Ian Protheroe

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Ian Protheroe

Born 1954
United Kingdom Flag of the United Kingdom
Residence Brisbane, Australia Flag of Australia
Martial art practiced Classical Wing Chun, Chung Chi Wing Chun
Teacher(s) William Cheung, Chu Shong-tin
Rank Sifu
Notable students Ray Solomon, Shaun Halley, Douglas Crowther
Website http://www.wingchun-kungfu.com.au

Ian Protheroe (Sifu) (born 1954) is a well-known Australian[citation needed] Wing Chun Kung Fu practitioner, teacher, and author. Protheroe learnt the Traditional Wing Chun Kung Fu system from Grandmaster William Cheung in the 1980s in Melbourne, Australia.[1] Protheroe broke with Cheung in the early 1990s and has been pursuing the development of his own branches of Wing Chun which he calls Classical Wing Chun[2] and Chung Chi Wing Chun[3] after the Chinese name he was given by Grandmaster William Cheung[4]. These are separate styles of Wing Chun. The Traditional Wing Chun system was passed on to Protheroe from William Cheung[5], whereas the Chung Chi system has been developed by Protheroe and is taught only to students to whom he extends invitations[6].

Contents

[edit] Early years

Protheroe was born in England and migrated to Australia in 1960. The son of a British Police officer, Protheroe showed an interest in fighting arts at an early age when he started Western Boxing in his mid teens.[7] From the mid to late 70s, he began exploring the oriental martial arts, before being introduced to Wing Chun Kung Fu under Grandmaster William Cheung in the early 1980s. Protheroe studied with Cheung throughout the mid-1980s before attaining instructor status and operating a school under Cheung in Melbourne, Australia.

[edit] Development of Classical Wing Chun

In 1986, Protheroe was invited to attend a ceremony with a select group of William Cheung's senior students. At this ceremony, Cheung made the participants formal members of the Traditional Wing Chun family by giving each of them a Chinese name and entrusting them with continuing the teaching of Traditional Wing Chun Kung Fu.[8]. Sifu Ian Protheroe pledged to teach the Traditional system for 20 years from 1986[9]. Over the years, Protheroe has continued teaching Cheung's Traditional Wing Chun system to students at his various schools in Eastern Australia and New Zealand. In 1996, Protheroe began to use the term "classical" to describe his own version of William Cheung's Traditional Wing Chun system[10]. The defining ideas and principles of Classical Wing Chun were the result of Protheroe's frequent trips to Hong Kong throughout the late 1980s and 1990s and his insights gained after a decade of teaching the art. Protheroe was particularly impressed and influenced by the teachings of Grandmaster Chu Shong-tin[11] thanking him in at least one of his books and visiting on many occasions[12]. These visits, and Protheroe's own research, have led him to develop what he now calls his "Classical" Wing Chun system and this is taught to the public[13].

Protheroe points out that although the name may have changed, the forms and grading syllabus he uses are essentially the same as those passed on to him by William Cheung in the 1980s. The main differences lie in the principles and methods Protheroe employs in his Classical system.

[edit] Development of Chung Chi Wing Chun

During the course of his twenty year pledge to teach Cheung's Traditional Wing Chun Kung Fu, Protheroe developed his own unique approach to Wing Chun[14]. Chung Chi was the name given to Protheroe by his teacher, William Cheung, at a formal ceremony in 1986[15] [16]. Protheroe decided to use this as the name of his personal style of Wing Chun[17].The system incorporates sword drills, chin na and soft chi sao inspired by the teachings of Grandmaster Chu Shong Tin[18] to which Protheroe was exposed during his frequent training trips to Hong Kong[19]. Chung Chi Wing Chun does not incorporate a formal and explicit grading system[20]. Instead, the "traditional Chinese system of dedication, time spent training and advanced skill level is the only basis for seniority"[21]. In addition, training is by invitation only[22]. Those who are taght the system are at least reasonably fluent in the Classical Wing Chun system before they begin in Chung Chi Wing Chun[23].

[edit] Studies and writings

Protheroe has studied martial arts history and particularly Wing Chun history and development intensively. This has led him to write a broad range of books about various aspects of Wing Chun. Although focussed mainly on the Traditional Wing Chun Kung Fu system, Protheroe's books are notable for their focus on previously "secret" aspects of the art. Notably among these, the traditional weapons of the Wing Chun system and the Wing Chun wooden dummy (Muk Yan Jong).[24] Protheroe has not followed the lead of his teacher and written articles about meditation, chi, healing, or alternative medicines.

[edit] Classical Wing Chun Kung Fu vs Traditional Wing Chun Kung Fu

Classical Wing Chun Kung Fu incorporates Chin Na (locking and controlling) techniques and extensive traditional weapons training into the syllabus structure. In many martial arts systems, weapons training is reserved for practitioners which have become senior students (usually black belt equivalent or higher). However, in the classical system, traditional weapons are taught to students from the very beginning of their training. In addition, Chin Na techniques are introduced at a relatively early stage in students' training. A natural follow-on from the usage of Chin Na is a heavy focus on controlling an opponent's balance and/or breaking their stance. Neither Chin Na nor advanced weapons training are a feature of the Traditional Wing Chun Kung Fu system (nor many other Wing Chun systems for that matter). Although Cheung's Traditional Wing Chun Kung Fu promotes a holistic development of Wing Chun practitioners, particularly when compared to many other systems, the Protheroe's Classical system incorporates advanced weapons training and control techniques traditional to the majority of Chinese martial arts but seldom seen in Wing Chun.

