Academy Student breaks
World Punching Record! August 2005
Grandmaster Jim Fung and student, Robert Ardito.
A world record for the greatest number of punches delivered in one minute has been claimed by Sydney first level Instructor Robert Ardito.
Inst. Robert, who has trained under Grandmaster Jim Fung since 2002, took the Guinness Book of Records medal for 428 punches at Channel 7’s Epping film studios on August 16. This far exceeded the previous record of 347 punches per minute.
With Robert at the Guinness World Records show filming in Australia were Level 1 Instructor Louie Cocilovo, Level 3 Instructor Tony Stewart, who was one of the judges, and Level 3 Instructor Ivan Howe.
It was a remarkable achievement for Robert, who was diagnosed with melanoma and throat cancer in 2001. He credited his recovery to his Wing Chun training which, apart from the physical benefits, improved confidence and co-ordination leading to a happier and more fulfilled life.
He publicly thanked Sifu Jim whose high level of instruction was critical to his success.
Robert, who competed in the 2005 Martial Arts Spectacular at the Sydney Olympic Velodrome in July, runs his own Wing Chun schools in Mona Vale, Avalon and Frenchs Forest.
Robert Ardito and his Guinness World Records Medal.
Robert's achievement was documented in the Sydney Morning Herald on August 25, 2005:
Cracked records
Aussies seeking world records have encountered mixed fortunes this month. The burn-out king R.J. Brunow failed to beat his own record of 64 doughnuts in a row when his axle snapped at 61. "We would have s--- all over the record if it hadn't been for [that]," he roared.
A Narrabeen man, Robert Ardito, had more luck. The kung fu instructor threw more than seven punches a second to belt his way into a Guinness record with 428 punches in a minute, beating the previous high of 347.
He decided to try to leave his mark on the world when he survived throat cancer and melanoma in 2002. "I would have sat there for the rest of my life dreaming about it instead of doing it," he said. Next year he will try to beat his record. But as he says: "How much faster can someone go?"
Source: Sydney Morning Herald, 25/8/05