Paul Chen Assistant Coach
Seattle Wushu Center
(Picture to be posted soon!)
Paul Chen has studied wushu under Sifu Restita deJesus since January of 2007; learning compulsory nan quan and improving his conditioning and jumping tricks. Prior to coming to the Seattle area and joining the Seattle Wushu Center, Paul lived in Orange County, CA. There, he studied wushu at the National Wushu Training Center under the instruction of Head Coach Eric and Debbie Chen for 6 ½ years; where he obtained a Black Belt. At NWTC, he was able to learn and train with many great wushu instructors, including Coach Wei Wei, Coach Shawn Lu, Coach Greg Pearson and many, many others.
Paul has competed in several wushu competitions. At the 11th Annual UC Berkeley, he came in 4th for Men’s Begginer Contemporary Long Fist. At the 2005 So Cal Wushu tournament, he got a Silver Medal in Men’s Intermediate Staff; 4th in Intermediate Men's Southern Fist; and 5th in Intermediate Long Fist Men.
Coach Eric was also instrumental in getting Paul a role as a stunt fighter in the film “Richard III”. See link… As part of the film work, Paul was trained by the Fight Choreographer and kali/escrima expert Phil Aslaksen. In spite of Paul’s two left hands, Phil was able to get Paul to learn the very basics of kali/escrima knife fighting.
Wushu is a culmination of Paul’s lifelong love of martial arts. Paul started learning karate when he was five years old – 1977 – in his hometown of Kings Mountain, NC. He eventually achieving a green belt. He studied Tae Kwon Do as part of the university system at North Carolina State. He quickly switch to studying Wing Chun under Sifu Brian Edward’s Raleigh. NC branch from 1993-1995. The instructor, Chris Rowe, taught Paul the basics of Wing Chun; including Sil Lum Tao and the beginning wooden dummy form. After graduate school and while working, Paul studied Yang Tai Chi for a year from Sifu Harry Lo of the Wah Lum Kung Fu school in Melbourne, FL. He picked up Wushu after having been in a car accident that left glass in his fingers and forearm; and started facing declining health. Wushu has been a big part of his rehabilitation....
Outside of martial arts, Paul is a husband and father of 3 children. He loves surfing, basketball, and fishing.