Systems:

• Pekiti Tirsia System of Kali
  • Rank: Guro (1st hagdan)
• Pencak Silat Gadjah Putih
  • Rank: Sabuk Merah (red sash)

Stas was born in Kazakhstan and lived there for the first 32 years of his life. While there he studied Sambo and Shotokan Karate, each for several years. Stas also achieved his masters degree in classical music, and has played the viola professionally.

Moving to Canada in 1990, Stas rekindled his martial arts career studying Tai Chi under Master Sin Cun.  In 2003 he began at maelstrom Martial Arts, studying Pencak Silat Gadjah Putih and eventually Pekiti Tirsia System of Kali under Guro Loki.  Stas achieved his lakan guro ranking in PTK in November 2017 and a subsequent promotion to full guro in October 2020.  He received his assistant instructor status (red sash) for Gadjah Putih in October 2018.