Y.C.Wong

Y.C.Wong

Master Y.C. Wong, a native of Hoi Ping, Kwungtung province, began his gung fu training at the early age of six under his father Wong Ming Kwong and a village uncle who was also a kung fu brother of Grandmaster Lam Cho.

After World War II, China was left with even more economical and political problems brought on by the war. The subsequent takeover by the communists made life in the mainland even more difficult, so the Wong family finally immigrated to Hong Kong in 1950. Earlier, Master Wong's father had already left first to go to Hong Kong and had already started studying at Grandmaster Lam Cho's school. Later when the rest of the family followed, Master Wong also went to study at Grandmaster Lam Cho's school. Master Wong had also learned the form Sup Ying (as well as earlier Hung Gar forms) from his father, and upon visiting the grandmaster for the first time, Master Wong was asked to perform Sup Ying for the grandmaster. Grandmaster Lam Cho laughed, "Old man Wong, your son does this set much better than you do."

Master Wong stayed at the school and became an apprentice of the grandmaster, as his predecessors and others before Master Wong have done. Living at the school, he studied methods of bone-setting treatment and Hung Gar gung fu under the grandmaster while assisted the grandmaster in handling various bone-setting cases during the day and teaching junior students at night.Master Wong later also went to study Pek Kwa, a northern style of Chinese Martial Arts under the famous Tai-Sing Pek-Kwa grandmaster, Kwan Duk Hoi, a close friend and sworn brother of Grandmaster Lam Cho. While in Hong Kong during the few years before immigrating to the United States, Master Wong established his own school and had students who still practices gung fu and maintain contact with him to this day.

In 1963 Master Y.C.Wong and his family left Hong Kong and moved to USA where he eventually settled in San Francisco. In 1967 he established a Gung Fu school in San Francisco where he began teaching Hung Gar to the general public and where he still continues to teach today. He was among one of the first few Chinese sifus to break from the tradition of not teaching gung fu to non-Chinese. He accepted students of all races and taught gung fu to anyone who was willing to learn. In 1968, Master Wong was one of the individuals who organized the first large-scale public kung fu demonstration event in the United States, held at the San Francisco Civic Auditorium.
Master Wong is one of the senior Hung Gar authorities teaching in the United States today. He has dedicated his entire life to the practice and promotion of gung fu. Without a doubt, he is one of the most highly respected and well know Chinese martial artist and teacher in America. He has appeared in such major martial arts magazines as Inside Kung Fu, Wushu Kung Fu, and Black Belt Magazine. Inside Kung Fu, a magazine published in America, has included Wong sifu in their "Who's Who in the Martial Arts" as one of America's most highly respected and well know martial artists.

Despite that Master Wong is approaching 70, he is still very strong and full of energy, thanks to years of consistent, diligent training. One can clearly see his speed, energy and vigor when watching his two-man set performances, in which he sometimes out-performs his partner, often a student who is one-third Master's Wong's age. He still actively teaches and promotes gung fu and even personally teaches the classes at his schools in San Francisco. Besides Hung Gar and Pek-Kwa, Master Wong is a highly skilled and experienced practitioner of three internal styles, Kuang Ping Yang Style Tai-Chi Chuan, Pa Kua and I-Chuan standing meditation. Information about Master Wong's schools can be found at the bottom of this page. Master Wong has several affiliated schools (Y.C. Wong Czech Hungkyun Gungfu Association) in Prague (and elsewhere in the Czech Republic) led by his Czech students, Pavel Macek and Ales Kocian.

Master Y.C. Wong's Kung Fu Philosophy
Chinese Kung Fu has had a long developmental period. Its extensive scope and profound principles put it in a class by itself. There are many branches and styles, all originating from the same concepts. Those who desire to understand the true meaning of Kung Fu should seek out qualified instructors and train with skilled friends. Extrapolate the techniques and forge your style with diligent and consistent practice. Be sure to avoid laziness and procrastination. Guard against arrogance and boastfulness. Do not be easily provoked. Seek to analyze with an open heart and open mind. Those who have mastered the art should use it honorably. Teach and help others so many can benefit. Propagate Kung Fu so that the art will endure.
ORIGINAL CONCEPT CONCEIVED BY Y. C. WONG (summer 1974)

Master Wong believes that humility, perseverance, and understanding of the principles are the keys to Kung Fu perfection and that the mental and physical dimensions of the art must be united and strengthened. One's willingness to learn and to spend time in training is as important as receiving proper instruction. Proper instruction is critical since improper practice due to a lack of understanding of the Kung Fu principles can be harmful to one's health.

Following is the information about Master Wongs Kung Fu studio.
Training includes:
Individual and group practice in traditional fist and weapon forms
Prearranged as well as spontaneous sparring practice
Use of traditional weapons to enable the student to further improve his coordination, strength, and footwork.

Emphasis includes:
Understanding and application of important concepts
Correct execution of fundamentals
Correct use of power (balanced use of hard and soft power)
Correct methods of breathing during training

Master Wong welcomes all interested individuals to come during one of the class sessions. Private lessons, by special arrangement, are also available. The following is the information about Master Wongs gung fu school.