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Sifu Clifton
James has been studying martial arts since 1984.
The initial kung fu style studied was that of a Southern
Wu Xing Chuan, Shaolin Five Animal pattern, under Master
Tung Ping from Tainan, Taiwan.
At the end
of 1987, with 2 kung fu class brothers, training was
initiated with Master Chin Miel Su. Thereafter,
the kwoons in Port Elizabeth at that time adopted the
Shun Wu Tang syllabus.
The Port
Elizabeth kwoon is closely linked to the Port Elizabeth
Chinese Community due to Sifu Clifton's heritage as a
3rd generation Chinese South African. The kwoon
takes part in Chinese celebrations by demonstrating both
martial arts and lion dancing on these occasions.
Due to the
close links to the local Chinese Community, the Port
Elizabeth kwoon has been fortunate to be able to benefit
from various teachers sent to the South Africa by the
Taiwanese Overseas Chinese Commission. These
teachers have included a dancing teacher who taught
martial art and other Chinese cultural dances, a martial
art teacher who taught various hand & weapon forms
as well as self-defense and a police academy combat
teacher who taught baton and restraining techniques as
well as self-defense.
The kwoon
offers classes in Shun Wu Tang Southern Lohan and
traditional Chinese Lion dancing, both Cantonese and
Taiwanese versions.
In May 2002,
Sifu Clifton James was promoted to 4th Degree Black Sash
by Grandmaster Su in Taiwan.
Sifu Clifton
James is currently one of the Senior Instructors of Shun
Wu Tang in South Africa. He is also an Executive
Committee member of the South African Chinese Kuoshu
Authority in charge of Finance and Administration. This
position has been held since 2000.
Sifu Clifton
James also holds the position of being a Class
"B" (National) Kuoshu Judge and Referee.
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