Spring Break
Martial artist fights for Chinese culture
Rie Nakanishi
Issue date: 12/4/08 Section: Features
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That's how long it took James Chin, a martial artist who works for Spartan Shops, to get promoted to black belt.
But the black belt he earned through the years of hard training now sleeps somewhere in his closet with his other "general kung fu memorabilia."
"In this modern day and age, a black belt doesn't mean anything," Chin said. "Black belts
hold up my pants. You can go buy one for $4.95. (Martial arts) is what's in your heart, how much time commitment you put into
your training."
IT RUNS IN THE FAMILY
Chin, who is not a student, is a martial artist with more than 35 years of kung fu training experience, specializing in northern Shaolin long fist, swai jiao and tai chi chuan.
Gong Chen, an activity coordinator at SJSU's kinesiology department and a tai chi instructor, wrote in an e-mail that Chin is a well-known figure in the field of Chinese martial arts in this area.
"He has a very positive attitude toward Chinese martial arts and tai chi and he has been promoting both on campus and in the community," Chen said.
Chin is a martial artist who holds a seventh-degree black belt, but he's not the typical Chinese master depicted in Hollywood movies - characters who are as hard as flint and wooden.
"He is an easygoing person and students feel comfortable working with him," Chen said. "He is willing to take his time to help other people."
Born in New York City, Chin grew up in a martial arts family. He had a great uncle who was a martial artist. His father's brother was a bodyguard for former President of Taiwan Chiang Kai-shek, Chin said.
Being exposed to martial arts culture at a young age, there was no doubt that he wanted to learn one of the important elements that defines the Chinese culture.
"I'm pretty much a fourth-generation martial artist," Chin said. "I was pretty fortunate in that I grew into a family that had a martial arts background."
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Dave Pickens
posted 1/18/09 @ 8:21 PM PST
I am the National Chairman for the United States Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) Chinese Martial Arts Division and I have known and worked with Sifu Chin since his days as a competitor to his days as one of the top National Officials in the AAU. (Continued…)
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