Sigung Oliver Cheng
- Black Lion Wing Chun
- Oct 24
- 2 min read
ACT, Tuggeranong 1995
Sigung Oliver Cheng was first introduced to Wing Chun during his high school years in Hong Kong, where he began learning the art from friends. After moving to Australia, he continued his Wing Chun journey by attending weekend workshops with Sifu Jimmy Fung and Sifu Felix Leong. During this time, Sigung Cheng also had the opportunity to meet Yip Chun, the son of Grandmaster Yip Man, who was visiting Australia to conduct Wing Chun seminars. Inspired by this encounter, Sigung Cheng travelled back to Hong Kong over several years to study privately under Yip Chun.
Upon completing his training in the Hong Kong style, he sought to deepen his understanding by learning from other Wing Chun masters. Through Yip Chun’s introduction, he met Sifu Pan Nam in Foshan, China, who exposed him to the Foshan style of Wing Chun.
Through further research and study, Sigung Cheng learned about Grandmaster Sum Nung - the head of the Guangzhou Wing Chun system and the sole disciple of Great Grandmaster Yuen Kay San, one of the most respected figures in Wing Chun history.
Finding Grandmaster Sum Nung was no easy task, as he was a very private individual. After several years and with the help of family and mutual friends, Sigung Cheng was finally able to meet him. He eventually lived and trained in Grandmaster Sum Nung’s home, becoming his disciple. In 1995, Sigung Cheng invited Grandmaster Sum Nung to Canberra to conduct a series of Wing Chun workshops, which were attended by many of Sigung Cheng’s assistant instructors and students.
Over the years, Sigung Cheng established and ran Cheng’s Wing Chun Wu Shu Academy across various locations in Canberra, where he taught thousands of students and helped spread Wing Chun throughout the community. After a long and successful teaching career, he retired from public instruction and entrusted his school to his senior instructors. Despite retirement, he remained actively involved, regularly meeting with students to guide their continued progress.
At the persistent request of his former students and grand-students, Sigung Cheng eventually began teaching a select few privately, ensuring the art and spirit of Wing Chun would be preserved for future generations.
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