KUNG FU 300: Seattle Kung Fu Club

Seattle Kung Fu Club

Kung Fu offers physical exercise for health, discipline and blending of body, mind and spirit. With regular practice, the student achieves confidence, patience, endurance, self-control and self-awareness. The longer it is practiced, the greater the benefits.

Two styles of Kung Fu, Hung Gar Kuen and Tai Chi Chuan, are offered at the Seattle Kung Fu Club. Both styles are available to men, women and children of all ages. Students are taught individually.

Hung Gar Kuen
This "hard" or external style Kung Fu features powerful blocks, punches and kicks. Students undergo intensive physical training to develop speed, balance and power. Hung Ga is a highly efficient self-defense system and a superior method of body building.

All students begin their training with repetitions of basic exercises for strength, conditioning and coordination. Students learn hand forms, weapon forms, two-person forms and sparring.

Students of Hung Ga achieve strength, concentration, confidence and self-discipline.

Tai Chi Chuan
This "soft" or internal style Kung Fu involves slow ballet-like movements to develop speed and agility necessary to turn opponents' energy against themselves. Tai Chi is a unique and dynamic method of non-strenuous conditioning.

All students begin their training with a set of 18 exercises for strength and flexibility. This is followed by the 20 minute hand form which is taught move by move. The curriculum also includes weapon forms and pushing-hands.

The emphasis is on relaxation, breathing and concentration. Students of Tai Chi achieve calmness, greater concentration, agility and patience.

School Branches
• International District / Downtown
• Aurora / North Seattle
• University of Washington IMA

Master Leong demonstrates chi development by bending steel reinforcing rods against his bare throat.
See more photos here...

News & Events
Check back often to see what's happening!

The United States Chinese Traditional Kung Fu Federation presents:

2004 International Open Traditional Kung-Fu Wu-Shu Championship

Tournament and Exhibition
• September 3rd, 4th, and 5th, 2004
• SeaTac Hilton Hotel
• Seattle, Washington USA

The Seattle Kung Fu Club's 40 Year Anniversary Celebration
Masters from all over the world gathered on September 27th, 2003 to celebrate the 40-year anniversary of the Seattle Kung Fu Club, founded in 1963 by Master John S.S. Leong. The City of Seattle proclaimed September 28th as "Seattle Kung Fu Club Day" at the banquet.

