Master Chan See Meng 陈思明老师

 

Master Chan See Meng (陈思明) was born in 1942 in Singapore. His father had died just before he was born during the Japanese Occupation in Singapore and he moved to Kuala Lumpur to stay with his guardians when he was 9 years old.

 

At the age of 13, he began his studies in martial arts with Yang-style Taiji, learning from accomplished Grandmaster Tung Ying Chieh (董英杰). Two years later, when Grandmaster Tung left Kuala Lumpur, the young Chan See Meng searched for another teacher to continue his apprenticeship in the martial arts.

 

At 15, he began his study of 5 Ancestors Fist (五祖拳) and eventually apprenticed with Grandmaster Chee Kim Thong (徐金栋). This proved to be the pivotal point for Master Chan's martial arts journey.

 

In 1969, Singapore hosted the first South East Asia Pugilistic Open Invitation Tournament, the fore-runner of modern Wushu free-sparring competitions. Unlike modern Wushu free-sparring competitions where athletes wear boxing gloves, full-body armour and head guards, these early Pugilistic Open tournaments had minimal protective gear and no gloves.

 

After many hard-fought bouts, Master Chan See Meng emerged as champion of the Middle Weight Category. As part of the team of veteran instructors for the SG50 Martial Apprentices event, Master Chan will impart his knowledge of the White Crane Style of 5-Ancestors Fist (白鹤五祖拳) and how traditional training methods can still be effective and efficient for the modern martial artist.

 

For more about Master Chan See Meng, visit his website at: http://www.wuzuwhitecrane.com