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| TouchingTheSoul.com |
Christo Diata's Bio
Christo Diata was born in February 1968. He has memories from his childhood of
many Historic events. He was a baby in his father’s hands present at the Martin Luther’
s first March on Washington, and remembers watching the first space flight and the
lunar mission on TV. Watergate happened while he was too young to understand. He
liked to read and attempting reading his first book at the age of three (JAWS) although
reading and writing was not yet his passion.
“I received a first glimpse of my passion when My father and mother took me to The
Chinese New Year parade in Chinatown Washington DC in 1976 at the age of seven”
In 1976 Diata saw his first Kung fu demonstration. He soon after started to train under
the tutorship of Sifu Dean Chin and several instructors trained by Chin. He learned the
Jow Ga Kung fu system in Chinatown Washington DC. He became an assistant
instructor in1985 assisting with instruction for one year in the Chinatown school before
it was disbanded in 1986 and moved under new ownership to Langley Park MD. Diata
continued to train and teach for Wong’s Chinese Boxing Association one of the break
offs of the original school. He started first as an instructor and later earned the rank as
a Senior Instructor. During his tenure with Master Wong he learned to teach and
perfect many aspects of the Jow Ga System.
Diata attended Howard University in 1986 as a student. He continued his Martial Arts
training in college wrestling and also trained on the HU Tae Kwon Do team under
professor Yang. He trained beside many world champions who were produced from
the HU team including Linda Holloway (1990 Olympics silver) and Lisa Love (1990
Olympics gold) to name a few.
In 1987 he began competing in the Black Belt Open tournament circuit. He wanted to
set an example for his students who were mostly children. He represented WCBA in
Open tournaments. After competing and winning in several tournaments his potential
was noticed by Master Wong who chose to sponsor him to represent the school
(WCBA) in the National Black belt circuit. A year later He was chosen to represent a
National Karate team DKT Force One where he remained for over a year. He
competed from 1987 to 1991. During that period he won over 200 awards for
competition and over 32 Tournament Grand championships (Overall winner).
Some of his favorite victories were: placing top three in black belt division in
Washington Capitol Classics two years in a row, Placing top 3 in black belt division in
The Empire State Nationals, Becoming Grand Champion of Tournaments like The
Battle of Baltimore (2 years), Goh’s Nat Tourn. 1990 Dasilva Open, Defending Grand
champion 2 years of the Battle of Petersburg VA, Eberhardts Open tournament Grand
Champion and many other grand Championships, He was the number one contender
for Grand champion in the Silver bullet, He has been on Syndicated TV world of Sports
in Grand championship competitions, Competing from Florida to New York to
California. He was ranked 5th in the nation in Sports Karate Ratings, He ranked
top 10 in the Nation in black belt division in NASKA and PKL. ratings. He ranked
Number 1 in black belt division in the region of Washington DC, MD and VA in PKL
(two consecutive years in a row). He has received many other certificates and awards
not mentioned. He competed in tournament divisions ranging from weapons, forms,
two man sets, lion dancing, point sparring, continuous sparring, and Full Contact.
He has demonstrated kung fu at the Kennedy Center, The White House, Mayoral
conventions in Washington DC, The 2nd March on Washington, for the CIA and CNN,
To name a few.
In 1990 he went into a partnership with a former student and fellow student of Master
Wong to become Head instructor and part owner of WCBA Capitol Hill which later
became Capitol Jow Ga Kung Fu Association the school disbanded in 1995. He served
as Chairman of the Jow Lung Fund for 3 years ending in 95. Then he opened his first
single venture CDH Kung Fu from 1995 closing the school shortly before year 2000.
In 2000 Diata picked up his pen and began writing poetry it became his second
passion. He wrote poetry as a form of self-healing to recover from a personal tragedy.
