Sifu Michael Timmermann
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Serial #: 6-1979-024-A-Y
School Locations: Luebeck/ Germany
Website: www.whkd-luebeck.de
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Biography:
Sifu Michael Timmermann was born in Hamburg on the 12th of February 1954. After a sportive school career in 1970 he started an apprenticeship to become a communication technician, which the completed successfully in 1973.
In November of the same year Sifu Michael started his studies in martial arts. (Shotokan- Karate) Two years later, in 1975 he met Si-Gung Al Dacascos in the Deutschlandhalle in Berlin for the first time. This two-day event, which was organised by Herbert Kranz and Georg F. Brückner, the later president of the W.A.K.O in Germany, was the Beginning of Kung Fu in Germany. When Si-Gung Al started to teach Kung Fu in Hamburg, Sifu Michael was one of the first students of Wun Hop Kuen Do (WHKD) in Germany.
In the following years his training became more and more intensive. His journey through the USA was another important step in his development.(During this time he decided to become a Kung Fu teacher) Being one of the first in Europe, Sifu Michael passed a 6 hours examination and received his master degree in WHKD on the 15th of July 1979.
Another journey to the USA follows in 1980. The contact with the Wu Shu team of Beijing and several famous teachers (Brendan Lai, Y.C. Wong, Leonhard Endrizzi, Eric Lee, Roger Tung, Kuo Lien Ying, Bucksam Kong, Wong Jack Man, Bill Wallace, Jeff Smith, Howard Jackson, Alex Kwok etc.) deepened his experience and cognitions as well as the studies of an inner style. (81-83) Furthermore he is a student of Sifu Bill Owens from Oakland/California in Escrima Stickfighting since 1978. In 1982/83 the dream of an own Kung Fu academy became reality. (Official start date: 01.04.1983) On the 19th of January 1985 he was appointed Sifu (Teacher / Father) after the examination to the 2nd degree black belt.
In December 1986 was his first journey to Hong Kong, where Kung Fu was very well known. He continued travelling. In June 1990 he visited the USA together with students and in December of the same year he went to Bangkok, Hongkong, China and Taiwan. In summer 1991 and 1993 he attended the Kajukuenbo meeting in the USA followed by a Thailand trip and 15 additional martial arts journeys to Asia and the USA.
Sifu Michael is still an active fighter, including forms and weapon forms. In his 34 years long career he won more than 250 prices.
On the 28th of may 1992 he became 3rd degree black belt and on the 6th of May 1995 he received his 4th degree.
His attention is focused to his students, since without students there won’t be a teacher. On the 16th of June 2001 Sigung Al Dacascos granted the 5th master degree to Sifu Michael Timmermann. This public ceremony took place during the 21st Dacascos Open Championships in Hamburg. Until 2007 Sifu Michael has 28 black belts of the 2nd and 3rd generations in his family tree. Five schools and 10 groups were built up by him and his master students. Sigung Al Dacascos appointed him 6th degree black belt in Wun Hop Kuen Do on the 30th of May 2007 in the Kung Fu Academy Dehnhaide. His Kung Fu Academy in Luebeck celebrates its 25th birthday together with the 40th birthday of Wun Hop Kuen Do in April 2008.