George Crayton Jr., Grandmaster

Born and raised in Harlem, George Crayton Jr., ShiJiao is the pioneer who brought the strength, beauty and grace of Kung-Fu into the East Coast tournament scene. ShiJiao Crayton began studying with his father, George Crayton Sr., who later introduced him to the honorable Grandmaster Lee Hung Yea. With his solid foundation from Grandmaster Lee Hung Yea, ShiJiao Crayton began to branch out on his own.

Shijiao Crayton is a student of Master Liu Chengde of Jinan, China. Well known in Shandong Province for his ability to apply techniques effortlessly, Master Liu Chengde teaches his application oriented art every morning on Lang Mao Shan Mountain to instructors from all over China, and visiting students from France, Japan, Italy, Iran, Canada and the United States.

ShiJiao Crayton is the founder and master instructor of the school, Looang Foo Pai (Dragon Tiger Association) and the system, Huan Shou Jia (Changing Hands Family Style). ShiJiao is the rank of White & Red Sash and holds the high ranks of 7th and 10th degree in various martial styles. He has studied over 26 different styles of the martial arts.

ShiJiao has won over 4,000 trophies and awards. ShiJiao was the driving force to gain respect, recognition and appreciation from the traditional Karate practitioners as he competed and demonstrated the strength and beauty of Kung-Fu. Grandmaster Crayton opened the door for other kung-fu practitioners to come forward.

ShiJiao Crayton's masterful performances as a competitor can be measured best by examples of his reigns as grand champion. Reigning for ten years as Grand Champion of Kata (Form) of Robert Everhart's Washington D.C. Internationals, ten years reign as Grand Champion of Kata (Form) and Weapons of John Yamamoto's House of the Black Dragon Grand Nationals, and 5 years reign as Grand Champion Kata of Anthony Lau and Archie Rullen's YingYee's Karate Kung-Fu Championships.

In January 1997 Shi Jiao Crayton competed at the Pan American Martial Arts Games in Manzanilla, Mexico where he took Gold Medal in Weaponry, Silver Medal in Forms and Bronze Medal in Self Defense.

As a tribute and in recognition of Shi Jiao Crayton’s dedication to the martial arts, his fellow martial artists nominated him to be inducted into:

• UNIVERSAL MARTIAL ARTS COALITION HALL OF FAME
  on August 08, 1982
• WORLD'S MARTIAL ARTS HALL OF FAME on May 15, 1993.
  Also receiving the following awards:
  A: DIAMOND LIFE ACHIEVEMENT OF THE YEAR AWARD
  B: MOST OUTSTANDING MARTIAL ARTIST OF THE YEAR
  C: SOKESHIP -- ACKNOWLEDGMENT AND RECOGNITION
  AS BEING HEAD AND FOUNDER OF LOOANG FOO PAI BY FELLOW WORLD GRANDMASTERS
• WORLD MARTIAL ARTS HALL OF FAME on June 17, 1994
• WORLD PROFESSIONAL KARATE ORGANIZATION’S HALL OF FAME on January 28,1995
• WORLD CHRISTIAN MARTIAL ARTS HALL OF FAME on July 29, 1995
• WORLD MARTIAL ARTS HALL OF FAME on September 23,1995
• EVERHART’S LIVING LEGENDS AWARD on November 4, 1995
• GARDEN STATE GAMES KARATE HALL OF FAME on March 1998
• WORLD KARATE UNION HALL OF FAME on June 27, 1998
• WORLD CHRISTIAN MARTIAL ARTS HALL OF FAME on August 1, 1998
• INTERNATIONAL EASTERN ALLIANCE MARTIAL ARTS HALL OF FAME - 1998
• WORLD KARATE UNION HALL OF FAME - 1999
• UNITED MARTIAL ARTISTS ASSOCIATION HALL OF FAME - 1999
• AMERICAN FEDERATION OF MARTIAL ARTS HALL OF FAME - 2000
• ACTION MARTIAL ARTS HALL OF HAME - 2001

As a gesture of brotherhood and love of the Martial Arts, ShiJiao Crayton brought his art to China in August 2001 in a series of whirlwind performances. He graced the audience of Toi San City in China, at their new Toi San City Grand Stadium with his prowess and dynamic performance.

ShiJiao Crayton performed at the Wong Fei Hung’s Memorial Museum in Fut San City, China. A picture of ShiJiao Crayton is displayed at the Wong Fei Hung Memorial Museum; the only non-oriental is now a part of history for all times. ShiJiao demonstrated his art at the Hoi Ping City’s Tai Chi Wushu Association, the Fut San City’s Ching Wu School and the Fut San City’s Wong Fei Hung World Championship Lion School. At each performance, ShiJiao Crayton was warmly greeted with utmost respect and awe. ShiJiao truly showed the aptness of his skills and dynamic strength.

ShiJiao Crayton is known internationally and has appeared on such note-worthy television shows as JOHNNY CARSON, JOE FRANKLIN, MIKE DOUGLAS and featured on the GERALDO RIVERA show.

ShiJiao Crayton’s dedication and support to the welfare of the youth of today can be seen when he had taught without pay for over seven years at the Roy Wilkins Community Center in Queens. ShiJiao freely gave his time by working with troubled children by showing them the spirit and discipline of the Chinese Martial Arts. ShiJiao Crayton continues to lend support to such organizations as the Ronald McDonald House where he was recently featured on Cable TV in Joan’s World, reaffirming his fight against drugs. The discipline found in the Chinese Martial Arts instills a strong humility into the youth of today.

ShiJiao Crayton has been featured in numerous martial arts periodicals such as: KARATE ILLUSTRATED -- 1978 - 1980'S ; OFFICIAL KARATE -- 1978 - 1980'S; WARRIORS MAGAZINE -- FEATURE ARTICLE AND COVER - SEPTEMBER 1980; INSIDE KUNGFU -- FEATURE ARTICLE - MAY 1984; INSIDE KUNGFU YEARBOOK -- 1985; AMERICAN KARATE -- 1987 -- ACTION MARTIAL ARTS MAGAZINE -- FEATURE ARTICLE AND COVER - AUGUST 2005.

SHIJIAO CRAYTON IS IN THE FIRST AND SECOND EDITIONS OF THE ACTION MARTIAL ARTS MASTERS COLLECTORS CARDS.

ShiJiao Crayton continues to promote Kung Fu as President of the UNITED INTERNATIONAL KUNGFU FEDERATION (U.I.K.F.). The U.I.K.F. was formed to bring together fellow kung fu stylists from various systems. One of ShiJiao Crayton's driving forces is to rationalize with tournament promoters to provide equal and fair judging to Kung Fu practitioners. ShiJiao Crayton is also noted for being the gracious host for the U.I.K.F.’s Hall of Fame Awards Dinners, who adds his personal and warm insights about the honorees of his fellow martials artists’ achievements. As true as his dedication to his art, shared by other kung fu stylists, ShiJiao hopes to build a forum where ideas are put forward among a united front.