Miriam has been studying martial arts since 1988. In 1997, Miriam traveled to Taiwan to meet with Master Wang Fu Lai, the chairman of Cheng Ming Chinese Martial Arts Association at his headquarters based in Taichung, Taiwan. Master Wang accepted Miriam as his personal indoor pupil.
Miriam studied under the sole supervision of Master Wang and in 2001 was honored and bestowed the title of “indoor pupil” to Master Wang Fu Lai. Miriam's school was given the title of International Cheng Ming, Victoria for her training dojo. This gave Miriam the honor of fifth generation student in the hierarchy of the Cheng Ming martial art system of Taiwan.
Miriam is the most senior of Cheng Ming students in Australia since she is first Australian to be bestowed "indoor pupil " to Master Wang Fu Lai. Miriam is one of the official Australian representatives of the Cheng Ming system. In 2008 Miriam l represented Australia in the Cheng Ming first International Championships Competitions held in Taichung, Taiwan. Miriam won 3 Bronze medals for her Dojo in Diamond Creek.
The Cheng Ming system is taught with a non-violent approach and the only competitions held are those in Taiwan every four years when all world associations of the Cheng Ming system are invited to compete for their school with their students.
The Cheng Ming systems offers three main catergries:
- Tai chi chuan
- Hsing-I
- Ba Gua
- There a many extensions to these catergories which include many weapons forms.