Sifu John S.S. Leong
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Sifu John S.S. Leong, originally from Kwantung Province China, began his kung-fu training at the age of 12. He later studied Hung Gar Kung-Fu in Hong King under the late Master Wong Lee. In 1963, Sifu Leong began teaching in Seattle and established the Seattle Kung-Fu Club where he continues to pass on the tradition of Hung-Gar Kung-Fu.
The founder of Hung-Gar Kung-Fu, Hung Hei-Kwun, studied Kung-Fu at the Fukien Shaolin Temple. After the temple's destruction by the Ching Dynasty Government, Hung Hei-Kwun fled to Kwantung province, China. He continued to spread Shaolin teachings, but to avoid persecution by the Ching Government he used the name Hung Gar Boxing. Hung-Gar refers to the House of Hung-Mo Chu, the first Emperor of the Ming Dynasty.
Throughout the Seattle Kung-Fu Club's over fourty-year history, Sifu Leong has emphasized the discipline, morality, honor and respect which characterize Hung-Gar Kung-Fu. When one enters the school, it is as though one has stepped into another time and place. Students treat each other as an extended family where students are referred to as older brothers and sisters.
Over the years, the Seattle Kung-Fu club has reached out to the community by organizing martial arts demonstrations and large-scale exhibitions. As early as 1968, Sifu Leong began building the school's reputation by hosting Kung-Fu events that delighted audiences and attracted martial arts experts from around the world.
Sifu Leong has produced major Kung-fu / Martial Arts tournaments almost every year, many of which have toured other parts of the United states. Proceeds from these events have always been donated to charitable organizations. In 1973 and 1975, Sifu Leong hosted international Kung-Fu exhibitions that drew over 6000 spectators. In 1980 and 1981, Sifu Leong hosted several international exhibitions, one of which was covered in a featured article in Inside Kung-Fu magazine.
In 1984, the Seattle Kung Fu club presented the All Masters Exhibition Tour in Seattle, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. In 1987 he hosted the Can-Am Northwest Martial Arts Benefits, and in 1988 the Seattle Kung Fu Club opened the first U.S. exhibition of Chinese Imperial artifacts called Son of Heaven: Imperial Arts of China at the Seattle Center.
Sifu Leong has organized a number of excursions to China, both as cultural exchange ventures and as educational endeavors for his students. In 1985 Sifu Leong and the Seattle Kung-Fu Club traveled to Hong Kong and took third place in Hong Kong's annual International Lion Dance competition. Later that same year, Sifu Leong represented the United States as a member of the U.S. Kung-Fu Team at the International Chinese Wushu Invitational Championships. In 1989, Sifu Leong was invited by the Government of Kwantung Province, China, to participate in numerous ground breaking ceremonies and the opening of a new educational television station. Members of the Seattle Kung-Fu Club accompanied Sifu Leong and performed lion dance and kung-fu exhibitions as part of the celebrations.
In 1990, Sifu Leong visited the Shaolin Temple in Northern China. The Monks, descendants of the original Shaolin Temple disciples, made Sifu Leong their honorary adviser. In 1992 Sifu Leong organized the 1992 U.S. Shaolin Monk Tour. This was the first time the monks from the Shaolin Temple had ever performed outside their home country. The monks performed live for the media at the Seattle Kung Fu Club and participated in an interview which was translated by three Chinese dignitaries who accompanied them on the tour. They performed phenomenal Chi Kung demonstrations and forms never seen before. A video containing live footage of the Shaolin Monks Exhibition was produced by the Seattle Kung Fu Club and is available at the Seattle Martial Arts Equipment Store.
Sifu Leong presented the Northwest Open Championship Tournament and Exhibition in 1993, was elected Chairman of the United States Kung Fu Federation of North America in 1994, and in 1995 presented the 1st Annual United Kung Fu Federation of North America's Open Kung Fu Championship. Masters and students from all over the world united to demonstrate their martial art skills.
In 1996, Sifu Leong brought the famous Taoist healer Dr. Hok Ting Chu to Seattle for a seminar. Dr. Hok Ting Chu is recognized as a "Living Treasure of China" with his tremendous knowledge of Taoist medicine, acupuncture, herbs, and healing. Sifu Leong also translated one of Dr. Hok Ting Chu's many books into English. The book, entitled "The Ancient Esoteric Art of Health Improvement and Longevity" has Chi Gung exercises and diet and herbal formulas for all seasons.
The "Little Fighting Monks" exhibition in March 2000 at the University of Washington brought the Shaolin Monks to Seattle once again. Spectators of all ages marveled at the group of eight performers, aged 5 to 14, seen for the first time outside China. In 2001, twenty-five masters from around the world gathered for a charity Kung Fu exhibition presented by Sifu John Leong. In 2002, Sifu Leong was honored at the Qing Dao International Wushu Championships in Shan Dong Province, China.
Sifu Leong has contributed to and has been featured in numerous martial arts publications. In 1976, Real Kung Fu magazine featured an article called "Five Elements and Five Figures, Ten Patterns from Hung Gar." In 1982 and 1983, he received honorable mention as one of the "Top Ten Instructors of the Year" from Inside Kung Fu Magazine's Hall of Fame Awards Yearbook Special. In 1984, Sifu Leong authored a book called "Beginning Shaolin Hung Gar Kung Fu" and was featured on the cover of the May issue of Inside Kung Fu Magazine's Hall of Fame Awards Yearbook Special. In his interview, entitled "John Leong: The Moral Power of Hung Gar," Sifu Leong stated, "In the Seattle of 1959, no one knew what Kung Fu was. They thought it was something to eat!" In 1985, Sifu Leong received special mention in the Inside Kung Fu Magazine's March Yearbook Edition. In 1988 and 1996, he was honored as "Humanitarian of the Year" in the Inside Kung Fu Magazine's yearbook. "I always wanted to help out charitable causes," said Sifu Leong in the article, adding, "Kung Fu is not just fighting, not just a skill. It is also a philosophy, the teaching of respect, honor, and dignity." In 1998, he wa featured in an article balled "Master John S.S. Leong: In a Class by Himself" by the same magazine.
In 2003, Inside Kung Fu Magazine featured an article entitled "30 years - 30 masters," in which Sifu Leong was heralded as one of the most influential martial artists of the past 30 years. New Martial Arts Hero Magazine featured Sifu Leong on its cover in an article called, "John Leong - Hung Gar Hand Techniques."
Today, Sifu Leong continues to represent the consummate example of humility, honor, and respect which underlies the practice of the martial arts. He is happiest when his students are working out and healthy. As a dedicated humanitarian, Sifu Leong passes down the knowledge, discipline, and positive ways he has acquired after years of training and experience. In this spirit, the students fo the Seattle Kung Fu Club strive to follow his example by respecting others and living a healthy life.
The Seattle Kung Fu Club has several branch schools around Seattle.

