William Cheung

William Cheung or Cheung Cheuk Hing (張卓慶, pinyin: Zhāng Zhuóqìng), born October, 1940, is a Chinese Wing Chun kung fu practitioner and currently the Grandmaster of his lineage of Wing Chun, entitled Traditional Wing Chun (TWC). He also heads the sanctioning body of TWC, the Global Traditional Wing Chun Kung Fu Association (GTWCKFA).^[2] Cheung is responsible for introducing Bruce Lee to his master Ip Man when they were teenagers in Hong Kong.^[3]

Early life

In the 1950s Cheung grew up in Kowloon, where fighting skills were considered a measure of self-worth and pride, At age 11 Cheung's challenge matches were on the school playground his fighting style was Tai Chi Chuan which were not sufficient enough to elevate him among the youth of Hong Kong. This fighting was a concern and frowned upon by his father being a Police inspector hence Cheung avoided becoming involved in gangs. By his teenage years however the challenge fights continue and as they are inextricably linked to extortion rackets of secret societies Cheung's high achieving family saw him a source of embarrassment.^[3]

A turning point in Cheung's life was when a gang leader who was undefeated in combat challenged an old man who was rumored to fight in a little known Kung Fu style of a woman, Cheung witnessed the challenge and watched as the thin old man who was Ip Man quickly defeat the gang leader. Soon after Cheung impressed by the old ma's skill visited Ip Man and became his student, over the next few months Cheung became a favourite of Ip Man and became a live in student for 3 years, before leaving Hong Kong.^[3]

During his time living with Ip Man Cheung introduced a then 15 year old famous child actor Bruce Lee^[2] whom he first met at Bruce Lee's 9th birthday^[4] to Ip Man. Cheung and Lee became friend and training partners. After several months of training every day they both became more involved in street challenge fights until one day Cheung fought a triad leader and seriously wounded him, this prompted Cheung's father to send him away from Hong Kong to put him out of harm's way however the problems followed him, he and his family decided that it was better for his safety to migrate to Australia to begin a new life.^[3]

Accomplishments

Teaching accomplishments

After moving to Melbourne, Australia to teach Traditional Wing Chun professionally in 1973, Cheung established his Wing Chun studio in Melbourne's CBD. According to The Sydney Morning Herald, his studio attracts hundreds of new students each year.^[4] Cheung also trained students in the USA, including some who became successful in their martial arts careers, such as Eric Oram who went on to train Robert Downey Jr and Christian Bale in preparation for their Hollywood movie roles.^[5][6][1] He also trained Anthony Arnett who has been winning martial arts tournaments since 1974 and has won grand champion multiple times some of which were for 3 years and 6 years running in different tournament circuits.^[7]

Martial arts

After being involved in duels with several triad members he had defeated in China it caused him to fear for his death thus Cheung decided to migrate to Australia in 1957, On the way there an incident occurred when he was forced to fight more than 10 sailors whom were set up by the triads that sought revenge. Cheung had sustained several stab wounds from the fight as some of the men were armed.^[4]

In 1984 Cheung set a world speed punching record of 8.3 punches per second at Harvard University in Boston.^[8]

Awards

• Black Belt Hall of Fame Award - Kung Fu Artist of the year 1983^[3]
• Inside Kung Fu Hall of Fame Award - Instructor of the year 1989^[3]

Magazine front covers

Over a 28-year period Cheung has been featured on the front cover of 35 magazines between 1982 and 2010, the first being Inside Kung Fu in October 1982 and the most recent Martial Arts Illustrated in April 2010.^[9]

Academia

Cheung attained a Bachelor of Economics from the Australian National University, after graduating from secondary school in Hong Kong. Cheung is a certified Doctor of Chinese Medicine under the Chinese Medicine Registration Board of Victoria, and a member of the Australian Chinese Traditional Orthopaedics Association Inc. He has also been invited as a Guest Professor to Foshan Sports University (China), and as a Senior Research Professor of the Bone Research Department to Beijing Chinese Medical University (China).^[2]

Writings

• Cheung, William (1983). Wing Chun Bil Jee, the Deadly Art of Thrusting Fingers. Unique Publications. p. 160. ISBN 978-0-86568-045-6. 
• Cheung, William (1986). Kung Fu: Butterfly Swords. Ohara Publications Inc. pp. 223. ISBN 0-89750-125-X
• Cheung, William; Mike Lee (1986). How to Develop Chi Power. Black Belt Communications. p. 192. ISBN 978-0-89750-110-1. 
• Cheung, William; Mike Lee (1989). Kung Fu Dragon Pole. Black Belt Communications. p. 128. ISBN 978-0-89750-107-1. 
• Cheung, William; Mike Lee (1988). Advanced Wing Chun. Black Belt Communications. p. 256. ISBN 978-0-89750-118-7. 
• Cheung, William; Ted Wong (1990). Wing Chun Kung Fu/Jeet Kune Do: a Comparison Volume 1. Black Belt Communications. p. 192. ISBN 978-0-89750-124-8. 
• Cheung, William (1989). My Life with Wing Chun (second edition). pp. 192.
• Cheung, William (2007). Wing Chun: Advanced Training and Applications. Black Belt Communications LLC. pp. 175. ISBN 0-89750-157-8. ISBN 978-0-89750-157-6.
• Cheung, William (2005). City of Dragons: Ah Hing - The Dragon Warrior. Healthworld Enterprises Pty. Ltd. pp. 118.
• Cheung, William (1994). CMT: Cheung's Meridian Therapy. Cheung's Better Life. pp. 388.

Cheung has produced a number of videos, including The Wing Chun Way, Tao of Wing Chun, My Life with Wing Chun, Wing Chun – Advanced Training and Applications, City of Dragons, CMT – Cheung's Meridian Therapy and PRO-TEKT: A Personal Protection Program.

References