Ku Choi Wah
Ku Choi Wah started his martial arts training, when he was 8 years old. His first instructors were his father & uncle, who taught him Hong Kar & Choy Li Fut Kung Fu. His training lasted 10 years, and at the age of 19, Ku Choi Wah started training in Wing Chun Flower Fist, under the guidance of Master Cheung Pak Hong (Teo Pak Siong), for 4 years in Kuala Lumpur.
In 1970, he came to Singapore to work for his uncle, Master Suen Yin Liu. After 4 years, he went to study Ban Chung Cho Family Wing Chun directly from Grandmaster Cho On. After 2 years, he came back to Singapore to continue his training with his uncle.
In 1986, feeling a need to further his understanding of Wing Chun, Ku Choi Wah went to Penang, to learn from Grandmaster Cho On again. After 2 years of intensive training, Sifu Ku finally mastered the essence of Ban Chung Wing Chun, and was chosen as an inheritor by Cho On.
In the 90’s, Sifu Ku came back to Singapore, where he started to teach his arts to a few students. It was only in the years 2000 that he started a Wing Chun class at a Chinese temple, “Wong Siong Tong”. Among this batch of students were Simon Tung, P.S. Lau, Keith, Bertrand Lim, Thomas Ho & Ken Lau. Sifu Ku also taught at a few other clubs & locations. However, at that time, students were selected carefully based on recommendations only.
In 2007, Sifu Ku felt that it is necessary to ‘open’ his arts to anybody who is interested to learn. The art will be taught systemically with a formal syllabus & a grading system. Classes have started at the Kong Chow athletic association of Singapore.
Sifu Ku is currently the advisor to the Thailand Chin Woo Athletic Federation & Persatuan Wing Chun Do Melaka Association. He also won a silver medal in the 2nd World All-Style Kuo Su Championship organized by the World Kuo Su Federation.
Sources:
- Written account Ku Choi Wah's student Thomas
- AWCKRI