Anthony Arnett is an American martial artist specializing in Chinese martial arts, particularly Wing Chun. He is a direct disciple of Australian Wing Chun pioneer William Cheung and is founder of his own system, Arnett Sport Kung Fu.
| Anthony Arnett | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Residence | Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Style | Traditional Wing Chun Kung Fu Arnett Sport Kung Fu |
| Teacher(s) | William Cheung |
| Rank | Grandmaster |
| Spouse | Sharell Jackson Arnett |
| Notable students | Corvey Irvin Paul Spicer |
| Website | www |
| Also known as | Cheung Style |
|---|---|
| Focus | Hybrid |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Creator | Anthony Arnett |
| Famous practitioners | |
| Parenthood | Kenpo Karate Boxing Shotokan Karate White Crane Kung Fu Jeet Kune Do Wing Chun |
Arnett is a martial artist and has been inducted into Universal Martial Arts Hall of Fame.[1]
Background
editEarly life
editThough Arnett had learnt martial arts from his uncle,[2] he was reluctant to display his skills, as he felt that Asian martial arts were seen "kicking and flailing" and considered to be effeminate behavior that could attract ridicule and other kind of unwanted attention from the local youth gangs.[2]
Arnett kept his martial arts skills hidden until 1975, when he saw the movie Five Fingers of Death. With the kung fu craze of the period, Arnett realized the popularity of Chinese martial arts and stopped hiding his martial arts knowledge.[2]
Arnett began competing in Point Tournaments in 1974 then in 1977 he became a division champion in local tournaments.[2]
In 1980s and 1990s
editHe opened his first Wing Chun School in Maryland, co-opened a second school in 1983 then in 1986 he opened the first Traditional Wing Chun School in Georgia and opened the second Wing Chun School in Augusta, Georgia, in 1987 before finally settling to teach in Jacksonville, Florida.[2]
In 1984 he became an East Coast Grand Champion then became Grand Champion in Fighting and Forms while competing in Georgia in 1989.[2]
In 1993 he was Grand Champion in Continuous Sparring for 3 consecutive years. Arnett retained the Division Championship title for 6 consecutive years and retained the Division Championship title in the Tri State Circuit.[2]
In 1996 he completed a three volume video series on Arnett Sport Kung Fu starring Grandmaster William Cheung and himself. In 1998 he opened his first private lessons studio exclusively for one on one sessions in Jacksonville, Florida. Arnett started promoting tournament training camps and seminars in 1999.[2]
2000 to present
editIn 2000 Arnett won numerous championships including the Overall Championship in the National Arts League for Forms Demonstration, Weapons Demonstration and Most Student Competitors. Arnett was awarded NKKU Ultimate Grand Champion for 2001 in Forms, Weapons, and Fighting in the Masters Division and also Grand Champion in the North Florida Martial Arts Association.[2][3]
In 2002 Arnett opened a 3rd school in Orange Park, Florida and would being distributing of training guides for Traditional Wing Chun Kung Fu and Arnett Sport Kung Fu in DVD and CD-ROM formats.
In 2005 Arnett became the official martial arts instructor for NFL Football Team Jacksonville Jaguars, their strength and conditioning coach Mark Asanovich praised and thanked Arnett for his work with the team he wrote in a letter; the training was much liked by the players, well designed and well run and that he would continue to support Arnett Sport Kung Fu in future relationships.[4]
In 2012 Arnett was personally invited by William Cheung to be guest instructor at the Cheung's Wing Chun Kung Fu Academy in Melbourne, Australia Headquarters of the Global Traditional Wing Chun Kung Fu Association.[5]
Accomplishments
editAwards and honors
edit- Arnett appeared on Inside Kung Fu Magazine May 2006 front cover with Jackie Chan Featured in the Magazine article "Cheung Style for Tournaments".[6]
- 2004 Universal Hall of Fame inductee for Kung-Fu Artist of the Year.[1]
Grand Champion highlights
edit| Year | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1982 | Grand Champion | East Coast Tournament Circuit and ranked 8th in the nation on three tournament circuits. |
| 1984 | First Place | Heavy Weight Champion in "Ziggs Hard Contact Tournament". |
