Grandmaster Sam F.S. Chin: Biography
English Name: Sam F.S. Chin
Chinese Name: 曾帆祥
Grandmaster Sam F.S. Chin is the co-founder of Zhong Xin Dao / I Liq Chuan and the current Gatekeeper of the system. As the founder and President of the Chin Family I Liq Chuan Association, he is the creator of the official I Liq Chuan Grading System and the primary authority on its global dissemination.
Martial Heritage and Competitive Background
Training began in childhood under the instruction of his father, I Liq Chuan founder Chin Lik Keong. During the 1970s and 1980s, Sam Chin established a record of excellence in competition, winning the 1978 State Heavyweight Kickboxing Championship of Selangor (Malaysia) and numerous open martial arts tournaments. The USA Wushu Kung-Fu Federation recognized these contributions and his lifetime dedication by inducting him into the Hall of Fame as an Outstanding Master.
Philosophical Integration
The migration of the Chin family to California in 1991 marked the beginning of I Liq Chuan’s international presence. In 1992, at the suggestion of his kung fu brother who later ordained as a monk - Ven. Ji Ru (继如法师), the family moved to New York and Grandmaster Chin work at the famous Buddhist temple, Chuang Yen Monastery, as their main chef and handyman.
During this period, discussions with his good friend Ruey Teng Chen regarding the parallels between I Liq Chuan principles and Buddhist/Chan (Zen) philosophy led to the formal introduction of I Liq Chuan as a tool for understanding mindfulness. This era also saw the creation of the I Liq Chuan Poem, which depicts the art’s principles.
Advancement of Concepts and Awareness
Ten years of teaching and practice at the Chuang Yen Monastery led to significant breakthroughs in the art’s development. Influence from figures such as Ven. Ji Ru, Ven. Shen-Ming, and Ven. Achan Tong—specifically through dynamic meditation retreats—refined the focus of the system toward mindfulness and awareness.
Throughout his years of teaching, Grandmaster Sam F.S. Chin underwent a profound period of distillation, clarifying the relationship between essential body mechanics and mental awareness. This led to the formalization of the Zhong Xin Dao curriculum, which is founded on the 6 Physical Points, the 3 Mental Factors (Present, Formless, Neutral), and the "Suchness" Feel.
To ensure students could navigate the transition from intellectual theory to direct realization, Grandmaster Chin introduced the Five Platforms. This "learning how to learn" approach serves as a diagnostic framework for practitioners to verify their own state of neutrality. By categorizing the mechanics of Knowledge, Nature, Knowing, Attention, and Contact, he provided a roadmap for students to move beyond "second-hand" information and into the "first-hand" wisdom of direct experience. This evolution ensures that I Liq Chuan remains a living discipline of objective realization.
Reforming the System: A Global Curriculum
To ensure the art could be passed down effectively to a global audience, Grandmaster Sam F.S. Chin transitioned the training from an informal method to a systematic, transparent curriculum. He established the Chin Family I Liq Chuan Association to oversee this process and maintain the technical purity of the lineage.
The resulting Grading System, personally established by Grandmaster Chin, ensures that students experience the art in its entirety. This structured approach allows practitioners to realize the core essence of the system through clearly defined principles and concepts at every level of development.
Publications and Academic Recognition
To provide a permanent reference for the global community, Grandmaster Chin published I Liq Chuan – Martial Art of Awareness in 2003, followed by the System Guide. These publications serve as comprehensive guides to the philosophy and mechanics of the art.
The global impact of the Zhong Xin Dao curriculum was further validated on November 15, 2017, when Grandmaster Sam Chin was named an Honorary Professor at the University of Plovdiv, Bulgaria. This was in recognition of his unique contribution to the development of the Zhong Xin Dao curriculum and its corresponding Academic Approach program. Today, this curriculum is included in "for credit" courses at multiple universities, marking a significant milestone in the academic recognition of martial awareness.
Succession and the First Lineage Holder
On August 29, 2009, during the celebration of the founder’s 80th birthday, Chin Lik Keong officially proclaimed Sam F.S. Chin as the 1st Lineage Successor and Gatekeeper of I Liq Chuan. This transition was formally recognized with a certificate of succession, establishing him as the official holder of the lineage and the protector of its core principles.
Today, Grandmaster Sam F.S. Chin continues the dissemination of the art through workshops worldwide. He resides in New York with his family, where he remains dedicated to the refinement and growth of the global community.
Ensuring the Essence: A Family Legacy
The preservation of the system is a collective endeavor. Grandmaster Chin is joined by his son, Master Hsin Chin, and his eldest daughter, Yen L. Chin, who work together to spread the art. Their collaborative efforts ensure that the Zhong Xin Dao / I Liq Chuan curriculum is taught with precision, allowing students worldwide to grasp the true essence of the system. Through this family dedication, the lineage remains a living, evolving path of awareness.
