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GRAND MASTER GENE CHICOINE
Grand Master Gene Chicoine was born in Akron,
Ohio, of French-Canadian decent. In 1946 he began his martial arts
training in Japan while enlisted in the military forces. Upon his
return to the states in 1949, he discovered no karate schools in
existence, only Judo. He continued his practice through 1950 and
then began training in Chinese Martial Arts. After years of continuous
application Master Chicoine ranked as a sixth degree black belt
out of Hong Kong in 1977. It was then he began training under Grand
Master Dung Sheng Chang, the undefeated open fighting champion
of all China and tenth degree black belt. In 1979 he became a disciple
of Grand Master Chang during a ceremony in Taipei. During the following
years, Grand Master Chicoine achieved ranks of seventh, eighth
and ninth degree black belt. Ultimately reaching the highest rank
in the world next to Grand Master Chang himself.
In 1982 Grand Master Gene Chicoine became the first Vice President of the International
Shuai-Chiao Association during its foundation. He eventually took over as President
of the ISCA in 1986 just before the death of Grand Master Chang. After Grand
Master Chang's death, the rank of tenth degree black belt was retired. ten
years later this distinction was awarded to Grand Master Gene Chicoine by a
vote of the Shuai-Chiao committee of Taiwan.
Grand Master Chicoine is internationally famous for his skills in the practice
of Iron Palm, Poison Hand and Iron Vest. He has been trained in many of the
old Chinese styles for strength and health along with an enormous knowledge
of many Chinese styles of fighting. After his meeting with Grand Master Chang,
he was trained to specifically teach seventy-two techniques. These employ the
use of the internal styles of Hsing Yi, Pa Qua and Lo Han in conjunction with
the Shuai-Chiao throwing arts. Grand Master Chang also trained him in the Yang
style Tai Chi Chen and its fighting uses. He also has had extensive training
in meditation and the proper uses of Chi Gong in the mastering and control
of Chi in its fighting applications. He has been teaching for forty years and
training for fifty-three years. Grand Master Chicoine owns and operates schools
know as Ho Chun and is President of the ISCA until his death. His schools are
the only legitimately recognized representative of all of Shuai Chiao, including
the motherland Taiwan, in the world. Until 1994, entrance into his school was
by referrals only and now membership is only granted after a personal interview.
Grand Master Chicoine has been inducted into several halls of fame. He has
been recognized in Taiwan with numerous awards. Many of his students are undefeated
in his open fighting specialty. He continues to teach Martial Arts as he has
been directed to for what it was designed. The history of his teaching is based
in the training of military units in China for centuries. Its intent and purpose
is for combat not for sport. Grand master Chicoine still trains military and
police units across the country and over seas. He is one of, if not the oldest
teacher of Martial Arts, outside of Judo, in the U.S. It is his goal to inform
all those interested in Chinese Martial Arts, the real truth about its history
and uses. He remains in excellent condition due to his practice and knowledge
of Chinese exercise and the use of the herbs and western food supplementation.
Only those who have been instructed in their use live an active and long life.
Grand Master Gene Chicoine has lived the life of ten men and continues to live
the life of several more. His knowledge and expertise in the world of real
Martial Arts was recognized by his Martial Arts Uncle, Grand Master Hwang,
who before his death was a brother to Grand Master Chang and head of the Hsing
Yi and Pa Qua systems, as was his father in Mainland China before him. His
father was one of the instructors in the famed Nanking Martial Arts Academy,
where the last masters of the dynasty were brought together to teach only the
most promising students. These students were required to learn and become experts
in all of the original Internal Styles. Master Hwang considered G.M. Chicoine
to be one of the last students to be taught the old ways and is considered
one of the oldest teachers of Military Martial Arts alive today.
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