Sigung Chu Shong Tin

As a child in mainland China, Sigung Chu learned Tai Chi from his father for a few months but did not become seriously interested in martial arts until the age of 17, when he met Yip Man. At the time, Sigung Chu was working as secretary of the Hong Kong and Kowloon Restaurant Workers Union and Yip Man was teaching members of the union.

The two men spent a day together during which Sigung developed an admiration for his new friend and his deep understanding and commitment to Wing Chun. Yip Man convinced him that Wing Chun would help him to overcome his bad health and build up his fitness.

Sigung became fascinated with the physics and dynamics of the structure of Wing Chun and was a fast learner. He later went on to become famous as the 'King of Siu Nim Tao', the all-important foundation of the entire Wing Chun system.

Sigung had been observing Yip Man's classes for a few months before becoming his student on January 1, 1951. His training partners were Leung Sheung and Lok Yiu, who both went on to become famous Wing Chun masters in Hong Kong. In the late 1950s, he began to teach privately, setting up his own school in Kowloon in 1964.

Grandmaster Jim Fung (Sifu Jim) entered Sigung Chu's life in 1960 when his classmate brought him along as a sparring partner for private lessons. Sigung Chu remembers Sifu Jim as a smart, dedicated student whose skill improved rapidly. He continued to train Sifu Jim when he returned to Hong Kong during his years as a student in Australia and later.

In the 1980s, Sigung Chu began the first of many visits to the International Wing Chun Academy to share his knowledge with Sifu Jim's students.

Following the passing of Sifu Jim in March, 2007, Sigung Chu has now undertaken to train the Academy's Chief Instructors in the highest levels of the Wing Chun system. He travels to Sydney regularly for this purpose and also trains the Chief Instructors privately at his school in Hong Kong.

Sigung continues to endorse and support the Academy's teaching programme, and retains the honorary title, 'Father of the International Wing Chun Academy', which he accepted from Sifu Jim in 2004.