Jim Fung
| Jim Fung 馮傳強 | |
|---|---|
 Jim Fung | |
| Born | Fung Chuen Keung (馮傳強) May 16, 1944 Hong Kong  |
| Died | March 18, 2007 (aged 62) Sydney, Australia Cancer |
| Style | Wing Chun |
| Teacher(s) | Tsui Seung Tin (徐尚田), |
| Rank | Grandmaster |
| Website | www.wingchun.com.au |
Jim Fung (Fung Chuen Keung 馮傳強; May 16, 1944 – March 18, 2007) was a practitioner and teacher of Wing Chun kung fu and founder of the 'International Wing Chun Academy'. He had been training under his master, Tsui Seung Tin (徐尚田), since 1960. Tsui, chairman of the Hong Kong Ving Tsun Athletic Association, was one of the closed door students of Yip Man (葉問).[1]
Accomplishments
Jim Fung immigrated to Australia from Hong Kong in his late teens and studied accountancy and law at the University of Adelaide, graduating with a bachelor's degree in accounting. He is the author of two books, Wing Chun Kung Fu and Wing Chun Weapons, and produced a teaching video titled "Wing Chun", in 1985.
Fung was chosen to represent Chinese kung fu at the International Grandmasters' Martial Arts Exhibition in Adelaide, Australia, in 1989. However, he says the greatest honour thus far was having his Academy officially recognised by the Chinese Government and world ruling body for Chinese martial arts in the All China Martial Arts Register published in 1998.[2][3]
Fung is also a permanent director of the Hong Kong Ving Tsun Athletic Association.[2]
In 1999, Fung was conferred the title of Grandmaster by Chu Shong Tin.[4]
[edit] A world record for IWCA
In August, 2005, one of Fung's students, Robert Ardito, received world acclaim when he broke the Guinness Book of Records speed punching record. His record was 428 punches per minute, breaking the previous record of 347 punches per minute.
Robert Ardito renewed his record on the 18th of March, 2007, at the International Wing Chun Academy in Sydney.[5] His record was broken in 2008 but was reclaimed by Robert in April 2009.[6] The record now stands at 805 martial art punches a minute,[6] a rate almost twice the 2005 record. Ardito raised funds for cancer research through the event, and dedicated his record to his sifu, Fung.
Battle with cancer
In February 2004 Jim Fung was diagnosed with an already advanced case of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. A rare form of throat cancer, it is 100 times more prevalent in people from South East China and Hong Kong. Yip Man, his Sigung, also died of throat cancer.
His overseas training visits to Tsui Seung Tin, daily training regimen and teaching continued during treatment, his condition unbeknownst by his students.[7] He continued up until days before dying March 18, 2007, aged 62.[8]
A donor to cancer research himself, a memorial fund was established with proceeds going to the Queensland Institute of Medical Research and the Oncology Department of St Vincent's Hospital.
On the 26th of May 2010, the Sifu Jim Fung Memorial Fund for Cancer Research made its first donation of $10,000 to the Medical Oncology Department of St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney. The fund has expressed that it will continue to raise funds for cancer research in future.[9]
[edit] References
- ^
- ^ a b The Master - Grandmaster Jim Fung's International Wing Chun Academy (Australia)
- ^ Businessman and martial artist packed a punch - Obituaries - smh.com.au
- ^ Blitz Magazine 2003 Vol 17, No 7
- ^ Full Contact Punch Strikes In One Minute
- ^ a b [1]
- ^ Announcement from the International Wing Chun Academy
- ^ Jimmy Chuen Keung Fung Death Notice - Notices - smh.com.au
- ^ Sifu Jim Fung Memorial Fund raises $10000 for Cancer Research | International Wing Chun Academy
[edit] External links