Grandmaster Rick Ward began martial arts training in 1979 at the age of 19 to rehabilitate his health after a long illness. When his health began to improve, his dedication and love for martial arts grew. He knew at this time he wanted to be a teacher and help other people build self-confidence, learn respect for themselves and others, and become better individuals in their own way. This has made him a highly devoted and respected martial artist, and motivated him to continue teaching the martial arts as a way of life.

Ward currently holds the rank of 10th Degree Grandmaster, and is the founder of Sunburst Natural Fist System (Tai Yang Tzu Jan Men), Sasamba, founder and president of the International Kung-Fu Arnis Association, the International Kung fu Arnis Weapons Association, and the White Cloud Society. In 2000, he was appointed 36th patriarch of the Emperor's Long Fist System by, now retired, international Grandmaster David E. Kash. Having promoted over 100 black belts, Ward is master instructor of several schools in North Carolina as well as Tennessee, Kansas, and Virginia.

Ward is a Police Officer in Banner Elk, NC and has taught seminars to law enforcement officers. He has conducted many seminars and demonstrations in Modern Arnis, Kung-Fu, Tai Chi Chuan, Chin-na, and Outdoor Survival in the U.S.

Grandmaster Ward is ranked in various styles of martial arts under the following masters:

• Master Allan Woods - Sil-Lum Kung-Fu and Tai Chi Chuan
• Dr. David E. Kash (Wei Jung Dao) - Emperor's Long Fist (Tai Tzu Chang Chuan), Natural Style Boxing (Tzu Jan Men), Tai Chi Chuan, Ba Gua, Hsing-I, Mongolian and Tibetan Lama, Penjak Silat, Serak Kuntao, Sil-lum Kung-Fu, and Iron Palm
• Grandmaster Norman Pedlahore - Sil-Lum Kung-Fu and Lung Shou Pai
• Grandmaster Derman Hodge - Tae Kwon Do, Hapkido, Kubudo weapons, Akijujitsu, Tae Kyon, Tae Phung Kwan, Hosin Do
• Grandmaster Eugene Humesky - Tae Kwon Do and Hapkido
• Grandmaster Remy Presas - Modern Arnis
• Grandmaster Gaudiosa Ruby - Comjuka-Kali
• Master Brian Moran - Chuan Fa, Tai Chi Chuan, Tae Kwon Do

Chronological selection of career highlights:

1979

• Began studying Judo and Jujistsu with Jim Nicely (U.S. Army Special Forces).
• Introduced by Nicely to Master Allan Woods who became Ward's first Kung-Fu instructor.

1984

• Promoted to Black Belt (sash) in Sil-Lum by Master Woods.

1985

• Ward opens his own school.
• Promoted to Red Sash (Sifu) in Sil-Lum.

1988

• Presented with the outstanding student award from the Thai Boxing Association of the United States by Master Chai Sirisute.
• Began studying Modern Arnis from Grandmaster Remy Presas.

1990

• Began studying Tae Kwon Do, HapKido, Kubudo Weapons, Tae Kyon, Tae Phung Kwan, Hosin-Do, Akijujitsu, from Grandmaster Derman Hodge.
• Promoted to Basic Instructor in Modern Arnis by Grandmaster Remy Presas.
• Introduced to Grandmaster Norman Pedlahore, founder of Lung Shou Pai (Dragon Claw Style) Assoc., and the Amercan Martial Arts Alliance.

1991

• Selected for the Board of Directors of the International Modern Arnis Federation of N.C.

1992

• Selected to be Assistant Vice-Present of the International Modern Arnis Federation of the Southeast.
• Promoted to 1st Degree Black Belt in Chang Hun Tae Kwon Do by Brian Morain.
• Ranked to 5th Degree Black Belt by the American Martial Arts Association from Professor Wally Jay, Rick Clark, and Grandmaster Remy Presas.

