SIFU ERIC CHEN

My Story

I studied martial arts from a very young age.  Back then, it was all about learning various techniques, attaining the next belt, breaking boards, and sparring.  Due to the high standards of my instructors, I remember having to retake belt ranking exams several times before advancing to the next level. As tough as it was, it provided the confidence I needed to work hard in the face of adversity, to stand up to school yard bullies and even racial discrimination while growing up as one of the few Chinese-American kids in school.

As I matured, I noticed a shift in martial art schools; they became more commercialized.  Minimum standards for proficiency and competency were pushed aside in order to keep students “happy”.  The black belts started to look more like the white belts.  Consequently, I almost put martial arts behind me until I watched the famous Ip Man movies starring Donnie Yen and the art of Wing Chun.  I was intrigued by what I saw; the motions weren’t as flashy as other arts, but still beautiful to watch as they were direct, crisp, clean and efficient, and seemingly effective in close range combat. I wanted to know what it was like in real life. Thereafter, I spent nearly a year searching for a qualified Wing Chun instructor in Southern CA, until I found my Sifu (“teacher”) through an obscure website.  Instead of a typical storefront school, he taught out of his garage, with a handful of students (at most) attending class on any given night.  The initial skeptic in me was quickly wiped away upon physical contact with my Sifu as I’ve never experienced such power before, especially from someone who was 60 pounds lighter and a foot shorter than me.  I ended up learning more about martial arts in the first few lessons than I had in all my years of previous training.  I attribute this to the Tao (“The Way”) of Wing Chun that has been passed down to my Sifu and ultimately, to me.

From the start, I’ve been obsessed with digging deeper into the art; practicing, testing, and meditating on Wing Chun principles and concepts day and night, taking private lessons and regularly attending seminars to strengthen my understanding. After several years, I finally understand the reasons behind my obsession; simply put, I've become a better version of myself. I’ve become more confident, patient, and balanced. Even though my career has flourished, I’m no longer defined by what I do for a living, but who I am as a person. I attribute my (personal definition of) “success” to greater self-awareness, control, and discipline that comes through time well spent in any skill or craft. 

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Having good teachers to guide you along the way is paramount to one’s development.  I am extremely grateful  to my first Sifu, Lee Keener for his contributions toward my early development in the art, along with his continuous love and support. To my mentor and Sifu, Ed De La Cruz for guiding me towards the fine and critical details of the art as well as his teachings on applying Wing Chun to life. Their character and skills in Wing Chun are unmatched.

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Personally, teaching Wing Chun is not a career, hobby, or a form of exercise.  It is my way of life, a way to reach my full potential while helping others to find theirs, and the journey will only end when I take my last breath.  Students and teachers learn from each other.  Should our paths connect, I look forward to growing with you.

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Wing Chun Lineage

Ip Man

Ho Kam Ming

Augustine Fong

Ed De La Cruz / Lee Keener 

Eric Chen

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