Biography

Master Tony Chuy began his martial arts training at the age of 14 in Hong Kong, where he studied under Grandmaster Lam Hay who taught Northern Eagle Claw and Choy Lee Fut styles. He later studied the Praying Mantis system under Grandmaster Brendan Lai and Grandmaster Chiu, Chuk-Kai and became a disciple of the system.

Master Chuy with Grandmaster Lai

Grandmasters Lai and Chiu

Master Chuy with Grandmaster Chiu

Aside from his thorough knowledge of the Praying Mantis style, Master Chuy has studied and become proficient in various Northern and Southern Chinese weaponry. He has won many awards in black belt kata, weapons and full-contact tournaments. Master Chuy has also judged and refereed at various tournaments since 1979.

In the Spring of 1982, with the permission of his teachers, Master Chuy established the Praying Mantis Martial Art Institute in New York City. Aside from teaching in his own studio, Master Chuy also taught martial arts at the Overseas Chinese Television Network’s Actors Training Class and at the Transfiguration Church Chinese Language School. Over the years, Master Chuy and his students have participated in over 300 martial arts and lion dance performances at various celebrations, festivals, cultural events, parades, fund raising events, charitable and social occasions held throughout New York and New Jersey. Furthermore, Master Chuy has appeared on the covers of and has been featured in several martial arts magazines throughout the United States, China, Hong Kong and Japan.

Master Chuy’s goal is to further promote Chinese martial arts and share its philosophy and benefits with the West. His philosophy of studying and practicing the Chinese martial arts reflects the drive for perfection, and the utilization of discipline to improve one’s life. He believes the benefits of studying and practicing include not only improving health and physical fitness, but extend to the development of other attributes such as courtesy, respect, discipline, endurance and the improvement of one’s personality.