Master Alvin Raúl Cardona began his martial arts journey in 1976 at the age of five under Master José Zúñiga of the Dragon Academy of Chicago, training in traditional Japanese Shori Goju Karate and Wing Chun Gung Fu. In the early 1980s, his family relocated to Tampa, Florida, where he was introduced to the Northern Shaolin Eagle Claw Kung Fu system. After years of dedicated training, he returned to Chicago in 1988 and opened his first Kung Fu school on the city’s North Side in 1989.

In 1992, Master Cardona had the honor of meeting and studying under Grandmaster Lily Lau, world head of the Eagle Claw Kung Fu system. Together, they established the Lily Lau Eagle Claw Kung Fu Federation, International Chicago Headquarters in 1995, where Master Cardona served as the head Eagle Claw instructor until Grandmaster Lau’s retirement in 2012.

Since then, Master Cardona has created a full suite of innovative programs rooted in traditional martial arts, including Iron Eagle KungFu™, a practical self-defense and fighting system based on Northern Shaolin Eagle Claw. He has also expanded his focus on health and internal energy with the development of Chi Flow™, a movement-based energy practice; PureStretch™, a gentle full-body stretching program; StillMind™, a guided meditation and breathwork system for clarity and emotional balance; and StreetSmart Defense™, a practical real-world self-protection program for adults and teens.

With over 45 years of experience, Master Cardona has taught seminars and workshops across the United States, Israel, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Colombia, Germany, Italy, and Greece. He continues to innovate and lead in the martial arts and wellness industry, blending ancient wisdom with modern needs to help students of all ages strengthen the body, center the mind, and awaken the inner spirit.