Anthony Arnett is an American martial artist specializing in Chinese martial arts, particularly Wing Chun. He is a direct disciple of Australian Wing Chun pioneer William Cheung and is founder of his own system, Arnett Sport Kung Fu.
Arnett is a martial artist and has been inducted into Universal Martial Arts Hall of Fame.[1]
Background
Early life
Though Arnett had learnt martial arts from his uncle,[2] he was reluctant to display his skills, as he felt that Asian martial arts were seen "kicking and flailing" and considered to be effeminate behavior that could attract ridicule and other kind of unwanted attention from the local youth gangs.[2]
Arnett kept his martial arts skills hidden until 1975, when he saw the movie Five Fingers of Death. With the kung fu craze of the period, Arnett realized the popularity of Chinese martial arts and stopped hiding his martial arts knowledge.[2]
Arnett began competing in Point Tournaments in 1974 then in 1977 he became a division champion in local tournaments.[2]
In 1980s and 1990s
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.[2]
In 1984 he became an East Coast Grand Champion then became Grand Champion in Fighting and Forms while competing in Georgia in 1989.[2]
In 1993 he was Grand Champion in Continuous Sparring for 3 consecutive years. Arnett retained the Division Championship title for 6 consecutive years and retained the Division Championship title in the Tri State Circuit.[2]
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.[2]
2000 to present
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.[2][3]
In 2002 Arnett opened a 3rd school in Orange Park, Florida and would being distributing of training guides for Traditional Wing Chun Kung Fu and Arnett Sport Kung Fu in DVD and CD-ROM formats.
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.[4]
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.[5]
Accomplishments
Awards and honors
Arnett appeared on Inside Kung Fu Magazine May 2006 front cover with Jackie Chan Featured in the Magazine article "Cheung Style for Tournaments".[6]
2004 Universal Hall of Fame inductee for Kung-Fu Artist of the Year.[1]
Grand Champion highlights
Year
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.[7]
^Bole, Robert (2017). Live until you die (Hardcover First ed.). New York United States of America: Page publishing inc. p. Chapter All the world’s a stage. ISBN978-1-63568-934-1. Retrieved January 28, 2020.
^Bowen, Jessie (2018). Martial Arts Masters and Pioneers (Volume 4 ed.). Elite Publications. pp. 122, 123, 124, 125. ISBN978-1-387-97086-5.
