Chief Instructor

Sigung David Cliffe

Sigung David Cliffe is the head instructor of the CWAA. Sigung has over 40 years experience in the martial arts, with 20 of those years spent teaching at Ching Wu.

Sigung's qualifications include Sifu award (Canada Kung-Fu Association, 1983) and 1st degree black belt (Canada Kung-Fu Association, 1980). He also attained Master level in Shaolin Kung Fu, 6th degree black belt in Jujitsu, 1st degree black belt in Shorin Ryu Karate, black sash in Praying Mantis, and black sash in Wing Chun. More recently Sigung traveled to the Shaolin Temple in Henan, China for extensive testing, critiquing, and instruction, resulting in Ching Wu being accepted as an associate school representing the Shaolin Temple in Canada. In 1993 Sigung and a number of his students competed at the national level resulting in Sigung becoming a national champion as well as a member of the 1993 Canadian Wushu Team.

Details of Sigung's background, including his training and competition record, are available at http://www.davidcliffe.ca/martial_arts.html.

Master Huang Guo Qing is a ninth generation lineage holder of the Seven Star Praying Mantis system. Master Huang began his martial arts training in 1972 at the age of seven, and he is certified by the Chinese Wushu Association as Martial Art Level 7 (7th Dan). His competition record includes:

• First Session of Martial Arts and Free Fighting Competition (Guangzhu, Dec. 1999) - 1st place men's free fighting (65kg)
• 2005 Guangzhu Traditional Martial Arts Competition - 1st place Chinese boxing (men's group A)
• 2005 Guangzhu Traditional Martial Arts Competition - 1st place traditional boxing, Northern style (men's group B)
  

Sifu Sonny Ayson is a Canadian National Wushu champion who began his training 20 years ago at Ching Wu  (1991 to 2000) under David Cliffe, Patrick Kelly, Jarrett Dickerson, and Rani Laoag, continuing in 2000-2001 to train under Shane Kacher at the Winnipeg Wushu Centre. Sifu Sonny has continued his training under teachers such as:

• Nationally at the Wushu/TaeKwonDo Centre in Hamilton and Burlington under Sifu Rick Sue, Simo Cynthia Su, Master Christano Santo (sanda), Master Kang Soo (TaeKwonDo) and Master Leon Banton (hapkido, TaeKwonDo).
• Internationally in Beijing under Master Sean Yi, Master Jian Bung Jun, and Master Zhai Li Ping and Weifang, Shandong under Master Ai Sheng Hua, and Sharon, Pennsylvania under Sifu Nick Gracein.

His competition record includes:

• Canadian Wushu National Championships
  • 2003 (Toronto) - 5th place Long Fist
  • 2007 ( Montreal) - 1st place (tied) Straight Sword and 5th place Long Fist
  • 2009 (Newmarket, Ontario) - 2nd place Southern Broadsword, 2nd place Southern Staff, and 3rd place Southern Fist
• 2008 Pan American Wushu Championships in Sao Paolo, Brazil
  • 4th place Long Fist
  • 4th place Straight Sword