A longtime Wichita resident was recently awarded one of the most prestigious martial arts honors in the country.
Grace Wu Monat, who has been teaching martial arts in downtown Wichita since 1986, was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Tiger Claw Elite KungFuMagazine.com convention in San Jose, California, on May 5.
Wu Monat is an internationally renowned Chinese Martial Arts Master, instructor, professional Chinese Martial Arts competition judge and has been a Tiger Claw Elite Competition judge for the past 18 years. He has critiqued Kung Fu, Modern Martial Arts, Tai Chi and other styles and disciplines.
The award was presented by the event organizers in recognition of Wu Mongnat's lifelong career as an international competitor and judge, his history as a master instructor of his own style, and his contributions to promoting the spirit and practice of Chinese martial arts in various styles.
“Studying Chinese martial arts has given me physical health, mental strength, joy and better character,” Wu said in a statement. “It is always an honor for me to be able to share this treasure of Chinese culture with the world, wherever I am.”
Wu Monatto is best known locally as the founder of the Grace Wu Kung Fu School at 122 N. St. Francis, which has been teaching all forms of martial arts, including Kung Fu, Shaolin Kung Fu, Tai Chi and Baguac, to children and adults since 1986. She also serves as the office manager of the law firm of Monatto & Spurrier, which she co-founded with her husband, Dan Monatto, in 1985.
She was born in Shanghai, China and began training at the age of three under three of China's most famous and influential martial artists: her grandfather, Master Wang Zhiping, her mother, National Martial Arts Champion and first generation female martial arts master Madame Wang Jurong, and her father, renowned martial arts master Dr. Wu Chengde.
Wu Monat earned a bachelor's degree in Chinese Martial Arts from Shanghai Normal University and after moving to the United States he earned a master's degree in Sports Management from Wichita State University.
