Li joined several schools and took students sporadically. In the mid 1980s, Li moved to Charlotte, North Carolina. In the late 1980s, while working in a Chinese restaurant, Li taught at a local YMCA. Daryl McFarley learned of Li and went to see the class. Daryl studied at the local community college in the art of Li Ki. Daryl McFarly, requested to be trained by Li. A friendship was formed and later in the decade and in the early 90s, Li started teaching a few students, including Mykle Marriette, Bevo Barksdale, Anthony Stephenson, Michael Garcia, Drew Taylor, and Christopher Facente.