Anthony Arnett
Anthony Arnett is an American Wing Chun Kung Fu practitioner who is a Universal Martial Arts Hall of Fame[1] and AMAA Who’s Who in the Martial Arts Hall of Fame inductee,[2] Arnett has won multiples of trophies in United States since 1974, is a direct disciple of William Cheung and is founder of Arnett Sport Kung Fu. In 2005 Arnett was the official martial arts coach to the NFL team Jacksonville Jaguars, for which he received high praise.[3][4]
| Anthony Arnett | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | January 22, 1958 Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. |
| 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 | http://www.sportkungfu.com |
| 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 |
Early life
Anthony Arnett grew up on the streets of Baltimore, Maryland, in the early 1960s. When he was 8 years old, his uncle a Green Beret taught him how to fight. The neighborhood was divided along street lines, each block representing a different territory. High-density town-homes and row houses meant families lived on top of each other, and kids from each block would form gangs to protect themselves. Though Arnett was already schooled in the ways of Kung Fu by his uncle, he was reluctant to use his skill in street fights. From 8 years old until 14 he would hide it, because when he grew up kicking was considered what girls did – kick, scratch and flail so the gang members considered guys who fought like that to be "sissies" so Arnett kept his martial arts hidden. But in 1975, Arnett saw the cult movie Five Fingers of Death one of the first martial arts films to find mass popularity in the states. This film's release was followed closely by the revolutionary movies of Bruce Lee. Suddenly, knowing Kung Fu was cool.[4]
He 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.[4]
Accomplishments
Awards and honors
- In 2003 Arnett Featured on the front cover in the Jacksonville weekly publication Folio Weekly, the article was titled "Fight Club".[4]
- Arnett appeared on Inside Kung Fu Magazine May 2006 front cover with Jackie Chan Featured in the Magazine article "Cheung Style for Tournaments".[5]
- 2004 Universal Hall of Fame inductee for Kung-Fu Artist of the Year.[1]
- American Martial Arts Alliance Who's Who in Martial Arts Hall of Fame inductee for the Legends Award.[2]
Grand Champion highlights
| Year won | 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.[6] |
In competitions
Arnett is a Wing Chun Specialist and the founder of Arnett Sport Kung Fu.[5] Throughout his martial arts career, Master Arnett has competed in full contact and non-contact tournaments since 1974 and has won over 4000 trophies as well as held several division championships,[10] into his 60s he still continues to compete on the local and national level.[6]
Arnett began competing in Point Tournaments in 1974 then in 1977 he became a division champion in local tournaments. In 1984 he became an East Coast Grand Champion then became Grand Champion in Fighting and Forms while competing in Georgia in 1989. In 1993 he was Grand Champion in Continuous Sparring for the 3rd year in a row. Arnett retained the Division Championship title for 6 years in a row and retained the Division Championship title in the Tri State Circuit.
In 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.[4][11]
Anthony Arnett at the 1st place podium in the N.K.K.U. U.S. Open National Karate & Kung Fu Olympia Games
Anthony Arnett's students the Fighting Dragons tournament medalists
Anthony Arnett gives William Cheung one of his gold medals in Jacksonville
Teaching accomplishments
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. In 2002 Arnett opened a 3rd school in Orange Park, Florida, and completed several DVD and CD-ROM training guides for Traditional Wing Chun Kung Fu and Arnett Sport Kung Fu.
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[3] 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.
Anthony Arnett gives a woman's self defence workshop in Jacksonville 2019
Anthony Arnett running a seminar at Jacksonville Naval Air Station
Instructor lineage
| 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 |
| 15 years old | 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 |
References
- "Universal Martial Arts Hall of Fame Plaque". ewingchun.com. Professor Silverio P. Guerra. Retrieved 23 January 2020.
- Arnett, Anthony. "AMAA Who's who in martial arts hall of fame legends award". ewingchun.com. American Martial Arts Alliance. Retrieved 23 January 2020.
- Asanovich, Mark. "Letter of praise". ewingchun. Jacksonville Jaguars. Retrieved 23 January 2020.
- John E. Citrone (5 June 2003). "Kung Fu Master Anthony Arnett delivers street justice with an open heart and a closed fist". Folioweekly. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
- Michael Haddock (2 June 2002). "Old Art With a New Twist". Inside Kung Fu. Retrieved 9 January 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 26 January 2020.
- Pation Pics (5 August 2012). "Sport's Desk Martial Arts". Retrieved 9 January 2016.
- Bole, Robert (2017). Live until you die (Hardcover First ed.). New York United Stated of America: Page publishing inc. p. Chapter All the world’s a stage. ISBN 978-1-63568-934-1. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
- Bowen, Jessie (2018). Martial Arts Masters and Pioneers (Volume 4 ed.). Elite Publications. p. 122, 123, 124, 125. ISBN 978-1-387-97086-5.
- "We Looked at 188 Martial Arts Teachers serving Jacksonville and Picked the Top 11". Expertise.com. © 2020 Expertise. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
- "Introducing One of My Instructor: Master Anthony Arnett". Angel Casiano. 4 July 2012. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
