張智明師父出生於武術世家,年幼時隨外公和父親學習中國功夫,外公是莫家拳名宿黃鴻師父。父親張蘇,是氣硬功大師陳斗先師的弟子。因此,造就了良好的功夫基礎。童年時,隨詠春拳梅逸先師學習詠春拳術,至梅師父移民美國後,轉投洪拳名師馬國富師父門下,學習洪家拳術和兵器,勤奮好學,尊師重道,深得師父器重,傾囊相授。十七八歲時,再隨長洲長青堂花炮會鴻勝蔡李佛拳鄭國輝師父和洪拳梁鑑光師父學習傳統舞獅技術。及後,又隨北港飛龍團的洪新傳師父學習傳統舞龍技藝,得到數位師父悉心教導,加上多年苦心鑽研舞獅劇目和舞龍陣型,頗有所成。
張智明師父於一九九四年移民滿地可,早期於武術團體和華人堂所訓練舞龍舞獅人才。二零零六年創立傳統武術總會,致力推廣傳統中國功夫和龍獅藝術,曾多次於大型節目領導龍獅團為唐區出力演出,深受歡迎。
二零一二年,張智明師父榮獲頒發英女皇鑽禧勳章及由總督David Johnston 代女皇簽署的勳章證書,表揚張師父對加國和社區義務工作均作出了傑出的貢獻。近年張智明師父再隨太極拳名師閻忠才師父學習吳式太極拳,更成為閻師父的入室弟子,為吳式太極拳第六代傳人,現為漢中吳式太極拳館滿地可分館總幹事兼教練。
Sifu Paul Cheung was born to a martial arts family, he learned Chinese Kungfu from his grandfather and father. Grandfather is the famous Mok Gar fist master Wong Hung. Father Cheung Su, was the disciples of the Chi Kung master Chan Dau. Therefore, Sifu inherited from his family line a solid and good Kungfu foundation.
During Sifu Paul Cheung youthful days in Hong Kong, he followed the late Wing Tsun master Mui Yat. When his master immigrated to United States, Sifu Paul followed Master Ma Kwok-Foo for Hung Gar techniques and weapons. He learned the Lion Dance techniques from Hung Sing Choy Lee Fut Fist master Cheng Kwok-Fai and Hung Gar Fist master Leung Kam-Kwong in Cheung Chow Cheung Ching Tong Fa Pao Wui. In the ensuing years, Sifu followed Master Hung Sun Chuen in North Harbor Flying Dragon Dance Club to learn traditional Dragon Dance. Incorporating his several masters’ teachings and techniques, together with his own studious practice for years, Sifu Paul has consolidated successfully the techniques and styles in Lion Dance and Dragon Dance.
Since Sifu Paul Cheung immigrated to Montreal in 1994, Sifu has trained hundreds of students and has been leading his Kungfu, dragon dance and lion dance performing teams to perform in a variety of commercial, social, charitable and public events.
Sifu Paul Cheung was awarded the Medal of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Award and the Medal Certificate signed by Governor David Johnston on behalf of the Queen, for Sifu outstanding contribution to Canada and the Community. In recent years, Sifu Paul followed Wu style Tai Chi Master Yan Zhongcai to learn Tai Chi techniques, and became one of his disciples, the sixth generation of Wu-style Tai Chi descendant. At present, Sifu Paul is the executive and coach of Hanzhong Wu style Tai Chi Club Montreal branch.