Sifu Nick started his martial arts journey like many other kids of the 80s/90s obsessed with martial arts movies. His parents enrolled him in a local Karate dojo at the age of 12 and a couple of years later, took him to a Kung fu school, the ‘Cheng’s Wing Chun Wu Shu Academy (CWCWSA)’ founded by Sifu Oliver Cheng who was a private student of Ip Chun (Hong Kong Wing Chun style) and a disciple of Grandmaster Sum Nung (sole Disciple of the Great-Grandmaster Yuen Kay San in the Guangzhou Wing Chun style). While also attending high school Sifu Nick was introduced to a variety of different styles by his peers including Tang Soo Do, Tae kwon Do, Karate, Bac Fu Do, Tai Chi, Muay Thai, Boxing and Judo.

 

After a few years Sifu Oliver Cheng retired from public teaching and passed his school down to his senior instructors. Sifu Nick continued to attend the CWCWSA and in the following years began to instruct beginners at the academy under the guidance of senior instructor, Sifu Andrew Leary who also agreed to coach Sifu Nick privately. Sifu Nick trained fanatically for many years, both on his own and with his seniors including Kynan Stevenson and Danton Leary, who are both skilled and knowledgeable students of Sifu Oliver Cheng. With the help of his older kung fu brothers he developed a strong foundation in Wing Chun Kung Fu. 

While continuously training to improve his own abilities, Sifu Nick also organised numerous extracurricular training sessions over the years for junior students who showed interest and potential. Assisting others in their progress sparked an interest to teach and in February 2015, Sifu Nick became a government accredited coach under the National Coaching Accreditation Scheme (NCAS). In 2018 he began teaching a small group of students in the local community on a weekly basis.

 

Later, Sifu Nick was very fortunate and privileged to study as a private student of Sifu Oliver Cheng. He has spent many years continuing to learn the traditional art of Sum Nung Wing Chun under his patient and watchful tuition. Eventually, with Sifu Cheng's encouragement, Sifu Nick decided to open his own school, Black Lion Wing Chun. He is also involved in non-for-profit organisations such as the ACT Arts and Culture Association, teaching Wing Chun to Children.