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Leong Sil Jong
Leong Sil Jong was born in 1826. At the age of 10, he began
his journey to enlightenment by becoming a disciple of the
Shaolin temple on the top of mount Slung-San in Honan Province.
During his 50 years of training in the Shaolin Temple, Leong
Sil Jong became a master of both the northern and southern
Shaolin systems taught there.
Throughout its history, the highest priests of the Shaolin
Temple followed the tradition of refining the Kung Fu they were
taught by incorporating there own experiences and knowledge
into the systems. This tradition started with the first student
of Da-Mo, Chiu-Kam-Lo, who modified the exercises created by
Da-Mo, designed to develop the practitioner's Chi, by
incorporating the study of the five animals.
Although the idea of modifying the art might lead one to
believe that these changes were simply altering the traditional
art, and losing its purity, in fact, before any of these
innovations could be introduced into the systems, they had to
be approved through a long process of deliberation, in which
the other Shaolin priests of the age discussed any proposed
alterations. Also, only the highest masters of the temple were
allowed to introduce any changes to the art.
After becoming a Grandmaster and the highest priest of the
Shaolin Temple, Leong Sil Jong followed this tradition and
introduced a new style of Kung Fu, which he referred to as Fut
Gar. The style was a combination of the flowing techniques of
the Northern Shaolin systems combined with the power of the
Southern Shaolin systems.
After 50 years of living in the Shaolin Temple, Leong Sil
Jong decided to set out on a journey to spread his art through
out China. He felt that the knowledge he attained at the
Shaolin Temple, instead of being a guarded secret of the
priests, should be shared with the public, for the good of the
people. Upon entering the province of Wong-Nam, Leong Sil Jong
met a nobleman who pleaded with him to teach his son Kung Fu.
The son's name was Hue Lung Gong, who was a frail and sickly
boy. At first, the priest refused because he wanted to spread
his knowledge throughout China, but when the nobleman offered
to build a school for him, he relented. Leong Sil Jong was now
able to teach not only the nobleman's son, but also the people
of the village.
Hue Lung Gong studied with Leong Sil Jong until his death in
1908. Not only did Hue Lung Gong become strong and healthy, but
he mastered Leong Sil Jong's art of Fut Gar. It was around this
time that the priest's nephew, Leong Tin Chee, heard about his
uncle's school and set out for Wong-Nam. However, when he
arrived, he learned that Leong Sil Jong had passed away. After
seeing Leong Tin Chee's determination and spirit, Hue Lung Gong
passed on his knowledge and the system of Fut Gar to the
younger Leong.
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