Our History
A Brief History
In 1920, (5 Ambassador) Mr Chen Gong Zhe and his sister Chen Shi Chao, Mr Ye Shu Tian, Mr Luo Xiao Ao and Mr Li Hui Seng from the Shanghai Chin Woo (Athletic) Federation travelled to South-east Asia to promote martial arts. 1921, Mr Cai Jing Lin, an accomplished martial arts exponent arrived in Singapore to teach.
He was later invited to be an instructor by Yang Zheng School, Nanyang Industrial & Commercial Tuition School as well as the son and daughter of Mr Huang Zhao Gui. He was hence introduced to Mr Yang Zhao Zhen, who presented him with a copy of the “Chin Woo Biography”. Cai felt Chin Woo’s righteous principles were beneficial to society, there was a need to promote it to the general public. As such, Mr Yang Zhao Zhen and Mr Cai Jing Lin travelled all over the country to plan and form a Committee of founders : Mr Tang Xiang Lin, Mr Lin Yi Shun, Mr Gan Qing Si, Mr Liang Zi Xiu, Mr Lin Tui Qian, Mr Wu Sheng Peng, Mr Huang Shu Zhi, Mr Chen Jing Ting, Mr Huang Ze Bo, Mr Wu Shen Cai, Mr Huang Zhao Yuan and Mr Huang Zhao Gui.
During the British colonial period, the Association had to submit the application for registration to the government in the Federation of Malaya. On 9th August 1922, the group gained approval from the local Government to function as a registered society.
Changes in the political landscape necessitated the name of the Association to be officially changed from “Chinese Chin Wu (Athletic) Association” to “Singapore Chin Woo (Athletic) Association” on September 30, 1960.
Based on records from the Registrar of Societies from 1982 to 1983, the Singapore Chin Woo (Athletic) Association is the oldest martial arts group in Singapore history with the UEN No : S22SS001E.