Master Ting Fong Wong, was born in Toyson
city, a village near Canton, in Kwangtung Province, China.
At the age of 8, he began his Kung Fu training in his
family's school, run by Wong Ying Gor and Wong Lai Way. The
style taught at the school at this time was Hung Gar and
Toy(Choy) Gar Kung Fu.
The school was rooted in the traditions of
the Shaolin Temple, having employed a heavy emphasis on
horse stance training . Before Master Wong even saw his
masters for the first time, he had spent the first six
months of this hard training practicing only the horse
stances and fundamental blocking, punching and kicking
techniques of the system. Only after showing a proficiency
in these basic techniques was he able to begin learning the
more advanced techniques based on the five animals of the
Shaolin Art, namely: the dragon, tiger, crane, snake, and
leopard.
Eight years later, after having becoming an
accomplished martial artist, Master Ting Fong Wong had the
honor of training under the great master, Leong Tin Chee .
The Wong family in San Francisco, having heard of his
abilities, hired Leong Tin Chee to coach at the school run
by Wong Ying Gor and Wong Lai Way in China.
Now, having had the privilege and honor of training under
three Kung Fu masters, had Master Wong become an expert in
the open handed techniques of the animals, and Chinese
weapons. These weapons included the staff, tiger fork, Kwan
do, spear and single and double swords.. Not only had
Master Wong mastered fighting techniques, but he was also
an expert in Qigong, the source of internal power, and in
the use of Chinese herbal medicines.
Master Wong came to America with no intention of teaching
Kung Fu. However, when he arrived in Buffalo, there was
only one martial arts school, World Fighting Arts, which
taught the Okinawa style of Isshin Ryu Karate. Upon hearing
of Master Wong's unique skills from the Chinese people of
the area, the head instructor at this school, Captain Angus
Reynolds, United States Marine Corps (USMC), wanted to
observe for himself what talents were possessed by Master
Wong. He contacted Master Wong and asked for a
demonstration at his Dojo. Master Wong accepted, and
demonstrated his skills in self-defense and weapons. In one
of the self-defense demonstrations, Master Wong
successfully defended himself against three attackers, with
one of the attackers being the head instructor. For his
weapon demonstration, Master Wong, using a bo staff
provided by the Dojo, performed the movement "One Drop of
Water." To the astonishment of those in attendance, this
movement, which is, in effect, a single snapping upward
motion, broke the bo. This demo was so impressive, Captain
Reynolds asked Master Wong to teach Kung Fu at his
Dojo.
Master Wong remained at this Dojo for
approximately one year before establishing his own school
in 1966, which he called "The Golden Dragon Kung-Fu
Society." This, however, was not without controversy. Many
of the Chinese people in the area were upset, because they
regarded Kung Fu as a secret art form which should not be
revealed to non-Chinese. Master Wong, completely opposed to
this theory, consented to teach all people, regardless of
race or creed, as long as they were, and proved themselves
to be, of good character. In doing so, Master Wong became
one of the pioneers in opening Kung Fu to the West.
At first, business for the school was very slow, with
Master Wong teaching classes of as few as four or five
students. Gradually, however, the school grew as his
students exhibited their excellent skills in both local and
regional tournaments.
Master Wong, however, did not fall into the
trap of commercialism which the success of a school could
lead to. The only adaptation he made from the Chinese way
of doing things was the adaptation of the Americanized belt
ranking system for the purpose of attending tournaments. In
true Kung Fu, there are no belt rankings, as a martial
artist place in his school is judged on his talent and
experience. True to his saying, "Nothing for nothing,"
Master Wong adhered patiently and loyally to his
traditional roots in Kung Fu. He taught not only the hard
horse stances, animal movements, forms, two man sets, and
weapons, but also Chinese culture, philosophy and the
Lion's Dance.
Because the "true" art of his style is
based on vicious ripping and tearing hand techniques, such
as the tiger claw, Master Wong also taught sparring
techniques that would be viable for tournaments. Proof of
these techniques effectiveness can be seen in the success
of all his students in the various tournaments.
Not only were there individual successes
within Master Wong's school, but the teams who attended
these tournaments consistently had won the team trophy,
which is awarded for the greatest number of individual
trophies won during a competition. At times, the school was
called upon to demonstrate the Lion's dance to open the
tournaments. Also, at these tournaments, Master Wong was
frequently called upon to administer his herbal medicine to
help heal internal and external injuries which occurred
during the course of events. In addition to all of this,
Master Wong would perform Qigong breaking demonstrations,
one of which included him drilling his finger into a
masonry brick.
