SAN CHEEN DO MARTIAL ARTS INSTITUTE
San Cheen Do Institute is a Singaporean Martial Arts School established in 1972 by its Chief Instructor,
Grandmaster Teo Choon Teck (赵春德师傅).
Since its in inception in 1972, classes have been conducted in various constituencies throughout Singapore to provide training for self defense and combat sports. Many members have won medals in wushu and sparring tournaments representing the institution as well as Singapore in Asia.
Grandmaster Teo Choon Teck & his brother Teo Teck Huat
Grandmaster Teo Choon Teck and his brother Teo Teck Huat were the pillars of San Cheen Do Martial Arts Institute. Grandmaster Teo Choon Teck was the premier founder while his younger brother the co-founder. Together, the brothers ensured the creation, consolidation and growth of San Cheen Do and the institute. In the early days of San Cheen Do, their efforts bore fruits - with over 6000 students from all walks of life and 50 "inner circle" black belters all within 2 decades of the establishment of San Cheen Do Martial Arts Institute.
SAN CHEEN DO
STYLE
The martial art style taught in San Cheen Do is the Taizu quan 太祖拳. It is a rare and ancient Chinese martial art that was brought to Fujian by the Chinese Song Imperial Family when the Imperial Capital was moved to the south during the war with the Mongols.
As Fujian is a coastal province it was constantly harassed by Japanese pirates during the Ming Dynasty, practitioners of the style played a crucial role in fighting the pirates and defended the land from other bandits. The martial art was passed down to commoners to defend their land, often involving the usage of every day objects and farming tools. This explains the inclusion of such weaponry in San Cheen Do.
During the Qing Dynasty, Taizu quan 太祖拳 was used by anti Qing rebels to prepare troops against foreign Qing Empire. As troops had to be raised in a short time, the training had to be practical and effective. This marks the signature of the style, to be able to train a person who has virtually no combat knowledge into an effective fighter in a relative short time.
TAIZU QUAN
太祖拳 FOUNDER
Taizu quan 太祖拳 was created by the first emperor of the Northern Song Dynasty Zhao Kuanyin (AD960 - AD 970). Zhao is a 马上皇帝 (an emperor on horseback) and is known to be undefeated in battle. His style of martial arts, Taizu quan 太祖拳was passed down by his subjects and became well spread in the Fujian Province during the Qing Dynasty.
After the fall of the Qing Dynasty, the martial art was preserved as practitioners became bodyguards. Taizu quan 太祖拳 existed through Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasty until now- a span of more than one thousand years.