« Karate Chun!

Ron Heimberger Sifu – RIP

News, March 15th, 2008

Our most heartfelt condolences to the families, personal and martial, and our sincere gratitude for everything contributed to the art of Wing Chun Kuen.

One Art, One Association – Ving Tsun Ip Ching Athletic Association

Master Ron Heimberger knew he was not feeling well since August. He wrote it off as being exhausted from his travels, which he was. He continued to fulfill all of his scheduled trips and appearances. No one could slow him down, much less convince him to stop and recuperate. He just pushed on.

While on his last trip to Hong Kong, he was having severe headaches and started losing vision on the right side of both eyes. Instead of canceling his scheduled seminar in New Zealand and coming home, he insisted on making the trip. He did so, not feeling well, afterwards returning to Hong Kong to finish some business. While there, he had an MRI and they discovered that he had a very advanced and aggressive brain tumor that was affecting his vision.

He then came home and insisted on fulfilling his commitments to teach at the seminars that he had already scheduled and to marry off his daughter. With some help from his students, he was able to complete those commitments.

About six weeks ago, he knew he only had so much time, and as he considered the aggressive nature of the tumor, he decided to allow a great surgeon to remove as much of the tumor as he could. He knew this might give him a little more time. He chose, however, not to accept the radiation or chemotherapy, as it did not seem very promising for his particular situation. We, then, gave him the utmost holistic care possible to improve his situation as best we could.

Ever the optimist, and always thinking of others, he would not allow anyone to make any statements regarding his health because he couldn’t stand the thought of anyone worrying over him.

Monday afternoon, while surrounded by his loving family, Master Ron Heimberger parted this world.

Through it all, Master Ron Heimberger did things on his own terms; making his own choices; doing what he wanted to do to the very end.Master Ron Heimberger knew he was not feeling well since August. He wrote it off as being exhausted from his travels, which he was. He continued to fulfill all of his scheduled trips and appearances. No one could slow him down, much less convince him to stop and recuperate. He just pushed on.

While on his last trip to Hong Kong, he was having severe headaches and started losing vision on the right side of both eyes. Instead of canceling his scheduled seminar in New Zealand and coming home, he insisted on making the trip. He did so, not feeling well, afterwards returning to Hong Kong to finish some business. While there, he had an MRI and they discovered that he had a very advanced and aggressive brain tumor that was affecting his vision.

He then came home and insisted on fulfilling his commitments to teach at the seminars that he had already scheduled and to marry off his daughter. With some help from his students, he was able to complete those commitments.

About six weeks ago, he knew he only had so much time, and as he considered the aggressive nature of the tumor, he decided to allow a great surgeon to remove as much of the tumor as he could. He knew this might give him a little more time. He chose, however, not to accept the radiation or chemotherapy, as it did not seem very promising for his particular situation. We, then, gave him the utmost holistic care possible to improve his situation as best we could.

Ever the optimist, and always thinking of others, he would not allow anyone to make any statements regarding his health because he couldn’t stand the thought of anyone worrying over him.

Monday afternoon, while surrounded by his loving family, Master Ron Heimberger parted this world.

Through it all, Master Ron Heimberger did things on his own terms; making his own choices; doing what he wanted to do to the very end.

Jim Fung Sifu Memorial Footage »

  1. March 1st, 2009 at 7:56 pm by gajie

    Thank you for publishing this memorial.

  2. August 10th, 2009 at 8:17 pm by Justin Stoll

    I had a chance to meet Master Ron Heimberger back in 2003 when my sifu Scott Woods opened his Wing Chun school. He was very great, he will be missed.

    J. Stoll

  3. December 13th, 2009 at 11:07 pm by sifu sergio

    my sincere condolences to the direct family and Sifu Heimbergers Wing Chun family R.I.P

    Sifu Sergio Iadarola
    IWKA

  4. May 10th, 2010 at 2:44 pm by justin jennings

    I met ron as a student here in the uk he was amazing to watch & listen to an inspiration.rest in peace sifu.

    j.jennings

Add Your Reply!