Sifu Tan Siew Cheng

Sifu Tan Siew Cheng (1917-1996) was a practitioner of Chinese Martial Arts. He held the following positions: Master of Fong Yang Kung Fu (aka The Beggars Art). Founder and President of the Fong Yang Athletic Association. Creator of Khong Chang, Singapore's national martial art. Co-founder of the Singapore National Pugilistic Association Kung fu. Advisor to the Boo Yee Lion and Dragon Dance Association. Technical advisor to the Singapore Unarmed Training Institute. Medical advisor to the Hai Wee Wushu and Lion Dance Centre.
Father of Tan Seng Lee who became the chief instructor/master of the Khong Chang system. President and technical advisor to the Fong Yang Association of England (Chief Instructor Terry Brown).
Born in 1917 in Amoy, China, Tan's first teacher was his father Tan Ban Siat who was an exponent of Shaolin iron hand. Tan's next teacher was sifu madam Lee Beet Neo. Sifu Lee was a native of Fong Yang who had moved to Amoy. The young Tan was only able to train with sifu Lee for a few months before his family emigrated to Singapore. Tan's third teacher was sifu Chan Kiat Seng, a Fong Yang master who lived in Singapore Tan's fourth teacher was Goh Leong Hui who taught him Shaolin kung fu.
After World War II, Tan Siew Cheng founded the Fong Yang Athletic Association to teach Fong Yang kung fu. In 1966 he founded the Khong Chang (Open Palm) martial arts system which was taken over by his son Tan Seng Lee. Khong Chang is now recognised as Singapore's indigenous martial arts system.
Tan Siew Cheng was featured in several martial arts magazines.
Sifu Tan Siew Cheng died on 22 September 1996.<ref name=str/>

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