Jim Fung
Encyclopedia
Jim Fung 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).
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.
Fung is also a permanent director of the Hong Kong Ving Tsun Athletic Association.
In 1999, Fung was conferred the title of Grandmaster
by Chu Shong Tin.
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. His record was broken in 2008 but was reclaimed by Robert in April 2009. The record now stands at 805 martial art punches a minute, a rate almost twice the 2005 record. Ardito raised funds for cancer research through the event, and dedicated his record to his sifu, Fung.
. 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. He continued up until days before passing away March 18, 2007, aged 62.
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.
Wing Chun
Wing Chun , also romanised as Ving Tsun or Wing Tsun, ; ; is a concept-based Chinese martial art and form of self-defense utilizing both striking and grappling while specializing in close-range combat.The alternative characters 永春 "eternal spring" are also...
kung fu and founder of the 'International Wing Chun Academy'. He had been training under his master, Tsui Seung Tin
Chu Shong-tin
Chu Shong-tin was the third student of martial arts teacher Yip Man in the discipline of Wing Chun, and remained at Yip Man's school to become his senior instructor....
(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
Yip Man
Yip Man , also spelled as Ip Man, and also known as Yip Kai-Man, was a Chinese martial artist. He had several students who later became martial arts teachers in their own right, including Bruce Lee.-Early life:...
(葉問).
Accomplishments
University of Adelaide
The University of Adelaide is a public university located in Adelaide, South Australia. Established in 1874, it is the third oldest university in Australia...
, 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.
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
, 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.
Fung is also a permanent director of the Hong Kong Ving Tsun Athletic Association.
In 1999, Fung was conferred the title of Grandmaster
Grandmaster (martial arts)
Grandmaster and Master are titles used to describe or address some senior or experienced martial artists. Such titles may be, to some extent, aligned to the elderly martial arts master stock character in fiction...
by Chu Shong Tin.
A world record for IWCA
Robert Ardito renewed his record on the 18th of March, 2007, at the International Wing Chun Academy in Sydney. His record was broken in 2008 but was reclaimed by Robert in April 2009. The record now stands at 805 martial art punches a minute, 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 carcinomaNasopharyngeal carcinoma
Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is the most common cancer originating in the nasopharynx, the uppermost region of the pharynx , behind the nose where the nasal passages and auditory tubes join the remainder of the upper respiratory tract. NPC differs significantly from other cancers of the head and neck...
. A rare form of throat cancer
Esophageal cancer
Esophageal cancer is malignancy of the esophagus. There are various subtypes, primarily squamous cell cancer and adenocarcinoma . Squamous cell cancer arises from the cells that line the upper part of the esophagus...
, 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. He continued up until days before passing away March 18, 2007, aged 62.
A donor to cancer research himself, a memorial fund was established with proceeds going to the Queensland Institute of Medical Research
Queensland Institute of Medical Research
The Queensland Institute of Medical Research is one of Australia’s largest medical research institutes, and is recognised worldwide for the quality of its research. QIMR was established in 1945 by an Act of the Government of Queensland. The original purpose of the Institute was to further the...
and the Oncology
Oncology
Oncology is a branch of medicine that deals with cancer...
Department of St Vincent's Hospital
St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney
St Vincent's Public Hospital, Sydney is located in the inner city suburb of Darlinghurst. Though part of the New South Wales state public health system it remains under the auspices of the Sisters of Charity.-History:...
.
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.