Cheung and others fled China for Hong Kong, a British colony at that time. Once he found work in his new home he was by a twist of fate reunited with Jow Biu who had himself fled China because of the war sometime earlier. Chan Man Cheung became Jow Biu’s assistant at his school in Hong Kong and assisted his teacher in all aspects of running his school.
Grand Master Chan Man Cheung
After completing his training under Jow Biu, Chan Man Cheung opened his own school and began the tireless effort to promote the Jow Ga system which he continues even to this day.
Because of this Chan Man Cheung had gained quite a reputation in the martial arts community of Hong Kong not only as a fighter, but as an expert in the art of Lion Dancing which earned him the title “Lion King.” Chan Man Cheung’s skill in the art of Lion Dancing was so high that he was chosen to perform the welcoming Lion Dance for Queen Elizabeth during a visit to Hong Kong.
His skill in Jow Ga also led Chan Man Cheung into the Hong Kong film industry where he trained some of Hong Kong’s top stars. The brothers of the famous actor known as Jimmy Wang Yu were students of Chan Man Cheung.
According to Chan Man Cheung he has trained many students in the art of Jow Ga kung fu and of these only five of them were taken as Indoor Disciples. Of these five, only one would go on to become not only his most famous student outside of Asia, but the founder of Jow Ga kung fu in America: his name was Dean Chin.
Dean Chin (1950-1985)
Dean Chin (Chin Yuk Jeun), often called a child prodigy, began his martial arts training at the age of seven, under his uncles who taught him three different styles of kung fu; Hung Ga, Bok Hok Pai (White Crane), and Bok Mei Pai (White Eyebrow). At the age of nine, Dean Chin began his study of the Jow Ga system under Chan Man Cheung at his school in Hong Kong. While studying Jow Ga, the young Chin took an interest in the art of Ying Jow Pai (Eagle Claw) and decided to train in the school of the famous Eagle Claw Master, Lau Fat Man.
Master Dean Chin
With so much knowledge Dean Chin could have easily created his own style but instead chose to dedicate himself to Chan Man Cheung and the Jow Ga system, and was taken as an Indoor Disciple of Chan Man Cheung.
With his training under Chan Man Cheung complete, Dean Chin decided to move from Hong Kong to the United States where he settled in the nation’s capitol of Washington, D.C. in 1964.
Originally Dean Chin moved to the states to pursue a degree in Engineering at the University of Maryland. However, when D.C.’s martial arts community heard that Dean Chin was an expert in the art of kung fu, he had no choice but to open what would be the first traditional kung fu school south of New York City. In 1968, Dean Chin along with Hoy Lee, the most senior Jow Ga practitioner in the United States, opened the first Jow Ga school on 8th and H Street in the Chinatown section of the city.
The school was an instant success with many men, women, and children studying the art made famous by Jow Lung and his brothers. With student enrollment at an all time high and space in the school becoming increasingly crowded, Dean Chin decided to relocate the school to a larger space in order to better train the next generation of Jow Ga practitioners. In 1971, the school relocated and was officially named the “U.S. Jow Ga Kung Fu Association Headquarters.” From this location came some of the finest kung fu stylists on the East Coast: Deric Mims, Paul Adkins, Robert Woods, Hon Lee, Raymond Wong, and many others. These kung fu stylists brought great fame and success to Dean Chin and the Jow Ga system. In 1976, the Oval Office of the White House asked Dean Chin and the U.S. Jow Ga Kung Fu Association to perform for then President Jimmy Carter. This marked an important milestone, as Dean Chin’s school was the second martial arts troop to perform at the White House. (Historically, the Beijing Wu Shu team which featured the young Jet Li was the first martial arts troop to perform for then President Richard Nixon.)
Dean Chin with his students at a send off party before competing in Taiwan 1979.
In 1979, Dean Chin and his students were given the honor of competing in the World Kuoshu Championships held in Taipei, Taiwan. Dean Chin’s students received awards in the individual categories of Forms, Weapons, and Full Contact Fighting. This victory was honored by the Mayor of Washington, D.C. and was featured in the Washington Post. In August 1985, the founder of Jow Ga kung fu in America, Dean Chin, suddenly passed away, leaving many to ponder the fate of his school. From 1971 until 1985, no one person did more to promote and pass on the teachings of the Jow Ga 5 Tigers than Dean Chin. Although his untimely passing was a great blow to the system, many of his American students continued to spread the art of Jow Ga kung fu as well as the legacy of Dean Chin.
Students of the late Jow Ga Master Dean Chin.
Seated left to right: Sydney Johnson, Raymond Wong, Hon Lee, Reza Moneman, John Chin.
Standing left to right: Ron Wheeler, Chris Henderson, Gloria Grimes, Ed Howard.
Student of the late Jow Ga Master Dean Chin: Tehran Brightheart and Rahim Muhammad.
CHAPTER 2
Before starting any type of rigorous and strenuous training, the body must be thoroughly warmed up through various stretching and strengthening exercises. Continuous practice of these exercises will provide a greater range of motion and build endurance. Sixteen warm up exercises are presented to increase stamina and flexibility.
Exercise and Fitness
The martial arts can get an individual into excellent shape and make a body strong and fit. Many times my si-hing (older kung fu brother) would tell me if I practiced hard it would get me into tip top shape. But if I wanted to compete in martial arts tournaments I would have to be in what he called “Super Tip Top” shape.
I took his words to heart and since then have worked very hard to constantly try to improve my level of fitness. This has served me well over the years, as I am able to move in many ways better than I did when I was in my early twenties.
Your fitness level is also important in the execution of every technique that you will learn throughout the course of your study. What good are all the punches, blocks, and kicks you are going to do you if you don’t have the strength or the stamina? There is an old Chinese saying: If all you do is forms and no training in energy when you get old you will have nothing.
Warm Up
Neck Turning
Stand upright with your feet shoulder-width apart and gently turn your head from left to right. Be sure not to turn the head in a quick or jerky motion.
Triceps
