This work is originally published by Cahya Mata Sarawak. DayakDaily has been given permission to share this story on our platforms.
By Martin Yee, Kenny Ee, and Marlynda Meraw
LOH Jack Chang’s odyssey to world glory began not just with his passion for martial arts, but with the inspiration he drew from legends. Like many dreamers before him, Jack Chang’s idols were the screen heroes of kung fu—the late Bruce Lee, Jet Li, and Jackie Chan—figures who manifested not just physical mastery but also sheer commitment to their practice. The masters’ elegance, might, and acuity planted the seeds of his ambition, but Jack Chang’s own path would take a slower, more refined route, one that would eventually lead him to become a world champion in taijijian.
Unlike his idols’ explosive, high-kicking moves, taijijian captivated Jack Chang with its gentle yet precise grace, embodying a philosophy of balance and inner strength. Though he once played basketball and golf, it was taijijian that connected most deeply with Jack Chang’s spirit.
“I’m glad I took up the sport (taijijian) seriously,” Jack Chang reflected, “for it fits my philosophy in life—finding balance in all things.”
Jack Chang’s rise to prominence had a down-to-earth start in Miri, Sarawak, where he studied at Chung Hua secondary school and discovered Wushu at the age of 13. Under the guidance of his first coach, Master Tiong Ching Chiong, Jack Chang’s early dedication paid off when he won his first medal—a bronze at the Sarawak Wushu Championship in 2001.
His talent did not go unnoticed, and he was soon brought under the wing of the Wushu Federation of Sarawak (WFS), where a Chinese coach employed by the Sarawak State Sports Council helped further refine his skills.
Initially, Jack Chang trained in the disciplines of nangun and changquan, but it wasn’t until he joined the national team in 2006 that his true path was set. It was there that he made the switch to taijijian—a decision that would prove crucial in his career. Taijijian, the swordplay counterpart of taijiquan, became his signature discipline and the art through which he would achieve his greatest victories.
Jack Chang’s status in the Wushu world skyrocketed when he won his first world championship gold at the 12th World Wushu Championships in Toronto, Canada, in 2009. His graceful mastery of taijijian, honed over years of dedication, saw him crowned as a champion once more at the 13th World Wushu Championships of 2013 in Kuala Lumpur (KL), and yet again in Jakarta in 2016. These victories remain the crowning achievements of a career that was built on both skill and a relentless pursuit of perfection.
Apart from the world championships, Jack Chang competed four times in the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, claiming gold in every single competition. Though his attempts at the Asian Games did not yield medals, his five-time world champion status solidified his legacy.
The time he spent on the national team from 2006 to 2018 brought him around the world, competing and refining his art. However, injuries eventually forced him to step back from competition, and he began to turn his focus towards life beyond the sport.
Now based in KL, Jack Chang has transitioned into the business world, though for a time, he also coached the KL Wushu team. His journey, guided by the wisdom of the heroes he once admired and perfected through the graceful art of taijijian, continues to inspire. For Jack Chang, Wushu is beyond mere sport—it is a path to balance, wisdom, and the pursuit of meaningful glory. –DayakDaily
