Jim Fung

Jim Fung
馮傳強

Jim Fung
Born Fung Chuen Keung (馮傳強)
(1944-05-16)16 May 1944
Hong Kong Hong Kong
Died 18 March 2007(2007-03-18) (aged 62)
Sydney, Australia
Cancer
Native name 馮傳強
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; 16 May 1944 – 18 March 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

Tsui and Fung engage in Chi Sau

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.

Jim Fung demonstrates the Wing Chun thrust kick

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]

A world record for IWCA

Fung and Robert Ardito

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 18 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.

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 unknown to his students.[7] He continued until days before his death on 18 March 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 26 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 stated that it would continue to raise funds for cancer research.[9]

References

  1. ↑ http://www.wingchun.com.au/images/credentials/endorse.jpg
  2. 1 2 "The Master – Grandmaster Jim Fung's International Wing Chun Academy (Australia)". Wingchun.com.au. Retrieved 30 April 2012.
  3. ↑ "Businessman and martial artist packed a punch – Obituaries". Sydney Morning Herald. 2 April 2007. Retrieved 30 April 2012.
  4. ↑ Blitz Magazine 2003 Vol 17, No 7
  5. ↑ "Full contact punch strikes in one minute". Guinness World Records. 18 March 2007. Archived from the original on 3 March 2009. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
  6. 1 2 "Guinness World Record for Most Punches in 60 Seconds Reclaimed by Robert Ardito | International Wing Chun Academy". Wingchun.com.au. 7 April 2009. Retrieved 30 April 2012.
  7. ↑ "Announcement from the International Wing Chun Academy". Wingchun.com.au. 18 March 2007. Retrieved 30 April 2012.
  8. ↑ Jimmy Chuen Keung Fung Death Notice – Notices – smh.com.au Archived 24 April 2007 at the Wayback Machine.
  9. ↑ "Sifu Jim Fung Memorial Fund raises $10000 for Cancer Research | International Wing Chun Academy". Wingchun.com.au. Retrieved 30 April 2012.
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