AFC716 stands for “Alternative Fitness Center of WNY”. We are a fitness based Martial Arts School. We value a strong community where everyone can be themselves while training. We strive to be a school where everyone is taught where they are, not where they think they should be.
Core Values
1. Leadership
- To know where you are in your learning process, and start there.
- To always improve.
- To always get better, stronger or more skilled.
- To help others do the same.
2. Integrity/Honesty
- To know what the right thing to do is, or at least try to find what the right thing to do is.
- Always choosing to do what’s right even when no one is looking.
- “How we do one thing, is how we do everything!“
3. Accountability/Responsibility
- For Every action, there is a reaction.
- Whether good, bad, or neutral.
- Accept responsibility for all of your choices/actions.
- Learn from each choice/action.
- Repeat the good things.
- Improve the neutral things.
- Don’t repeat the bad things.
- Use these as a lesson to learn, and move forward.
- Own up to everything.
- Don’t wait for someone else to call it out.
- When you make a mistake:
- Claim it.
- Don’t hide it!
- Apologize if necessary.
- Help figure out a solution, or get help finding the solution.
- Use it as a teaching tool.
- So others don’t repeat it.
- Claim it.
Our Mission
These arts have not been watered down. They are living, breathing things, and they continue to grow & evolve through their practitioners. It is our mission to help those who come after us to be better than us. This way these complete systems continue to improve!
Who We Are
Shifu Daniel Cimino
I’ve been practicing Shyun System Tai Chi since 2001. Tai Chi helps me to create a calm and steady center, helps me find balance in life, and energizes me. This is a life long practice for me, and is always teaching me something.
I’ve been practicing 8 Step Preying Mantis Kung Fu since 2001. It’s a great workout, which brings me strength, coordination, and teaches me so much. Life is about learning, and this practice is one of my teachers.
In 2006 I passed the national teaching test through the American Chinese Martial Arts Federation (ACMAF). This was one of my greatest accomplishments, as the integrity is kept very high with this test.
Shifu Trainee Kate Cimino
I have been practicing Martial Arts for more than half my life. Tai Chi specifically for 7 years as a way to calm myself. I stumbled upon Turbo Kick as a means to lose weight and gain strength. After my first session in my basement I needed to learn to instruct it live so more people can reap the benefits. I live my life with black belt excellence in all I do and share my journey with those I teach.
Our Teacher
Master Michael Cimino
Michael Cimino began the study of martial arts in 1964. He initially studied Shao Lin Kung Fu. After seven years he trained an Okinawan karate style. He finally studied 8 Step Preying Mantis Kung Fu and Shyun Style Tai Chi Chuan as taught by Grandmaster James Shyun. He received his teaching certificate in 1999 through the American-Chinese Martial Arts Federation (ACMAF).
ACMAF was established by Grandmaster Shyun to insure the integrity of the system by credentialing its instructors. Master Cimino exclusively taught 8 Step Preying Mantis and Shyun Style Tai Chi Chuan following receipt of his teaching certification. He has maintained yearly continuing education in these martial arts and Abimoxi (the health and healing aspects of the system) under Grandmaster Shyun. Beginning in 2003 he and Grandmaster Shyun began publishing several books on Abimoxi, making this knowledge available to the public and preserving this information for future generations.