The Classical system is a combination of mainland Chinese and Hong Kong weapons systems as well as a great deal of trial and error on the behalf of Protheroe [25]. He makes much reference to this in his work on the subject and this is evident in the training he espouses.[26] Cheung's Traditional system, on the other hand, employs a primarily Hong Kong derived weapons syllabus which is comparable to many of the weapons forms and systems prevalent in Hong Kong Wing Chun[27].

[edit] Support for Cheung's traditional system

Protheroe generally supports the assertions of William Cheung that Wing Chun consisted of two main branches, the "traditional" family system and the "modified" system taught to non-family members. He states this quite clearly in several of his publications and on his website. This has caused some controversy, though it should be noted that, in Protheroe's own words, many of the claims made by Cheung amount to just "another story in the history of Wing Chun" that cannot be either confirmed or denied by any party.[28]

[edit] Current activities

Protheroe now operates several schools on the East Coast of Australia.[29] He is also the head instructor for an affiliated school based in New Zealand and his student, Ray Solomon.[30] Protheroe teaches full time, mostly with private students. He also conducts classes open to the public several times per week and is a well known martial arts author in the Australasian martial arts community.

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Ian Protheroe Wing Chun Theory and Composition, 1998, p.9
  2. ^ Classical Wing Chun Australasia: About Classical Wing Chun
  3. ^ Classical Wing Chun Australasia: Schools - Chung Chi Wing Chun Kuen
  4. ^ Classical Wing Chun Australasia: Schools - Chung Chi Wing Chun Kuen
  5. ^ Bærum Wing Chun Kung Fu Academy: Sifu Ian Protheroe and Classical Wing Chun Kung Fu
  6. ^ Classical Wing Chun Australasia: Schools - Chung Chi Wing Chun Kuen
  7. ^ Ian Protheroe Wing Chun Technique and Philosophy, 2002, p.4
  8. ^ Ian Protheroe Wing Chun Theory and Composition, 1998, p.12
  9. ^ Bærum Wing Chun Kung Fu Academy: Sifu Ian Protheroe and Classical Wing Chun Kung Fu
  10. ^ Ian Protheroe Wing Chun Theory and Composition, 1998, p.13
  11. ^ Bærum Wing Chun Kung Fu Academy: Sifu Ian Protheroe and Classical Wing Chun Kung Fu
  12. ^ Ian Protheroe Wing Chun Theory and Composition, 1998, p.3
  13. ^ Classical Wing Chun Australasia: About Classical Wing Chun
  14. ^ Classical Wing Chun Australasia: Schools - Chung Chi Wing Chun Kuen
  15. ^ Ian Protheroe Wing Chun Theory and Composition, 1998, p.13
  16. ^ Classical Wing Chun Australasia: Schools - Chung Chi Wing Chun Kuen
  17. ^ Ian Protheroe Wing Chun Theory and Composition, 1998, p.13
  18. ^ Bærum Wing Chun Kung Fu Academy: Sifu Ian Protheroe and Classical Wing Chun Kung Fu
  19. ^ Ian Protheroe Wing Chun Theory and Composition, 1998, p.3
  20. ^ Classical Wing Chun Australasia: Schools - Chung Chi Wing Chun Kuen
  21. ^ Classical Wing Chun Australasia: Schools - Chung Chi Wing Chun Kuen
  22. ^ Classical Wing Chun Australasia: Schools - Chung Chi Wing Chun Kuen
  23. ^ Classical Wing Chun Australasia: Schools - Chung Chi Wing Chun Kuen
  24. ^ Classical Wing Chun Australasia: Published Books and Videos
  25. ^ Bærum Wing Chun Kung Fu Academy: Sifu Ian Protheroe and Classical Wing Chun Kung Fu
  26. ^ Ian Protheroe Wing Chun Weapons: Butterfly Swords and Dragon Pole, 2003
  27. ^ William Cheung Kung Fu Dragon Pole, 1986
  28. ^ Ian Protheroe Wing Chun Theory and Composition, 1998, p.12
  29. ^ Classical Wing Chun Australasia: Schools
  30. ^ Classical Wing Chun Australasia: Academy Schools - Ashburton, New Zealand

[edit] References

  • Protheroe, Ian G. (Sifu) (1998). Wing Chun Theory and Composition. Brisbane: Protheroe. ISBN 0-646-35638-0. 
  • Protheroe, Ian G. (Sifu) (2002). Wing Chun Techniques and Philosophy. Brisbane: Protheroe. ISBN 0-9580884-0-3. 
  • Protheroe, Ian G. (Sifu) (2003). Wing Chun Weapons: Butterfly Swords and Dragon Pole. Brisbane: Protheroe. ISBN 0-9580884-1-1. 
  • Cheung, William (1988). Advanced Wing Chun. USA: Ohara Publications. ISBN 0-89750-118-7. 
  • Cheung, William (1986). Kung Fu Dragon Pole. USA: Ohara Publications. ISBN 0-89750-107-1. 

[edit] See also

[edit] External links