SIFU SAM

Master Sam F.S. Chin is the co-founder of the art, and the head instructor of the system. Master Chin was trained in the martial arts since childhood by his father the founder Lik Keong Chin. He was a state heavy weight kickboxing champion in 1978. During the 1980’s, Master Chin continually won Push Hand Championships. For the past 25 years, Master Chin conducts seminars and workshops throughout the world including: Malaysia, Australia, Japan, Hungary, Russia, Poland, Germany and the United States. Master Chin has been recognized by the USA Wushu Kung-Fu Federation as a Hall of Fame Outstanding Master.

Master Chin and his family migrated to California from Malaysia in 1991. One year later, he was advised to come to the Chuang Yen Monastery in Carmel New York by one of his closest friend Reverend Ji Ru, and decided to move to New York soon after. There, he met a man by the name of Ruey Teng Chen from Taiwan. Ruey had a deep understanding of Buddhist philosophy and was also working for the temple at that time. They frequently spent time discussing how similar the art of I-Liq Chuan’s principles were to the concepts and philosophy of Buddhism..

Not long after he started working at the monastery, he was asked to start a martial art class for the English Program. he originally thought of teaching the standard 24 official form of Tai Chi, but realized that another Sifu was already teaching it. Master Chin decided to teach his family art: I Liq Chuan, at the suggestion and encouragement of Ruey Teng Chen. He thought that I-Liq Chuan would be a tool to better understand the principles of Buddhism and vice versa.

A major turning point in his understanding occurred after a year of teaching I-Liq Chuan. One day he attended a retreat at the monastery by a Thailand monk, Ven. Achan Tong, who was conducting dynamic meditations, emphasizing mindfulness and awareness. With deep gratitude for his enlightening lectures, he was finally able to break the barrier that was responsible for my confusion. Master Chin was able to clearly see the common ground that the art had profound meaning, and how he could merge Buddhist philosophy and concepts into the art of I-Liq Chuan for deeper understanding. Master Sam Chin spent several years contemplating the quality of awareness, and structured a system he could use as a teaching method. The art as it is taught today is based on six physical points, three mental concepts which are Present, Formless, and Neutral with the Such-ness Feel.

Master Sam Chin realized he needed a more systematic way to teach and that reason motivated him to start writing this manuscript. Master Chin could not teach the art here in the United States the same way as in Malaysia. In Malaysia students are only taught and work on what they lack to complete certain moves. In a way, the art was personalized. Students with different qualities would gasp different parts of the art in order for them to achieve what they needed. Although students were improving, it was difficult for them to experience the art completely. In order for Master Chin to fully pass down the art to the students, he realized that they must not only know how to express it in action, they must also experience the whole art in all aspects and fully understand its concepts and principles. It motivated Master Chin to start writing principles and concepts that everyone needed to know. The book written was originally started as a manuscript intended for students to use as a guideline to better understand the art. Due to the grandmaster’s aspiration to have the family art recorded, Master Sam Chin then used this opportunity to expand it into a book (I Liq Chuan - Martial Art of Awareness).

The I-Liq Chuan system has been tested worldwide throughout the years and should be judged by the improvement and feedback from the students.

Master Sam Chin is deeply indebted to his father the Founder for teaching him the skill and giving him the legacy of the art of I-Liq Chuan. Master Chin is grateful to his students for giving him the opportunity to expand his understanding through his teaching and providing the opportunity to advance the system now and in the future. Master Chin is deeply grateful and thankful to his friend Rev. Ji Ru for advising and showing him a better understanding of life. Master Sam Chin is especially thankful to all the great people that he have met during his ten year association with Chuang Yen Monastery.

Master Sam Chin is especially grateful to his wife and children for their understanding and support when travel or classes conflict with family matters.