INSTRUCTOR PROFILES
Master Level
Sifu Leigh Duff
(Chief Instructor)
Sifu Leigh Duff has studied various Martial Arts styles for over 30 years including MMA, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, kickboxing, Muay Thai, Traditional Karate (Goju Ryu & Shotokan) and Freestyle Karate (MMA/Zen Do Kai). In 2000 Leigh started training in Traditional Wing Chun Kung Fu and trained under several high profile Wing Chun instructors, many taught by the infamous Grandmaster William Cheung. Following this experience Sifu Leigh became a direct student and one of few closed door students under Grandmaster William Cheung himself and has been since 2011. With 20+ years experience in Wing Chun, Sifu Leigh is a Master Kung Fu Instructor and Chief Instructor of Tas Wing Chun Training Centre & Kung Fu 4 Kids. Personally assessed by Grandmaster William Cheung, Sifu Leigh is one of the last Instructors to be taught directly by Grandmaster Cheung before his tragic accident in 2018. Sifu Leigh has experience in both street and competition environments, however prefers to teach the street defence aspect of combat to students for self defence. Sifu Leigh also served in the Police Service, regulary dealing with people who were violent, armed with weapons or under the influence of drugs or a mixture of all three.
Due to this, Sifu Leigh gained a great deal of knowledge and practical experience in street combat and violent situations which provided him with the opportunity to test the application of Wing Chun in real life situations. Sifu Leigh also has a strong interest in professional defensive tactics and specialises in defensive tactics training for civilians, Police, Security, Military and other emergency services units. This includes training with firearms, knife, baton, cuffing/restraint techniques and other specialist defensive tactic/combat training. Sifu Leigh also has a strong focus on building “Mental Resiliency” and teaches people how to build their mental strength and get the most from thier lives. Sifu Leigh has a range of skills and experience in areas which require focus and systematic and automated skills. His experience includes training in flying aircraft, domestic and commercial vessels, police and other specialist vehicles. Sifu Leigh is also an experienced diver, having been involved in many aquatic activities since a young age including his experience as a commercial abalone diver in the cold, exposed and dangerous waters of Tasmania. Sifu Leigh understands all too well how being unprepaired for various situations, particularly in unforgiving environments can be fatal.
Sifu Leigh believes that Wing Chun should be taught to those people who are not only serious about being able to protect themselves in real violent situations with one or more attackers, but to those people who are interested in a more holistic approach to martial arts including building mental resiliency, self improvement and development, managing stress, treating injuries and illness and increasing their overall health and well being. Sifu Leigh regularly conducts classes for both children and adults including Iso Chi & Chi Gung, private tuition and corporate & specialised groups. Sifu Leigh is very passionate about teaching the younger generation of Wing Chun students and conducts our Kung Fu 4 Kids Program teaching hundreds of children every week. Sifu Leigh holds certificates I, II & III in Security Operations including conflict negotiation and is certified to work with children and vulnerable people. Sifu Leigh acknowledges that having a “Black Belt” doesn’t necessarily mean you know what real self defence or violence is, he therefore does his best to teach not only the traditional aspects, but those skills which are essential for survival in real violent situations.
In 2013 Leigh attended the Shaolin Temple In China with his teacher Grandmaster William Cheung, where the Wing Chun System was acknowledged as belonging to the Shaolin Temple. During this special event Leigh trained at the Shaolin Temple alongside other instructors, sharing the Wing Chun System with local Soldier Shaolin Monks. Leigh returned to China again in 2014 to continue his growth, sharing and knowledge of Wing Chun.
Family Tree
- Yip Man
- William Cheung
- Sifu Leigh
**Sifu Leigh is a”Closed Door Direct Students” of Grandmaster William Cheung. Grandmaster Cheung is a direct “Closed Door Disciple” of the legendary Yip Man. The lineage of Wing Chun taught is both pure and comprehensive due to the direct lineage and continuity of the way information has been shared.***
Sifu Leigh has trained with varoious martial arts instructors and continues to pursue greater knowledge by continuing his learning and training.
Si-Hing Damon Maley (Kingston HQ Assistant Instructor)
Si-Hing Damon is one of Kingston Headquarters assistant instructors and can often be found assisting Sifu Leigh teaching at Kingston especially where Events such as Gradings, Seminars, Curriculum Development and Online Content are involved. Si-Hing Damon has trained under Sifu Leigh since the opening of Tas Wing Chun in 2009 in which he commenced his training under Sifu Leigh Duff and is currently graded to Provisional Master Level 2 Instructor and was personally graded by Sifu Leigh Duff, Grandmaster William Cheung & Master Andrew Cheung. Damon has a range of skills and experience including advanced knife, stick and other weapons skills. Damon has a great friendly personality, fun sense of humour and a great attitude as well. We would like to welcome Si-Hing Damon to the Tas Wing Chun Instructor Family.
