Instructor Profiles

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 and 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. Following this experience Sifu Leigh became a direct student, and one of few closed door students, under Grandmaster William Cheung, 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 and 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 continues to train and learn with other experienced instructors, including his own instructors. 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, regularly 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 and restraint techniques and other specialist defensive tactic and 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 their 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 unprepared 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 and Chi Gung, private tuition and corporate and 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 has held certificates I, II and 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 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. Today Sifu Leigh continues his journey as a student of the martial arts, not just as an instructor.

Sifu Leigh has trained with various martial arts instructors and continues to pursue greater knowledge by continuing his learning and training.

Family tree

1. Yip Man
2. William Cheung
3. Sifu Leigh

Sifu Leigh is a closed door direct student of Grandmaster William Cheung. Grandmaster Cheung is a direct closed door disciple of the legendary Yip Man. The lineage of Wing Chun taught is described as pure and comprehensive because of that direct line.

Si-Mo Nicola Duff teaches with Sifu Leigh Duff at Wing Chun Tasmania, in Hobart (Kingston) and Launceston. Students thank her for the time and motivation she puts into early training, for keeping the school running smoothly, for teaching, and for greeting people with a smile each day.

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. 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 is one of Kingston Headquarters’ assistant instructors and can often be found assisting Sifu Leigh teaching at Kingston, especially where urban tactics and street defence training is involved. Si-Hing Joel has trained under Si-Fu Leigh since the opening of Tas Wing Chun in 2009. 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 is currently Tas Wing Chun’s highest ranked female student and 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 women’s classes. Si-Hing Tamieka has trained under Si-Fu Leigh since the opening of Tas Wing Chun in 2009. Tamieka has a range of skills and experience including specialised women’s 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 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. Steve has a range of skills and experience including a strong interest in fitness, strength training (from his professional 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 adult classes and the Kung Fu 4 Kids Program at Kingston HQ in Sifu Leigh’s absence. We would like to welcome Si-Hing Steve to the Tas Wing Chun instructor family.

Si-Hing Justin Nichols 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 defence, Chi Gung and weapons training. Si-Hing Justin has trained under Si-Fu Leigh since 2010. 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 is Tas Wing Chun’s 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 Brazilian Jiu Jitsu before returning to Australia and training under Si-Fu Leigh Duff in late 2012. He has been assessed by Si-Fu Leigh and from 1 May 2017 trained as a closed door student of 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-defence, 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. Si-Hing Chris is certified to work with children and vulnerable people.

Si-Hing Bill Burton is Tas Wing Chun’s primary grappling and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu instructor. Si-Hing Bill is 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 Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Si-Hing Bill is a complement to the Tas Wing Chun team. Si-Hing Bill also has a great knowledge of fitness, strength and conditioning training. He teaches grappling and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu at Kingston Headquarters and at grappling seminars. Class times are to be confirmed.

Si-Hing Bill is known on the Tas Wing Chun floor as a highly capable and experienced grappler, and as a gentleman. 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.