MATAAS NA GURO ZACH WHITSON
Zach Whitson began formal martial arts training with Ishin Ryu Karate in 1975. Pursuing a career as a commercial Deep Sea Diver, Zach traveled extensively through the 1970s, 80s and early 90s. During this time period he cross trained in a number of systems including Tae Kwon Do, Sib Pal Gee Korean Kung Fu, Tracy’s Kenpo, Sil Lum Bok Pai, Hung Gar, Wing Chun, Yang Style Tai Chi, PKA Full Contact Kick Boxing, Serada Eskrima, American Kenpo, Pekiti Tirsia Kali and Brazilian Jujitsu. Zach met Supreme Grand Master Cacoy Cañete in 2003 and began training in Cacoy Doce Pares Eskrima. Then in 2005 Zach began training in Penjak Silat Serbatik with Maha Guru Jerry McCleary.
Currently Zach Whitson holds a 7th Degree Black Belt (Senior Professor rank) in Ed Parker’s American Kenpo. Tuhon William McGrath tested and promoted Zach to Mataas Na Guro (Master Instructor) in the system of Pekiti Tirsia Kali in 2004. Most recently, in 2010 at the Cacoy Doce Pares World Headquarters in Cebu City, Philippines, Zach was promoted to 7th Grade Black Belt Master of Eskrima/Eskrido by his teacher Supreme Grand Master Ciriaco Cacoy Cañete.
Understanding that philosophical differences shaped the techniques and training methods of the various systems of Zach’s formal martial arts experience he began to study those differences, asking himself why they existed. Through this study Zach began to develop the methods and models that best fit his own conceptual understanding of tactical counter-offense training and curriculum design.
In 1993 Zach began to develop and teach what he calls Kenpo Counterpoint. Zach developed Kenpo Counterpoint out of his perceived need to develop countering skills and more spontaneity in his American Kenpo students. The process combined the base moves of Kenpo self-defense techniques and counter-offensive tactics of Pekiti Tirsia Kali. Over time his development of Kenpo Counterpoint broadened into the complete system of CTS. By 2006 Zach had formulated the CTS training curriculum well into the advanced black belt ranks. In April 2007, after approximately seven years of training, Joshua Ryer completed testing and became the first student in the system to achieve the rank of first degree black belt.
On December 8, 2007 at the Winter Gathering conducted by the Whipping Willow Association in Los Angles California, a diverse group of senior martial artists presented a notarized declaration recognizing Zach Whitson as the founder of a complete martial art called the Counterpoint Tactical System. The declaration was signed by the president of the Whipping Willow Association Sigung Antwione Alferos, and also by Sibok Thomas Georgian, Sifu Sandy Amason, Great Grand Master Ming Lum, Sijo Steve Muhammad, Grand Master Carl Totton, Grand Master Douglas L. Wong, Maha Guru Cliff Stuart, Master Bob Liles, Master Bob White and Grand Master Bill Owens.
Today Zach continues to learn and develop as a martial artist, and he travels extensively conducting seminars, training and testing students in the Counterpoint Tactical System.
