William Kwok

William Kwok
Native name	郭威賢
Born	1972 (age 44–45) Hong Kong
Education	Master of Liberal Arts
Alma mater	Harvard University
Occupation	Martial Arts Master
Known for	Martial Arts Education, Wing Chun Kung Fu

William Kwok (Chinese: 郭威賢; born 1972) is a martial arts educator and promoter of martial arts education in America.^[1] He is a disciple of Practical Wing Chun founder, Wan Kam Leung. Kwok founded Martial Arts Studies International, an organization which promotes martial arts education and traditional martial arts culture.^[2][3][4] China Central Television produced a documentary, “A Man and Wing Chun”, in which he was featured.^[5]

Martial Arts Background

William Kwok is the elder son of Kwok Yuen Wah, a physical education professor who introduced Wing Chun and movement science to Kwok.^[6] Prior to learning Practical Wing Chun from Wan Kam Leung, Kwok trained in various martial arts systems including traditional Taekwondo, under Kim Suk Jun, a disciple of General Choi Hong Hi.^[1] Kwok is credited with introducing Practical Wing Chun to America. Wing Chun Illustrated writes:

"Like the famous monk Xuanzang in the classic Chinese novel Journey to the West, who journeyed to India in quest of the Buddhist scriptures, Kwok helps bring Practical Wing Chun to the America, teaching Westerners how to understand and decode this ancient, yet still modern, Gung Fu style."^[2]

In May 2013, he hosted Wan Kam Leung’s first ever American open seminar in New York City.

Martial Arts Education

Physical Education Study

Kwok is acknowledged for analyzing martial arts techniques with modern movement science and improving the teaching methods.^[7] Besides learning movement science from his father, he studied physical education at Columbia University. Before promoting martial arts education in America, he taught Business Studies as an adjunct professor at City University of New York.^[8][9]

Martial Arts Instruction

Kwok is credited as one of the key people who systemized Practical Wing Chun study into a modern day training program. He promotes the concepts of martial skills and teaching skills as two different skill sets, and that martial arts teachers' training should include teachers education such as curriculum design and analysis, motor learning, and teaching methods. In addition, he emphasizes the need to balance physical training of technique with mental and spiritual training of the mind "like Yin and Yang...complementing and supplementing each other",^[1] believing that a strong sense of culture and humility are critical to the study of martial arts and the improvement of the martial artist.

Recognition

In 2014, Kwok was a recipient of the Honor Award from the Martial Arts History Museum.^[10] In 2015, Kwok received a Community Leadership Award from the President's Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition.^[11][12][13] In 2017, Kwok became the World Ving Tsun Athletic Association's first recipient of the Silver Achievement Award.^[14]

References