-Home-

About the School

Virtual Tour

What is Hung Gar Kung Fu?

What is Chi Kung?

What is Tai Chi?

Our Lineage

Culture and History

Frequently Asked Questions

Class Schedule

 

Ting Fong Wong and Sifu Mandarino

Master Wong adhered to the Chinese way of steel like discipline and demanded 100% effort from his students. He never watered down his art to suit American commercialism. This can be readily seen for in fifteen years Master Wong had taught over one-thousand students, but only nine had reached the rank of Black Sash, of these, only three have attained the rank of Second Degree Black Sash. Sifu Norman C. Mandarino was the only student to reach the rank of Fourth Degree Black Sash under Master Wong and became his disciple.

Sifu Mandarino had won numerous competitions in forms, weapons, and sparring throughout the Eastern United States and Canada while competing in tournaments with Master Wong's school.

In 1974 Master Wong asked Sifu Mandarino to open a branch school under his guidance. He opened the school in the Wimbledon Plaza in West Seneca, also carrying the name of Golden Dragon Kung Fu Society. Because of the sense of tradition instilled into him by Master Wong, Sifu Mandarino strictly adhered to Master Wong's hard training regiment. Also, unlike many instructors, Sifu Mandarino did not feel the need to add new techniques from other styles to Master Wong's art, as to do so would water down the art.

When Master Wong closed the doors to his school, he selected Norman C. Mandarino, his top student, to continue to teach his art. Sifu Mandarino is an accomplished martial artist, who also studied Isshin Ryu Karate before choosing Kung Fu as his way of life.

Sifu Norman C. Mandarino

Norman C. Mandarino was born on December 27, 1941 in Buffalo, New York. He began his journey in the martial arts in 1970, after his friend, Tim Jones, a second degree black belt in Isshin Ryu karate, offered to teach him karate.

One day, while having coffee at a dinner, Sensei Jones suggested that Sifu Mandarino should take some lessons so that he could defend himself. Sifu Mandarino, because of his peaceful nature, was not interested in fighting, and responded that he could always talk his way out of a situation when he needed to. His friend convinced him that there could be times when a confrontation was inevitable. Although he had no real interest in studying a martial art, he accepted out of respect for his friend. The following day, he took his first lesson in Sensei Jones's makeshift garage dojo, and was captivated by the experience.

Sensei Jones taught Issin Ryu Karate at ABLEY Community Center. Eventually Sifu Mandarino joined Sensei Jones in training at ABLEY. A few months later, Sensei Jones moved to Lake Tahoe. Sifu Mandarino continued to study with Sensei George Insley who replaced Sensei Jones. Sifu Mandarino continued studying Isshin Ryu Karate for about one year.

At the time, Master Wong, Ting Fong held two tournaments each year. It was because of one of these that Sifu Mandarino first came into contact with Master Wong. He went to Master Wong's school to purchase tickets to attend the tournament being held the following day. Master Wong invited Sifu Mandarino to watch a class practice for a demonstration they were going to give at the tournament. Sifu Mandarino gladly accepted and was overwhelmed by the art demonstrated by Master Wong and his students. He had never seen forms practiced at combat speed, nor students practicing empty hand and weapon contact forms.

At this point, Sifu Mandarino decided to dedicate his life to learning Master Wong's art. He spent 12 years training under Master Wong as a student and instructor. Sifu Mandarino was one of three people to achieve the rank of Second Degree Black Sash under Master Wong, and was the only Fourth Degree Black Sash. Being Master Wong's most dedicated student, he was selected by Master Wong to continue teaching his art.

Because basic training and practicing of the forms are all that are needed for self defense, every class stressed basic horse stances, animal postures, and basic blocking, punching and kicking techniques. Sifu Mandarino also stresses the importance of Jung Hay internal breathing and hand strengthening exercises. However, keeping with the notion that sparring techniques were a good training device for students and for participating with tournaments, these techniques were also taught.

Today, Sifu Mandarino still believes in the traditional training he employed at his first school under the guidance of Master Wong. The first hour of every class, still stresses the basics. The better one knows the basics, the more capable he is of mastering the advanced movements of the system. The second hour of the classes is dedicated to form training, two man sets, self defense contact drills, and weapons.

Sifu Mandarino looks at his school as a family. He is the father, the teacher, the head of the family, and all of the students are as children, brothers and sisters, all working in harmony to achieve a common goal. The reason for this harmony is simple - all of us want to see ourselves grow in the art.

Sifu Norman C. Mandarino had studied under Master Wong for many years as an instructor. Sifu Mandarino strictly adheres to the principles Master Wong laid down and is very proud of the fact that he was fortunate to learn from such a great master. Sifu Mandarino has dedicated himself to the marital arts for over thirty years and continues to devote himself to the teachings, knowledge and legacy that he has been privileged to achieve.

Sifu Mandarino has been teaching martial arts in Western New York for over 28 years.

Choosing a Martial Arts School

Photo Gallery

Articles

Forum

News & Events

Store

MySpace

Links

Monthly
Specials