Training

Historically, Southern China has been dominated by five Kung Fu styles: Hung, Lau, Choy, Lay and Mok. Hung Gar is most widespread and popular of these. Gar means clan or family in Cantonese, whereas Hung refers to the family name of the man who invented the system, Hung Hei Goon, a Fukien tea merchant. According to legend, Master Gee See, a monk of the Fukien Shaolin Temple, taught Hung the Shaolin Tiger Style. Hung being a curious man, always sought to improve his skills. He added to his Tiger Style elements from his wife's White Crane system, movements from the Dragon, Snake, and Leopard forms, and techniques from the Five Elements Fist. He modified and expanded his Tiger Style to develop a system better balanced in long- and short-range applicationd, a system which better reflected his own character and skills -- Hung Gar.

Hung Hei Goon developed a reputation for being a fighter of great skill and was known as "The Southern Fist".

Hung Gar tenents stress honesty, directness, iron will-power and righteousness.

The essence of Hung Gar can be found in its name. "Hung" means to "stand tall with integrity." Hung Gar tenents stress honesty, directness, iron will-power and righteousness.

Southern China is a wet land of great rivers and agriculture. Trade and transportation centered around its rivers. Its population is greater than that of Northern China and its cities more crowded. Hung Gar is well adapted to close quarter fighting in small, crowded alleyways or in wet, slippery rice fields. Hung Gar training emphasizes strong stances, iron-hard blocks, low snapping kicks, ambidexterity, deceptive hand techniques and power, all geared for close-range techniques. The low, strong stances conform well to encounters on barges and rafts. Low snapping kicks are well suited to wet and slippery ground.

Hung Gar hand techniques stress ambidexterity and use simultaneous blocking and striking. The blocking maneuvers of Hung Gar were well-known and feared. Opponents often thought twice before challenging a Hung Gar practitioner, for if a block could numb an attacker's limb, how much more painful must a strike be?

Hung Gar hand techniques stress ambidexterity and use simultaneous blocking and striking.

The training is grueling and highly demanding and fits well the student who is physically strong and compact, of muscular build and who possesses great endurance. Legends depict of Hung Gar students who stood in horse stance the length of time an incense stick burned down completely, anywhere between one to three hours.

At the Seattle Kung-Fu schools, the Hung Gar curriculum includes empty-hand, weapon and sparring sets. The sets include traditional Hung Gar forms. Each form builds on the basic skills of Kung Fu but each emphasizes a different ability. There are seventeen weapon sets, covering the four basic weapons - staff, broadsword, spear and straight sword - as well as more exotic weapons, including the long pole, hoe, double butterfly knives, and trident. The sparring sets complete the Hung Gar curriculum. These sets include hand and weapon sets, such as the Tiger and Crane Sparring Set, sword versus spear, and Spear versus butterfly knives.

Sifu Leong demonstrating a weapons form.

Sifu Leong looks on as Sihing Thomas leads the Kung Fu class.

Block, hit... dit!

... wah!

Click play to hear a class in action!

Located in the heart of Seattle's Chinatown, the Seattle Kung-Fu Club has been deeply involved in the community since its founding by Sifu John S.S. Leong in 1963. Sifu Leong teaches the traditional Hung-Gar taught to him in Hong Kong by Wong Lee, a disciple of Lam Sai Wing. Sifu Leong also teaches Ng style Tai Chi.

Drop-in visits are always welcome
Feel free to stop by during any class-time to observe a class in progress! Every class is a mixture of all ages and skill levels.

Registering
Interview with the instructor. Submit completed application forms and initiation fee. Students may begin at any time and tuition is due by the first lesson. Thereafter, tuition is payable on a monthly basis. Family and youth rates are available.

International District / Downtown
(206) 624 3838

658 South King Street
Seattle, WA 98104
[directions]

Bus routes: many [details]

	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat
Kung Fu	5 - 7pm 7:15 - 9:15pm	6 - 8pm	5 - 7pm 7:15 - 9:15pm	6 - 8pm	5 - 7pm 7:15 - 9:15pm	11am - 1pm
Tai Chi		6 - 8pm		6 - 8pm		11am - 1pm

Aurora / North Seattle
(206) 525 9898

7622 Aurora Avenue North
Seattle, WA 98103
[directions]

Bus routes: 48, 82, 355, 358 [details]

	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat
Kung Fu	12 - 2pm 5 - 7pm 7 - 9pm	7 - 9pm	12 - 2pm 5 - 7pm 7 - 9pm	7 - 9pm	12 - 2pm 5 - 7pm 7 - 9pm	11am - 1pm
Tai Chi		6 - 8pm		6 - 8pm		11am - 1pm