We train in a modern style of Kung Fu rather than a classical style which is a fast form of martial art that helps improve your general fitness whist learning to defend yourself. Robert Henry Johnson was born 30th August 1931, in Leicester, England. Bob’s father, Ernest Johnson worked in the Military Police in Northern India in the 1930s until sometime during the 2nd World War. As a boy Robert grow up in India and his father introduced him to an Ustad (teacher) Nihung warrior, where he spent several years learning the Sikh fighting arts. Robert and his family returned to Leicester, England around 1945. In the following years, he is believed to have continued his martial arts studying Karate before at the age of 18 he joined the Royal Military Police. 1949, he was posted to Hong Kong, stationed at the Aberdeen Barracks. This was also the year that the Communist party took over China and outlawed martial arts and so consequently many Kung Fu masters who had enjoyed revered positions now escaped persecution by escaping China via Hong Kong. Bob stated he was spurred into taking up Kung Fu after seeing a street fight in Hong Kong. Master Wong Cheung had been attacked, but easily and skilfully dealt with his attackers. Robert introduced himself to Master Wong and persuaded him to teach him this strange martial arts called Black Tiger Kung Fu. Master Wong taught Robert on a one to one basis at his gym by the railway sidings at Mon Kok station in Hong Kong. Due to Robert’s prowess as a fighter, he was invited into a special enclave of Kung Fu masters. This enclave of Masters, would meet and exchange ideas from their styles for practical fighting purposes. These styles included Black Tiger, White Tiger, Ripping Tiger, Bagua, Wing Chun and Hsing I. It appears that over these years Bob grow closer to one master in particular called T Wong and kept in touch with him over the next two decades. T Wong taught the styles of White Tiger, Bagua and Hsing I. While in Hong Kong, Robert bumped into a friend who was from his home town back in England. Pete McNulty lived in the next street from Bob back in Leicester. Pete was a solo SAS observations operative who had to flee Korea as his cover had been blown. He was sent to Hong Kong as an adviser to the Civil Police. At this time it was unheard of for Whites / Europeans to be accepted into any Kung Fu schools and taught. The only way that Robert and Pete gained access was through their Police and Military Chinese contacts and the friendships they had built up with these people. On many occasions Bob would have his abilities tested in his role a Military Police Officer performing his duties. Another time he had to fight for his life along when he was caught in the middle of a fight between two rival gangs on the ferry crossing the harbour. It is also rumoured that he tested himself by entering No-holds barred full contact fights with other martial artists in Hong Kong. It is known that Robert was first introduced to the knowledge of the Sikh fighting arts through spending time with his father in India. This was reignited when he was serving in Hong Kong working with the local police there. The ruling British relied heavily on the Sikh community because of their honour and unswayable loyalty to make up the majority of the police force during those colonial years. It is very possible that Robert’s love of the martial arts combined with his close connection to the Hong Kong Sikh police fraternity who would have worked closely with the military police at that time could have been Robert`s inroad to gaining information on the Sikh fighting arts. In November 1951, Robert left Hong Kong and travelled to Bulsar in the Northern Indian state of Gujarat, and there located a Nihung called Cheda Singh, who was a much revered Ustad (Teacher) in the art of Yudh Vidya. After being accepted as a student, Bob then spent several years living and training with Ustad Cheda Singh and his Nihung warriors becoming a Sikh himself. On the completion of Robert’s training at Bulsar, he was ordered to be marked by the Nihungs who tattooed his forearms. Robert then returned home to Leicester, England for a brief period before then heading to New Zealand in 1956 to meet up with his Kung Fu teacher T Wong who was now at Dunedin University. After several months of intensive training, Bob was awarded his Kung Fu masters certificate by T Wong.
