Anthony Arnett grew up on the streets of Baltimore, Maryland, in the early 1960s. When he was 8 years old, his uncle, a Green Beret, taught him how to fight. The neighborhood was divided along street lines, each block representing a different territory. High-density town-homes and row houses meant families lived on top of each other, and kids from each block would form gangs to protect themselves. Though Arnett was already schooled in the ways of Kung Fu by his uncle, he was reluctant to use his skill in street fights. From 8 years old until 14 he would hide it, because when he grew up kicking was considered what girls did – kick, scratch and flail; the gang members considered guys who fought like that to be "sissies" so Arnett kept his martial arts hidden. But in 1975, Arnett saw the cult movie Five Fingers of Death one of the first martial arts films to find mass popularity in the states. This film's release was followed closely by the revolutionary movies of Bruce Lee. Suddenly, knowing Kung Fu was cool. He opened his first Wing Chun School in Maryland, co-opened a second school in 1983 then in 1986 he opened the first Traditional Wing Chun School in Georgia and opened the second Wing Chun School in Augusta, Georgia, in 1987.
Accomplishments
Awards and honors
In 2003 Arnett Featured on the front cover in the Jacksonville weekly publication Folio Weekly, the article was titled "Fight Club".
Arnett appeared on Inside Kung Fu Magazine May 2006 front cover with Jackie Chan Featured in the Magazine article "Cheung Style for Tournaments".
Arnett is a Wing Chun Specialist and the founder of Arnett Sport Kung Fu. Throughout his martial arts career, he has competed in full contact and non-contact tournaments since 1974 and has won over 4000 trophies as well as held several division championships, into his 60s he still continues to compete on the local and national level. Arnett began competing in Point Tournaments in 1974 then in 1977 he became a division champion in local tournaments. In 1984 he became an East Coast Grand Champion then became Grand Champion in Fighting and Forms while competing in Georgia in 1989. In 1993 he was Grand Champion in Continuous Sparring for the 3rd year in a row. Arnett retained the Division Championship title for 6 years in a row and retained the Division Championship title in the Tri State Circuit. In 2000 Arnett won numerous championships including the Overall Championship in the National Arts League for Forms Demonstration, Weapons Demonstration and Most Student Competitors. Arnett was awarded NKKU Ultimate Grand Champion for 2001 in Forms, Weapons, and Fighting in the Masters Division and also Grand Champion in the North Florida Martial Arts Association.
Teaching accomplishments
In 1996 he completed a three volume video series on Arnett Sport Kung Fu starring Grandmaster William Cheung and himself. In 1998 he opened his first private lessons studio exclusively for one on one sessions in Jacksonville, Florida. Arnett started promoting tournament training camps and seminars in 1999. In 2002 Arnett opened a 3rd school in Orange Park, Florida, and completed several DVD and CD-ROM training guides for Traditional Wing Chun Kung Fu and Arnett Sport Kung Fu. In 2005 Arnett became the Official Martial Arts Instructor for NFL Football Team Jacksonville Jaguars, their strength and conditioning coach Mark Asanovich praised and thanked Arnett for his work with the team he wrote in a letter; the training was much liked by the players, well designed and well run and that he would continue to support Arnett Sport Kung Fu in future relationships and Maurice Novoa training under Anthony Arnett in Jacksonville 2013 In 2012 Arnett was personally invited by William Cheung to be guest instructor at the Cheung's Wing Chun Kung Fu Academy in Melbourne, Australia Headquarters of the Global Traditional Wing Chun Kung Fu Association. one of his gold medals in Jacksonville. Arnett's personal training of Maurice Novoa in 2012 in Australia and 2013 in Jacksonville lead to Novoa running a successful Sport and Street Wing Chun Academy resulting in Novoa's students winning in martial arts tournaments.