Si-Hing Joel Wierzbicki (Assistant Instructor/Tacical Specialist)
Si-Hing Joel Wierzbicki is one of Kingston Headquarters assistant instructors and can often be found assisting Sifu Leigh teaching at Kingston especially where Urban Tactics and Street Defense training is involved. Si-Hing Joel has trained under Si-Fu Leigh since the opening of Tas Wing Chun in 2009 in which he commenced his training under Si-Fu Leigh Duff and is currently graded to Provisional Master Level 2 Instructor and was personally graded by Si-Fu Leigh Duff, Grandmaster William Cheung & Master Andrew Cheung. Joel has a range of skills and experience including advanced knife, stick and other weapons skills. Joel has a great friendly personality, fun sense of humour and a great attitude as well. With children of his own he is also passionate about teaching the younger generation of Wing Chun students, conducting our Kung Fu 4 Kids Program at Kingston HQ. We would like to welcome Si-Hing Joel to the Tas Wing Chun Instructor Family
Si-Hing Tamieka Groombridge (Assistant /Womens Specialist)
Si-Hing Tamieka is currently Tas Wing Chun’s highest ranked female students/ instructor. Tamieka can often be found attending most classes, as well as assisting Sifu Leigh teaching. Tamieka has a strong passion for Women being able to protect themselves and often teaches alongside Si-Fu Leigh in specialised Womens only classes. Si-Hing Tamieka has trained under Si-Fu Leigh since the opening of Tas Wing Chun in 2009 in which he commenced his training under Si-Fu Leigh Duff and is currently graded to Provisional Master Level 2 Instructor and was personally graded by Si-Fu Leigh Duff, Grandmaster William Cheung & Master Andrew Cheung. Tamieka has a range of skills and experience including specialised womens self defence. Tamieka has a great friendly personality, fun sense of humour and a great attitude as well. We would like to welcome Si-Hing Tamieka to the Tas Wing Chun Instructor Family
Si-Hing Steven Creen (Assistant Instructor/ Combat Specialist)
Si-Hing Steve Creen is another of Kingston Headquarters first generation assistant instructors and can often be found assisting teaching at Kingston Si-Hing Steve has trained under Si-Fu Leigh since the opening of Tas Wing Chun in 2009 in which he commenced his training under Si-Fu Leigh Duff and is currently graded to Provisional Master Level 2 Instructor and was personally graded by Si-Fu Leigh Duff, Grandmaster William Cheung & Master Andrew Cheung. Steve has a range of skills and experience including strong interest in fitness, strength training (due to his profesional sporting career) and street combat. Steve has a great friendly personality, fun sense of humour and a great attitude as well. With children of his own he is also passionate about teaching the younger generation of Wing Chun students, conducting our Adult classes & Kung Fu 4 Kids Program at Kingston HQ is Sifu’s Leighs abscence. We would like to welcome Si-Hing Steve to the Tas Wing Chun Instructor Family
Si-Hing Justin Nichols (Assistant Instructor/ Chi Gung/Health/Tacical Combat/Weapons Specialist)
Si-Hing Justin Nichold is one of Kingston Headquarters assistant instructors and can often be found assisting Sifu Leigh teaching at Kingston in a range of capacities from Kung Fu 4 Kids classes to Urban Tactics, Street Defense, Chi Gung and weapons training. Si-Hing Justin has trained under Si-Fu Leigh since the opening of Tas Wing Chun in 2010 in which he commenced his training under Si-Fu Leigh Duff and is currently graded to Provisional Master Level 2 Instructor and was personally graded by Si-Fu Leigh Duff, Grandmaster William Cheung & Master Andrew Cheung. Justin has a range of skills, knowledge and experience s. Justin has a great friendly personality, fun sense of humour and a great attitude as well. With children of his own he is also passionate about teaching the younger generation of Wing Chun students, conducting our Kung Fu 4 Kids Program at Kingston HQ. We would like to welcome Si-Hing Justin to the Tas Wing Chun Instructor Family
Si-Hing Chris Ikin (Launceston Chief Instructor)
Si-Hing Chris is Tas Wing Chun’s head instructor for Launceston. Si-Hing Chris started training in martial arts at the age of 14 in Zen Do Kai Freestyle Karate (MMA), later studying under Rick Spain’s Wing Chun school in Oslo, Norway, where he first experienced Wing Chun and Brazillian Ju Jitsu before returning to Australia and training under Si-Fu Leigh Duff in late 2012. Si-Hing Chris is currently assessed to Level 10 Gold Sash Instructor under the GTWCKFA & Tas Wing Chun Training Centre and has been personally assessed by Si-Fu Leigh. Si-Hing Chris is the newest instructor to join the ranks of Tas Wing Chun and as of the 1st of May 2017 becomes a closed door student to Si-Fu Leigh.
Outside of Tas Wing Chun, Si-Hing Chris is a professional teacher and musician, who enjoys the many benefits that Traditional Wing Chun principles bring to self-defense, mind, body and lifestyle in general.
We would like to welcome Si-Hing Chris to the Tas Wing Chun team and look forward to teaching with him. Welcome Si-Hing Chris!
Si-Hing Chris is certified to work with children and vulnerable people.
Si-Hing Bill Burton (Grappling/BJJ Specialist)
Si-Hing Bill Burton is Tas Wing Chun’s primary Grappling and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Instructor. Si-Hing Bill in a long time friend and training partner to Sifu Leigh with both instructors training together since they were 17 years of age. With skills in various combat systems including Muay Thai, Traditional Karate, Tae Kwon Do, Ninjitsu, Eskrima, MMA, Wing Chun and of course, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Si-Hing Bill is a perfect complement to the Tas Wing Chun team. Si-Hing Bill also has a great knowledge of fitness, strength and conditioning training as well. Si-Hing Bill can often be found teaching Grappling and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu at Kingston Headquarters on Monday evenings or at special grappling based Seminars. Si-Hing Bill is known on the Tas Wing Chun floor as being a highly capable and experienced grappler, but more so as an absolute gentleman a beautful human! He has a warm and caring personality, fun sense of humour and a great attitude. We would like to welcome Si-Hing Bill to the Tas Wing Chun Instructor Family.