Sifu Maurice’s training in Wing Chun began in 1991, and he worked hard to achieve level 5 by 1997. He subsequently trained with different instructors then in 2012, he started his own Wing Chun school independently, before finally competing and testing to reach level 10 gold sash under Grandmaster Anthony Arnett’s tutelage. Consequently due to Arnett’s teachings and full-time coaching, Maurice won 1st and 3rd place in two tournaments in USA.
Subsequently the following year he developed an affinity with Grandmaster Terry Lim’s Loong Fu Pai Academy. It holds martial arts tournaments every year and Sifu Maurice and his students participate. Aditionally Sifu Maurice enjoys catching up with Terry Lim. Furthermore learning Filipino Kali sticks from him by organizing seminars.
Lastly for almost a decade now, Sifu Maurice’s students, known as the “Fighting Tigers,” have been consistently participating in Loong Fu Pai’s M.A.T.A. tournaments. Remarkably, they have never failed to secure 1st, 2nd, or 3rd place titles every time they compete.
Sifu Maurice’s training journey took a turn when he first visited the Academy of Grandmaster Felix Leong in Adelaide in 2004. Although he was impressed with the academy, he was not able to train there until January 2016. In September 2015, a fire burnt 80% of the club along with all the equipment, which was not insured. Maurice traveled to Grandmaster Felix’s academy with a donation of two wooden dummies to help out. That year he spent ten days at the academy training and carrying out some renovations for his Re-birth from the Ashes ceremony.
in conclusion, Maurice began training privately with Grandmaster Felix’s top senior student, Wing Chun Melbourne instructor Nick Legg. He advanced quickly, and started traveling to Adelaide to train with Felix privately. Last year, Grandmaster Felix presented Maurice with an instructor level certificate for Hong Kong Wing Chun. His training continues, and Maurice visits Felix several times a year.
Final Thoughts
Sifu Maurice’s journey in Wing Chun began long and arduous, but it has also been immensely rewarding. Subsequently is affiliation with some of the most respected Wing Chun academies in the world is a testament to his dedication and passion for the art. Maurice’s story ultimately serves as an inspiration to aspiring martial artists, reminding us that hard work and perseverance are keys to success.
Philanthropy: The Life and Work of a Philanthropist
Philanthropy is the act of giving, whether it be through monetary donations, volunteer work, or any other means of contributing to the betterment of society. In particular, one man who exemplifies this spirit is Maurice, a philanthropist who has dedicated his life to helping those in need. Therefore, let’s take a closer look at some of his outstanding contributions.
Australia School: Giving Back to the Community he Came From
Maurice began by working with the Community of Sydney and Melbourne, called Uruguayans United. They raised money through a festival in Sydney once a year. During one of his visits to Uruguay, he had the opportunity to visit a school named after Australia. It’s called the Australia school, in honor and gratitude of the country. Subsequently, Maurice worked with the Uruguayan press to publicize his visit to the school and the charity work being done by Uruguayan United. Moreover, he collaborated with the school to plan future charity events towards Uruguay.
Earthquake in El Salvador: Fundraising for Disaster Relief
At the beginning of 2001, El Salvador was hit by a devastating earthquake that caused widespread damage and loss of life. The Latin communities in Melbourne organized an event to raise money for the Red Cross to send to El Salvador. Maurice took on the role of public relations for the event. He named it “The 12 Hour Latin Food and Music Marathon.” Although the admission was free, as a result it managed to raise an impressive $40,000. The special guest at the event was former Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard.
Hospital Auction: Sending Aid Overseas to His Birthplace
In the same year, Maurice traveled to the Hospital of the Military base in Mildura, Victoria, which had closed down, for the auction of the hospital items. On that occasion, Uruguayans United filled two large trucks with everything purchased to send to Uruguay. Maurice, the appointed public relations and IT manager for Uruguayans United in Melbourne, along with his father and other volunteers from the group, loaded the merchandise into trucks and sent them to Sydney. Then, with the help of the Uruguayan Consulate in Australia, sent goods as charity to Uruguayan hospitals.
Donations to Grandmaster Felix Leong: Supporting a Community Leader
In 2015, a fire started in the basement of Grandmaster Leong’s Wing Chun Kung Fu Academy at 12:13 p.m. on September 2nd, where he had been operating his academy for over three decades. Unfortunately, the fire spread throughout the building, and Leong was uninsured. He lost AUD$100,000 in equipment, including five wooden dummies crucial for teaching Wing Chun. Five months afterwards, Maurice drove 800 kilometers to bring his donation of two special handmade wooden dummies to Leong’s Academy. One of these was a child-sized wooden dummy, one of only five manufactured in the world, exactly the same as the adult size. As a result after spending some time with Leong, he became his student
Conclusion
Sifu Maurice’s work as a philanthropist is a testament to the power of giving back to the community. Through his various contributions, he has made a positive impact on the lives of many people. His dedication to helping those in need serves as an inspiration to others. Ultimately his legacy will continue to live on through the people whose lives he has touched.
