YURI N. MONKHOEV

Yuri Nikolaevich Monkhoev was born in 1950 in Tibet. At the age of two he became a pupil of the Tescao family. He spent 14 years in intensive training. During Chinese invasion and occupation, the family destroyed the school and left Tibet. Family members fled in all different directions. 

At the age of 16, Monkhoev’s teacher took him through Mongolia to Ulan Ude in Buryatia where he became a “family” member and had his Russian name -
Yuri Nikolaevich Monkhoev. In the next two years he moved to the Caucasus where he found ideal conditions for his training: mountains, forests, lakes and rivers. He started training his first students after the Iron Curtain fell.
He built a school in Sochi on the Black Sea and began instructing students inhis family style of martial arts. Later, he built a second school in Novosibirsk, Siberia.

In 1998 Yuri Nikolaevich Monkhoev founded a martial arts school in Wuppertal, Germany in the Tescao system. In 2005 he has sanctioned the first Tescao school in the USA.

ALEXEI OVTCHINNIKOV

Alexei Ovtchinnikov started his martial arts training at age 15, in Sambo and Judo under Mark Girshov, who was a head coach of Leningrad in judo. In 1973 and 1974 respectively, he obtained the titles: Master of the USSR in Sambo and Master of the USSR in Judo. These accomplishments earned him a position with the Leningrad Institute of Mining Industry as a coach to the #1 Judo team among over 29 colleges.

In 1972, Alexei began to practice in Karate and beginning in 1978 he was invited each year to judge at the national and international competitions. In 1980, he was voted the best referee of the USSR and was featured on USA Voice of America Broadcasts as an outstanding martial arts specialist. In 1981, Alexei became a chief referee at the First Championship of the USSR, and received the title of Republic Category Referee in Karate.

Alexei began studying Chinese martial arts in 1976 and during the next 15 years had learned White Crane, Taijiquan, Qigong and Vietnamese Vovinam from several Russian and Vietnamese masters.

Alexei graduated from the Leningrad Academy of Physical Culture and Sports in 1983 with a Master of Science in Sports Medicine and Massage. Three years later he was invited to teach martial arts in the Leningrad Military Institute of Physical Culture and Sports. He opened his own martial arts school in 1990 and began with over 300 students enrolled.

In 1991, Alexei came to the USA and began to work as an exercise physiologist and massage therapist for the Orthopedic Medicine Clinic in Atlanta, Ga. In 1995 he began to teach martial arts in the Atlanta China Town Kung Fu Association.

Alexei Ovtchinnikov has appeared on Channel 11's Peachtree Morning program, ABC Channel, CBS 46 Atlanta's News Channel, and in various print articles.

Since 1999 Alexei has given numerous demonstrations and workshops around USA including Grandmaster Willem de Thouars's Family Gathering in 2001 and 2002.

In summary, Alexei Ovtchinnikov has been involved in martial arts since 1969. During this time he has learned Judo, Sambo, Karate, Taijiquan, White Crane, Vovinam, Hokkien Kun Tao, Kun Tao Silat de Thouars and Tescao (Family Fighting Art).

His achievements include:

• Master of Sports of the USSR in Sambo and Judo (1973)

• Champion of the first ever Judo tournament in Leningrad, Russia (1973)

• Chief Referee of the first USSR Karate Championship (1981)

• Master of Science (MS) in Sports Medicine and Massage (1983)

• Founder of Atlanta Taiji Gongfu Association in 1997

• Trained Gold Medalists of International T’ai Chi Championships in 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001

• Certified Sifu in Kun Tao Silat de Thouars (2000)

• Founder of Tescao Martial Arts, LLC (2004)

• Certified as a Lineage Disciple and as an instructor (GURU) of Willem de Thouars Makao Kuntao Serak & Kuntao Silat (2018)