Chuntian Academy International

Master Samuel Cheeks, Jr. ( 9th Rank, Hon.) was Director Matt Plewes' long time and regular teacher of the Chinese Martial Arts. He was a direct pupil of Nickolas Banks an outstanding Master and former street fighter. Master Cheeks had experience in Ji jutsu from his uncle before training with Nickolas Banks.

Master Cheeks trained at the Man-o-War Karate School in Newport News Virginia in the late 1960's to early 1970's.

In 1984 Master Cheeks took on student Matt Plewes, a former Karateka and trained him almost daily. Together they formed the Cheeks-Plewes Martial Arts Club. Matt became the only white and only the 6th Westerner to achieve Instructor status in that style and family lineage.
Together they formed a very popular class in Suffolk, Virginia, nearly 25 students in the first month. This black and white team with a brother-like friendship and the mix of a Karateka and a Kung fu man combining there knowledge into a self-defense system was very appealing to people both black and white male and female.

My 1988 Matt was granted full Instructor by Master Cheeks and by 1992 Full Teacher of the System.

Matt keeps Master Cheeks as an honorary Master of his founded Chuntian Academy International, even though beyond 5th Rank Matt Plewes's Ranks are honorary by his teaching and progression of the generations of students, Master Plewes chooses to keep his teacher in the rankings of his school, thus out of profound respect he always keeps Master Cheeks 1 Rank ahead of himself.

Master Cheeks currently resides in Suffolk, Virginia although retired from teaching, he still enjoys training in his private kwoon (dojo) with his unique and self-designed training devices, as well as his long time custom of training alone from daybreak to dusk nearly every Sunday.