Sifu Jack Soderberg is a man of diverse talent and immense experience. Teaching over 15,000 students in his long and distinguished career, Sifu Jack changes lives. A true competitor, he was the Grand National Champ 3 years in a row and has won over 500 trophies. He has trained numerous fighters in the Tibetan Lama Kung Fu Way, winning many tournaments in sparring, weapons and forms. His list of accomplishments and honors is impressive to say the least.
Born in Chicago, Sifu Jack began his athletic career early on in life. He began training himself at age 11 and just never stopped. In high school he lettered in football and track and field. At age 15 he competed against adults in track and field at the University of Chicago. He went on to train for two Olympic games in the decathlon, placed 3rd in Illinois for discus throwing and took 3rd in Silver Skates Speed Skating.
After high school Sifu Jack continued to challenge himself both physically and mentally when he joined the Marine Corp in Infantry and Demolitions. In 1970 he began studying the Martial Arts, starting with Japanese Karate. In February 1974 he was one of the few Americans accepted in an all Chinese Martial Arts class in Chicago’s Chinatown taught by Singapore Bare Knuckle Champion (1971) Master Wai Lun Chois. At the time it was an honor to be accepted in such an exclusive training program and Sifu Jack learned Tibetan Lama Pai Kung Fu, Water Boxing Internal Martial Arts and Tai Chi. As a dedicated student, Sifu Jack proved his worth and advanced to the level of a teacher and continues to use the techniques he learned to invigorate not only his Martial Arts classes, but his other fitness teachings as well.
In 1975 Sifu Jack began teaching all over Chicago in park districts, health clubs, colleges, and VFW halls. By 1979 he opened his 1st school, Lama Kung Fu Academy. There he trained individual students and undefeated championship teams including martial artists, military personnel, boxers, kick boxers, policemen, security workers, and athletes from every field of sport. Three of his students even went on to star in Martial Arts movies including Ho Sung Pak and Ho Yung Pak who played turtles in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II Movie and Danny Pesina who played a villain. Ho Sung Pak also played alongside Jackie Chan in Drunken Master II. Another distinguished student was Tim Polanski (Road Warrior) who was the undefeated Kick Box Champion for Chicago and trained with Sifu Jack for many years.
In his long career Sifu Jack has trained practitioners and instructors from all types of styles and systems within the Martial Arts from countries all over the world. Just to scratch the surface, Sifu Jack has trained martial artists from Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Filipino, Thai and many other systems. One of Sifu’s Jack’s most distinguished students, Bob Romb, runs Romb’s Martial Arts in Chicago. Jack Oplustil is another of Sifu Jack’s instructors who teaches Tai Chi at Myrtle Beach, NC. Gene Slessinger runs Lion’s Roar Kung Fu in Chicago as well.
Never tired, Sifu Jack continues to train and teach today at his school Create, Develop and Flow Academy of Las Vegas. He teaches students from all walks of life and all disciplines. He currently offers classes in Tibetan Lama Kung Fu, Women’s Kinetic Kickboxing, Women’s Boot Camp, Tai Chi, Chi Kung, and Yoga. He also provides personal training and cross training for athletes of all kinds. His unique method and positive mindset draw serious students and those seeking to change their lives through fitness. Sifu Jack’s unique training method combines military techniques, martial arts methods and creative innovations that far exceed many of the traditional methods in use today. In short, it is an honor and a privilege to study under such a gifted teacher.
From Sifu Jack:
I would like to give thanks to Master Wai Lun Chois for giving me my foundation in Kung Fu, and Danny Inosanto (who studied with the Late Bruce Lee) for giving me the freedom to be creative, and Rich Lamoreaux for being my friend, my teacher, my student and my partner in creating CDF Academy.