was created. It was just what I needed.
Enjoying technology, it made sense for me to be behind the microphone instead of in front of it. Since I had a lot of music training, I would be able to communicate with musicians easily, and it was easy for me to edit musical pieces. I went into the Media Arts Department, and graduated in 1980 with a 3.5 GPA.
I have written 3 books, independently published.
“On a Sphere’s Edge”, is a sci-fi story. A bit of a mystery, thriller. The tagline is: “Addiction, Attraction, Myth and Mystery in a Lighthearted Future.” 2013, available on Amazon.
From the back cover: “Alex finds herself in possession of a legendary device that has the potential to destroy civilization. It is then she learns the device is addictive. … She reluctantly accepts her need to drop out of the system to protect the device and humanity. To do this, she enlists the aid of a crafty ex-con.”
“Astro Boy, Sensei, and Me” Tag: “An Introspection on Martial Arts”, 2016, available on Amazon.
This is an autobiographic that talks about my rise in martial arts, and my perception of the martial arts industry.
“The Curmudgeon Code” Tag: “Our future draws on our past”. 2017, available on Amazon.
A science fiction that looks at sentient artificial intelligence, and asks some difficult philosophical questions – what makes you, you? Can your consciousness be copied and moved into a machine?
From the back cover: “The Curmudgeon Code is a compelling, philosophical and speculative glimpse at the other side of the Technological Singularity. It is a science fiction story, a love story, and a look into our inner selves…
Joshua has grown up in what many would call utopia. There is no war, no hunger, and no disease. There can even be no death, all due to amazing technology. It is really the Promised Land?
Evolution never rests.”
Any big plans?
I am semi-retired. My goal is to keep the school running for as long as I am able. That depends on both the student load (sufficient to cover the costs), and my physical ability.
I often describe the school as being for my mental health. You have to keep active.
Pricing:
- $100.00 a month, covers any and all classes I teach
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.wingchun-sc.com
- Instagram: sifu.mosher
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WingChunSC
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5ALBhLzWRd3BfW2DGoXsSg
