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Sam began training in San Soo in 1969 when he was 17-years-old and has since dedicated his life to the art. Under Jimmy's watchful eye, Sam earned a Black Belt, 1st - 7th degree Black Belts, and ultimately the extremely coveted rank of Master of San Soo.
Sam has been a San Soo instructor for many years. He operated the La Habra San Soo school and helped instruct at a number of San Soo studios throughout the Southern California area including the prestigious El Monte school. Since Jimmy's death in 1991, Sam is one of but a handful of Jimmy's own "Masters" who actively teach San Soo, today.
Preceding Jimmy's death, his widow Bernie Woo oversaw an Association of San Soo studios throughout the United States. At her personal request, Sam served as her past advisor and the Vice President of that Association.
Sam is also a writer and has authored articles on San Soo and the practical aspects of street fighting that have been published and distributed on the national level. He authored the book, Surviving The Cross Fire - Getting Through Life Intact, which is sold by Amazon.com and is currently writing a second book on principles of leadership.
Additionally, Sam is a very respected teacher/lecturer on various subjects including law enforcement issues on the local, State and Federal levels which include the Department of Homeland Security.
Retired after an almost 35-year-career in law enforcement, Sam worked some of the worst crime and gang infested areas in Los Angeles County for almost 20 years. That experience afforded him a unique exposure to the nuances of both sudden and premeditated street violence. This repeated contact with the reality of brutal, violent and even deadly street behavior/encounters strengthened Sam's appreciation of the practicality of the Art and his resolve to teach San Soo in its purity. Pure San Soo is solely "reality based" and does not consist of acrobatic stunts, imitation of animals, theatrical stances or movements other than those taught directly by Jimmy Woo, himself.
In teaching San Soo, Sam displays a gift in sharing rare insight from the unique exposure gained over his career. This knowledge greatly enhances his students understanding in many aspects of the science of fighting including psychology, situational awareness and the need to adhere to true San Soo techniques.
One issue that Sam stresses is there is a vast difference between theory and proven fact. With the first you lose. With the second, which Jimmy taught, you survive. | 
Instructor
