About Sifu Rhi

Sifu Rhi Gibson has been training in martial arts for over 30 years, inspired by their father who trained in Zen Do Kai and Ninjitsu. Rhi started Taekwondo at age 8 and by 12 became the first youngest female blackbelt for this lineage in Australia. At this time Rhi took up teaching Taekwondo with private students. 

Sifu Rhi discovered Wing Chun Kung Fu in 2003 and became instantaneously in awe of the sophistication of the system, and spent the next 19 years as a closed door private student of Master Ian Protheroe, disciple of Grandmaster William Cheung. Sifu Rhi is a 3rd generation Wing Chun practitioner of the Ip (Yip) Man lineage. 

In 2006, Rhi's Master awarded them an instructor at their level 6 grading, which was unprecedented at the time for a lower grade student. At this time Rhi started teaching a short course in self-defence for women in the community sector. In 2011, Rhi completed their Level 10 technical instructors grading which included a written thesis, the entire open hand system, butterfly sword forms and drills, long pole forms and drills, rattan ring, Chin Na, Chi Sao, Chi Gerk, practical self-defence and many rounds of sparring.  

Rhi has continued to train and teach as a life long student of Wing Chun and is honoured to pass this on to the next generation of students. 

Rhi is a qualified Social Worker and Trauma Informed Counsellor which informs their teaching practice. Rhi has spent over 24 years working in the mental health, domestic and family violence, sexual violence and disability sectors. 

Whilst Wing Chun Kung Fu is a system for self-defence, Rhi is committed to not positioning those who have experienced violence as responsible for their own protection. Perpetrators that commit acts of violence are to be held accountable for their actions. Rhi is committed to the elimination of violence within our communities.