He later expanded his style to write personalized poetry for anyone who asked (Mostly
black women). During the period from 2000 to 2003 his poetry appeared in three
publications by the International Library of poetry, as well as CD’s for “Best Poet’s of
2003” His first book release came in late 2002. “Touching The Soul Of A Sista” By
Christo Diata and he performs locally in Washington DC on stage as DC Tiger. His
poetry appears on many websites and on the pages of magazines like “The Port of
Harlem” and “Soul Solstice magazine” He has written over 2000 poems to date. His
view on poetry is simple. “I look at poetry as a form of healing and use it to Touch or
heal people one at a time. I love to make sister’s feel beautiful and loved with my
words, and make all others feel special. I also believe in the role of the Griot in Poetry
and attempt to inform people about current events and world happenings through the
spoken word.”
He also serves on the board of “Brother’s and Sisters International” A non profit
organization in the process of assisting others in helping themselves Internationally.
Presently the organization is working in Haiti. Some projects include building schools
and increasing communications with organizations to make partnerships to build self
maintaining communities here and abroad. Ask Christo how you can help.
Some of Christo’s future goals are to release his second book and possibly several
more. He has entertained venturing into Poetry Slam Competition just because he has
missed the Natural High that comes with competition. He wants to open another Kung
Fu School when the time is right. Right now he continues to instruct Martial Artist’s
privately.
Some of his hobbies are investing in the stock Market and assistant management of
family owned Real Estate.
He has owned several businesses starting first in 1986 with Mail Order “Specialties by
Henderson” after graduating High School. He ran a yard maintenance business for
three years with over 30 contracts, He co owned Capitol Jow ga Kung Fu for 5 years,
and apon it's closing continued to teach opening his first Kung Fu school CDH Kung
fu which remained open for 5 years. Now his passions are raising his 2 children,
Teaching kung fu and writing.
His poet author name Christo Diata sets a path for his goals. Diata means Lion in
translation. He was born into Christian values and through time has reached out
grasping knowledge to become a lion. (From Christ to Lion.) If you ask him his
opinion on his name “I have been brought up to believe in Christ as a revolutionary of
his time and I am reaching to revolutionize thought of my time. I have yet to reach my
Lion status but I am working on it.”
many Historic events. He was a baby in his father’s hands present at the Martin Luther’
s first March on Washington, and remembers watching the first space flight and the
lunar mission on TV. Watergate happened while he was too young to understand. He
liked to read and attempting reading his first book at the age of three (JAWS) although
reading and writing was not yet his passion.
“I received a first glimpse of my passion when My father and mother took me to The
Chinese New Year parade in Chinatown Washington DC in 1976 at the age of seven”
In 1976 Diata saw his first Kung fu demonstration. He soon after started to train under
the tutorship of Sifu Dean Chin and several instructors trained by Chin. He learned the
Jow Ga Kung fu system in Chinatown Washington DC. He became an assistant
instructor in1985 assisting with instruction for one year in the Chinatown school before
it was disbanded in 1986 and moved under new ownership to Langley Park MD. Diata
continued to train and teach for Wong’s Chinese Boxing Association one of the break
offs of the original school. He started first as an instructor and later earned the rank as
a Senior Instructor. During his tenure with Master Wong he learned to teach and
perfect many aspects of the Jow Ga System.
Diata attended Howard University in 1986 as a student. He continued his Martial Arts
training in college wrestling and also trained on the HU Tae Kwon Do team under
professor Yang. He trained beside many world champions who were produced from
the HU team including Linda Holloway (1990 Olympics silver) and Lisa Love (1990
Olympics gold) to name a few.
In 1987 he began competing in the Black Belt Open tournament circuit. He wanted to
set an example for his students who were mostly children. He represented WCBA in
Open tournaments. After competing and winning in several tournaments his potential
was noticed by Master Wong who chose to sponsor him to represent the school
(WCBA) in the National Black belt circuit. A year later He was chosen to represent a
National Karate team DKT Force One where he remained for over a year. He
competed from 1987 to 1991. During that period he won over 200 awards for
competition and over 32 Tournament Grand championships (Overall winner).