| 1989 | Grand Champion | In Fighting and Forms category at Georgia. |
| 1991 | Grand Champion | In Continuous Fighting Format Tournaments in Florida. |
| 1992 | Grand Champion | Undefeated in continuous Fighting Format Grand Champion title and Division Champion in Point Tournament. |
| 1992 | Grand Champion | At North Florida Open Martial Arts C.S.F. in continuous Fighting, Forms, and Weapons. |
| 1993 | Grand Champion | Undefeated as Grand Champion in continuous Fighting and Division Champion in Point Tournament. |
| 1994 | Grand champion | In Men's Fighting Heavy Weight at "Night Of Legends" All Star Fighters. |
| 2000 | Overall Grand Champion | In the "National Martial Arts League" for Forms and Weapons Demonstration, also Awarded the "Most Competitors" Award. |
| 2001 | Ultimate Grand Champion | At the "National Karate & Kung-Fu Union" (N.K.K.U.) in Forms, Weapons, and Fighting in the Masters Division. |
| 2001 | Grand Champion | In the "North Florida Martial Arts Association". |
| 2001 | Grand Champion | At the "Southern Sport Karate Open". |
| 2001 | 3rd Place | In Fencing Competition at Gainesville, Florida. |
| 2001 | 1st Place | In Inner School Fencing Tournament. |
| 2004 | Grand Champion | At the Gallops Karate Tournament in Fighting Masters Division. |
| 2004 | Grand Champion | ”Gainesville Challenge” (Gainesville, Florida for Fighting Masters Division. |
| 2005 | Grand Champion | "Bethel Champion of Champions" for Fighting. |
| 2007 | Grand Champion | "Gallops Karate Tournament" for Fighting. |
| 2008 | Grand Champion & Gold Medal | "National Karate & Kung-Fu Union" (N.K.K.U.) for fighting and Gold medal winner in Masters Division. |
| 2008 | Grand Champion | ”Gallops Karate Tournament" for fighting. |
| 2008 | Grand Champion | "Bethel Champion of Champions" for Fighting. |
| 2009 | Grand Champion and Gold Medal | "National Karate & Kung-Fu Union" (N.K.K.U.) for fighting and Gold medal winner in Masters Division. |
| 2010 | Grand Champion and Gold Medal | "National Karate & Kung-Fu Union" (N.K.K.U.) for fighting and Gold medal winner in Masters Division. |
| 2017 | Grandmaster Grand Champion | "National Karate & Kung-Fu Union" (N.K.K.U.) for sparring Grandmaster Blackbelt.[7] |
Instructor lineage
edit| Age | Style | Instructor |
|---|---|---|
| 5 years old | Kenpo Karate | Sensi Richard Brooks (Uncle) |
| 11 years old | Boxing | Coach Greg Louis |
| 13 years old | Shotokan Karate & White Crane Kung Fu | Master James Little |
| Judo | Master Mark Amous | |
| 17 years old | Jeet Kune Do | Sifu Nathaniel Singletary |
| 19 years old | Gung-Fu/Wing Chun | Sifu Nick Edwards |
| 23 years old | Traditional Wing Chun | Grandmaster William Cheung |
| 33 years old | Kali(Arnis) | Grandmaster Joe DeGuzman |
| 43 years old | Combat & Sport Fencing | Coach Raul Toro |
Images
edit-
Arnett kicking his opponent in a tournament -
Anthony Arnett gives William Cheung one of his gold medals in Jacksonville
References
edit- ^ a b "Universal Martial Arts Hall of Fame Plaque". ewingchun.com. Professor Silverio P. Guerra. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j John E. Citrone (June 5, 2003). "Kung Fu Master Anthony Arnett delivers street justice with an open heart and a closed fist". Folioweekly. Retrieved January 9, 2016.
- ^ "Introducing One of My Instructor: Master Anthony Arnett". Angel Casiano. July 4, 2012. Retrieved January 9, 2016.
- ^ Asanovich, Mark. "Letter of praise". ewingchun. Jacksonville Jaguars. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
- ^ a b Pation Pics (August 5, 2012). "Sport's Desk Martial Arts". Retrieved January 9, 2016.
- ^ Michael Haddock (June 2, 2002). "Old Art With a New Twist". Inside Kung Fu. Retrieved January 9, 2016.
- ^ "N.K.K.U. / N.M.A.L. / M.A.C. Tri-State 2017 National Sparring Division Grand Champions". U.S. Martial Arts Network.com. United States - National Karate & Kung-Fu Union U.S. - N.K.K.U. Martial Arts Olympia Games. Retrieved January 26, 2020.
- ^ Bole, Robert (2017). Live until you die (Hardcover First ed.). New York United States of America: Page publishing inc. p. Chapter All the world’s a stage. ISBN 978-1-63568-934-1. Retrieved January 28, 2020.
- ^ Bowen, Jessie (2018). Martial Arts Masters and Pioneers (Volume 4 ed.). Elite Publications. pp. 122, 123, 124, 125. ISBN 978-1-387-97086-5.
