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Sifu Charles Middleton was born
in Richmond, Virginia. He is the Chief Jow Ga Instructor in the Richmond
Virginia area and has been studying Kung Fu since 1973. Sifu Charles’
background in martial arts includes Wing Chun, Northern Long Fist,
contemporary Wu Shu and Jow Ga Kung Fu.
In February of 1977, he enlisted
into the U.S. Army. Unable to continue his kung fu practice, Sifu Charles
took up boxing and made the Fort Gordon Boxing Team. As a boxer, he
accumulated a record of 22-1 with 17 wins by TKO. Sifu Charles’ military
career moved him to Schofield Barracks, Hawaii where he was able to continue
his kung fu practice. He won 6 major championships in fighting and forms, in
competitions held in Hawaii, Guam, the Philippines and Korea. He was the
first Kung Fu stylist to represent the 25th Infantry Division and
won a fighting championship in Korea.
Sifu Charles
was assigned to Fort Dix, New Jersey in 1981, where he attended the U. S.
Army Leadership Academy and became a Drill Sergeant. During the fall of
1982, Sifu Charles organized the first kung fu club at Rutgers University,
which he headed for four years.
Sifu Charles was certified by the
Commission on Institutions of Higher Education of the North Central
Association of Colleges, awarding him the title of Master Fitness Trainer.
Due to his extensive knowledge in Martial Arts and Physical Fitness, Sifu
Charles served as hand-to-hand instructor at U.S. Army Bases in Fort Dix NJ,
Fort Jackson SC and Fort Benning GA. He also served as a Chief Instructor
for the Battle Focused Instructor Training Course; Assistant Commandant of a
U.S Army Drill Sergeant School; and DCSOPS Sergeant Major for the 80th
Division Training. Sifu Charles retired as a Sergeant Major from the United
States Army; he also has a B.A. in Business Management.
Upon his
return to Richmond, Sifu Charles started teaching a few students privately.
He taught Kung Fu for Chesterfield Parks and Recreation. Realizing an
opportunity to fulfill a dream, he opened The Richmond Academy of Shaolin
Boxing.
After
meeting Master Deric Mims of Jow Ga Kung Fu Cultural Association and Master
Hoy K. Lee of the Jow Ga Kung Fu Association, Sifu Charles became excited
about learning Jow Ga Kung Fu. He soon became a student of Master Lee.
Master Lee placed him under the watchful eyes of Master Mims for his first
Jow Ga training years. The combination of Master Lee’s knowledge, ability,
leadership and support and Sifu Charles’ strong Kung Fu background, Jow Ga
Kung Fu has found a home in Richmond where it is second to none.
Sifu Charles’s students have
dominated the Kung Fu and karate world in competition. The Richmond based
school has won gold medals in every major National and International Kung Fu
competition, spanning the globe from Singapore and China to Germany and the
U.S.A. Sifu Charles Middleton exudes an infectious energy that springs from
his passion for Kung Fu and inspires his students to achieve their full
potential. His lucid instruction and brilliant demonstrations make complex
techniques profoundly understandable. |