Some of his favorite victories were: placing top three in black belt division in
Washington Capitol Classics two years in a row, Placing top 3 in black belt division in
The Empire State Nationals, Becoming Grand Champion of Tournaments like The
Battle of Baltimore (2 years), Goh’s Nat Tourn. 1990 Dasilva Open, Defending Grand
champion 2 years of the Battle of Petersburg VA, Eberhardts Open tournament Grand
Champion and many other grand Championships, He was the number one contender
for Grand champion in the Silver bullet, He has been on Syndicated TV world of Sports
in Grand championship competitions, Competing from Florida to New York to
California. He was ranked 5th in the nation in Sports Karate Ratings, He ranked
top 10 in the Nation in black belt division in NASKA and PKL. ratings. He ranked
Number 1 in black belt division in the region of Washington DC, MD and VA in PKL
(two consecutive years in a row). He has received many other certificates and awards
not mentioned. He competed in tournament divisions ranging from weapons, forms,
two man sets, lion dancing, point sparring, continuous sparring, and Full Contact.
He has demonstrated kung fu at the Kennedy Center, The White House, Mayoral
conventions in Washington DC, The 2nd March on Washington, for the CIA and CNN,
To name a few.
In 1990 he went into a partnership with a former student and fellow student of Master
Wong to become Head instructor and part owner of WCBA Capitol Hill which later
became Capitol Jow Ga Kung Fu Association the school disbanded in 1995. He served
as Chairman of the Jow Lung Fund for 3 years ending in 95. Then he opened his first
single venture CDH Kung Fu from 1995 closing the school shortly before year 2000.
In 2000 Diata picked up his pen and began writing poetry it became his second
passion. He wrote poetry as a form of self-healing to recover from a personal tragedy.
He later expanded his style to write personalized poetry for anyone who asked (Mostly
black women). During the period from 2000 to 2003 his poetry appeared in three
publications by the International Library of poetry, as well as CD’s for “Best Poet’s of
2003” His first book release came in late 2002. “Touching The Soul Of A Sista” By
Christo Diata and he performs locally in Washington DC on stage as DC Tiger. His
poetry appears on many websites and on the pages of magazines like “The Port of
Harlem” and “Soul Solstice magazine” He has written over 2000 poems to date. His
view on poetry is simple. “I look at poetry as a form of healing and use it to Touch or
heal people one at a time. I love to make sister’s feel beautiful and loved with my
words, and make all others feel special. I also believe in the role of the Griot in Poetry
and attempt to inform people about current events and world happenings through the
spoken word.”
He also serves on the board of “Brother’s and Sisters International” A non profit
organization in the process of assisting others in helping themselves Internationally.
Presently the organization is working in Haiti. Some projects include building schools
and increasing communications with organizations to make partnerships to build self
maintaining communities here and abroad. Ask Christo how you can help.
Some of Christo’s future goals are to release his second book and possibly several
more. He has entertained venturing into Poetry Slam Competition just because he has
missed the Natural High that comes with competition. He wants to open another Kung
Fu School when the time is right. Right now he continues to instruct Martial Artist’s
privately.
Some of his hobbies are investing in the stock Market and assistant management of
family owned Real Estate.
He has owned several businesses starting first in 1986 with Mail Order “Specialties by
Henderson” after graduating High School. He ran a yard maintenance business for
three years with over 30 contracts, He co owned Capitol Jow ga Kung Fu for 5 years,
and apon it's closing continued to teach opening his first Kung Fu school CDH Kung
fu which remained open for 5 years. Now his passions are raising his 2 children,
Teaching kung fu and writing.
His poet author name Christo Diata sets a path for his goals. Diata means Lion in
translation. He was born into Christian values and through time has reached out
grasping knowledge to become a lion. (From Christ to Lion.) If you ask him his
opinion on his name “I have been brought up to believe in Christ as a revolutionary of
his time and I am reaching to revolutionize thought of my time. I have yet to reach my
Lion status but I am working on it.”
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| Christo Diata posing with 75 Haitian Gourdes |