About Rick Wong’s Chinese Martial Arts Center

Rick Wong – Founder & Head Instructor

Sifu Rick Wong has studied traditional kung fu and contemporary wushu for almost 50 years in both the United States and China. He founded the Chinese Martial Arts Center in 1992 and has also taught at Boston University (1987–1989) and was Harvard University’s first wushu instructor (2003–2010). He was a gold medalist at numerous national and international competitions, including being a member of the world cup champion USA Team at the First International Shuai Chiao Tournament in Paris, before becoming a judge himself. Wong has since coached multiple USAWKF and ICMAC tournament champions. In 2008, he was featured in the Discovery Channel show Time Warp, which explored the physics of Wushu.

Other credits include: featured actor in a commercial for Danvers Savings Bank, in which he played the role of a martial arts teacher (2003); and understudy for all of the martial arts roles in the Boston run of the national theatre production of The Woman Warrior, named by USA Today as “Best New Play of the Year” (1994).

Other awards and citations include: “Director of Traditional Martial Arts Committee” by World Fighting Martial Arts Federation (2024); Massachusetts State Senate Citation for “Achievements in Martial Arts and Physical Therapy” (2009); “Chinese Arts & Culture Service Award”, given by the Chinese Culture Connection of New England (2009); and Kung Fu Instructor of the Year, awarded by the World Martial Arts Federation (2004).

A top student of Grandmaster Bow Sim Mark, Wong is fluent in both internal and external styles. In addition, he has trained Contemporary Wushu with Sifu Nick Gracenin, traditional Shaolin kung fu and Shuai Chiao with Sifu Peter Chema, and Oyama karate with Sensei Ed Frazier.

He is a senior physical therapist at Spaulding Rehabilitation Center in Malden, Massachusetts, and has lectured on the therapeutic uses of Tai Chi at numerous venues including Harvard Medical School, Spaulding Rehabilitation Center, and Children’s Hospital in Boston. As a licensed physical therapist, he is able to modify training to accommodate all levels of health, fitness, and disability.

Teaching Team

Chris Wong
Assistant Instructor of Contemporary External Wushu

Chris has studied Chinese martial arts since 2017. He focuses primarily on contemporary wushu and traditional kung fu. His specialties include long fist, staff, broadsword, and double broadswords. While in college, Chris founded and coached UMass Wushu (University of Massachusetts Amherst). He has competed at many venues, including USAWKF, WFMAF, and University Wushu Games.

Mark Josephson
Assistant Instructor of Tai Chi Chuan & Other Internal Styles

Mark has studied TaiJi and other internal Chinese martial arts with Sifu Rick Wong since 1996. He has studied Yang, Fu, Chen, and Sun TaiJi, training in empty hand forms, and weapons including spear, straight sword, and broadsword. He has extended his mastery of internal concepts by studying Xing Yi, Ba Gua, Ba Ji, and two person pushing hands. Mark has competed in many tournaments, winning Internal Grand Champion at the Boston ICMAC competition in 2016 and 2017.

Robin Krolikowski
Assistant Instructor of Tai Chi Chuan & Other Internal Styles

Robin (she/her) has studied with Sifu Rick Wong since 2005 and began assisting classes in 2017. She has been an integral part of the demonstration team for many years, performing at venues including the Melrose Victorian Fair and Boston Chinatown’s annual World Tai Chi Day. She has been honored to work with beginning students to encourage their success. Meeting the many excellent people who are or become part of our kung fu family is a constant source of inspiration in her continuing training and daily life. Her favorite form is Fu style Liang Yi Chuan.