1995

• Introduced to Dr. David E. Kash ( Wei Jung Dao) , 9th Degree Grandmaster, Chief Advisor of the World Cloud Forest Martial Arts Association.
• Began training in Emperor's Long Fist (Tai Tzu Chang Chuan), Natural Style Boxing (Tze Jan Men) ,Tai Chi Chuan, Paqua, Hsing-I, Mongolian and Tibetan Lama, Penjak Silat, and Iron Palm.
• Ranked to 5th Degree Black Belt in Moosul Kwan Hapkido by Derman Hodge W.M.K.F. and Prof. Eugene Humesky U.T.B.
• Ranked Honorary 5th Degree from the U.T.B. by Prof. Eugene Humesky.
• Ranked Honorary 5th Degree Masters Certificate from the Universal Martial Arts Brotherhood in the Chinese Martial Arts and Modern Arnis by Prof. Eugene Humesky.
• Appointed Excutive Committee member of the Society of the Natural Fist National Association. Appointed Assistant Branch Director of the N.C. branch of the United Kung-fu Federation of North America.
• Appointed Assistant Branch Director of the N.C. branch of the United States Chinese Kuo Su Federation.
• Ranked to 2nd Degree Black Belt in Chuan-Fa by Brian Moran, Lung Fu Jin Shin Kung-Fu Assoc.
• Ranked to Honorary 10th Degree Emperor's Belt C.F.A., the Associations highest award.
• Promoted to 1st Deng in Shaolin Temple Iron Palm, 5 element fist style, C.F.A.
• Appointed State Representative of the World Martial Arts Hall of Fame.
• Changed name of Tai Yang Ng Shi Tong (Sunburst System) to Tai Yang Tzu Jan Men (Sunburst Natural Fist System).
• Promoted to 4th Degree Black Belt in Modern Arnis by Grand Master Remy Presas.

1996

• Awarded the Title of Martial Arts Professor by the C.F.A.
• Appointed Vice President of the American Chinese Chi Kung Acupressure Ass.

1997

• Inducted into the Filipino Martial Arts Hall of Fame as Grandmaster of the Year.
• Appointed membership to the Board of Directors for the Filipino Martial Arts Hall of Fame.
• Ranked 7th Duan Black Belt in the American Martial Arts Alliance headed by Grandmaster Norman Pedlahore.
• Appointed Chairman for the Cloud Forest Chin Woo Association (founded in 1909 Shanghai, China).
• Appointed as a Licensed Police Self Defense Instructor by the United States Kali Association Incorporated, Law Enforcement Self Defense Tactics Division.
• Registered as a Police Tactics Instructor by the Police Tactics Insructors of America.
• Ranked 3rd Degree Black Belt in Pentjak Silat, Poekalan Tjmande style.
• Ranked 8th Degree Black Belt in Sunburst System by Cloud Forest Association.
• Awarded a Certificate and Medal for the Worlds Top One Hundred Exceptional Martial Artist Gold Medal Award, from the International Martial Arts Federation, signed by President Bill Clinton, Former President George Bush, Governor of California Pete Wilson, Mayor of Los Angeles Richard Riordan.

1998

• Became a member of the International Martial Arts Federation, Eastern USA Branch.
• Appointed Committee Chief for the Cloud Forest International Han Shi Committee.
• Founded and appointed President of the International Kung-Fu Arnis Weapons Association.

2000

• Appointed 36th patriarch of the Emperor's Long Fist System, 10th Duan active.
• Founded the White Cloud Society.

2001

• Master Ward initiates Scott Stansberry, Dave Miller, Jason Albright, Josh Christian, Jason McGuire, and Jeremy Johnston as disciples.

2002

• Ranked to 7th degree Black Belt in Comjuka-Kali by Tuhon Gaudiosa Ruby.
• Blue Ridge Kung-Fu Arnis Academy became an accredited Comjuka-Kali Martial Arts school.

2003

• Awarded title of Tuhon of Sasamba Kali Arnis by Tuhon Gaudiosa Ruby.
• Voted to 9th Duan of Sunburst Natural Fist by disciples.
• Initiates Eddie Haywood, Rick Wilcox, Eric Marks, Beau Coan, Vaugn Winecoff, and Jason Arney as disciples.

Martial Arts Organizational Affiliations:

1. American Martial Arts Alliance
2. American Martial Arts Association
3. International Modern Arnis Federation
4. Universal Tae Kwon Do Brotherhood
5. Cloud Forest World Chinese Martial Arts Association
6. World Moosul Kwan Federation
7. United States Chinese Kuo Su Federation
8. United Kung- Fu Federation of North America
9. Overseas Chinese National Martial Arts Athletic Association
10. International Grandmaster Han Shi Committee
11. Universal Martial Arts Brotherhood
12. Lung Fu Jin Shin Kung-Fu Association
13. World Martial Arts Hall Of Fame
14. Natural Combat Systems
15. American Chinese Chi Gung Acupressure Association
16. Filipino Martial Arts Hall Of Fame
17. United States Kali Association Incorporated
18. Cloud Forest Chin Woo Association
19. Police Tactics Instructors of America
20. Ku Yu Cheong Iron Palm Memorial Society
21. International Martial Arts Association
22. Wong Ark Yuey Memorial Society
23. Chian Chuan Tai Chi Chuan Association
24. International Kung-Fu Arnis Association
25. International Kung-Fu Arnis Weapons Association
26. White Cloud Society