Calvin Chin is the Chief Instructor at Calvin Chin's Martial Arts Academy in Newton. His interest in martial arts began as a pre-teen when he enrolled himself in Judo classes. This early experience ignited further curiosity into martial arts.

In 1962, he began training under George Mattson, the American grandmaster of the Uechi Ryu system.

"Mattson brought the philosophy and spiritual aspect of the martial arts to me."

Chin spent his teen years learning the discipline of Uechi Ryu and developing a reverence for tradition. He credits his early martial arts experience for keeping him focused and out of harms way. At age 16, Chin was assigned to teach one of Mattson's early morning classes, turning it into a popular pre-work regimen. The benefits of teaching martial arts were evident to him then, and he has continued to teach ever since.

Chin reaped the rewards of his efforts in 1967, when he was tested and promoted by Kanei Uechi, the grandmaster of Uechi Ryu, while on his US tour. This distinction made him one of the youngest black belt recipients in the Uechi Ryu system.

In 1970, Calvin Chin was introduced to the late Kwong Tit Fu from Guangzhou China, founder of the Fu Hok Tai He Morn system and a new immigrant to Boston. From their first encounter, they immediately knew that it would be a turning point in both their lives. Chin was ready to expand his knowledge of martial arts by training in a traditional Chinese system and Kwong Tit Fu, a renowned Hung Gar teacher from Hong Kong was ready to expand his teachings in the U.S.

Speaking of their unique relationship, Chin says,

"The Grandmaster called it 'yuan fuen karma.' Not karma in the sense of past lives but that people meet and have a bonding. The exchanges between us were more a giving of a gift than paying for instruction."

Chin not only gained "indoor student status," but was chosen as Kwong Tit Fu's principal disciple. He assisted his teacher in establishing The Academy of Chinese Martial Arts, the first Hung Gar Fu Hok school on the East Coast.

Of his deep connection with his teacher, Chin said, "we were so close, we got into each other's head." For 22 years, he trained at minimum twice a week under Kwong, was the President and Chief Instructor for the academy, and continued to meet regularly, one-on-one until Kwong's passing.

Kwong wanted his chief disciple to take over his system so he could retire, but Chin was self-employed with a demanding work schedule. Spending more time at the academy or taking on new responsibilities was impossible.

It would be many years later before Chin was able to fulfill his teacher's wish. In 1996, with Kwong's sanctioning, he gave up his business of 25 years to carry on the tradition of the Fu Hok Tai He Morn system.

Before his death in 1999, Kwong Tit-Fu passed on all his martial arts effects, a culmination of his training to his long-term student, confidant and chief disciple. Included was his research into the higher theories of martial arts, along with sole authority of the Fu Hok Tai He Morn system.

"Calvin Chin: Master of Martial Art" Sampan, Feb 5, 1999, Edward McInnis