Our Lineage

LUK AH CHOI * WONG KEI YING  * WONG FEI HUNG * TANG FUNG * YUEN LING

YEE CHI WAI (FRANK YEE) * JOSEPH DEMUNDO


LUK AH CHOI was the son of a Manchu that was stationed in Gwongdung. After his parents died, Luk Ah Choi was brought up by his uncle. Because his uncle abused him, Luk Ah Choi ran away when he was 12 years old. He met a monk named Lei Baak Fu, a master in the Southern Fa Kuen style (Flower Style), and became his student.


After 7 years of training, Lei Baak Fu sent him to the southern Siu Lum Temple in Fukien Province. There, Luk Ah Choi became a student of Abbot Gee Sim Sim See.


After the destruction of the Siu Lum temple, Luk Ah Choi went back to Guangdung, where he devoted himself to martial arts and Chinese medicine.


Luk Ah Choi died at the age of 68.


WONG KEI YING was born in Sai Chiu village in the county of Naam hoi in Guangdung Province, at the beginning of the 19th century. As a young boy he earned a living as a street performer. One day he was noticed by Southern Siu lam kung fu master Luk Ah Choi, and became his disciple.


However, another story tells that Wong Kei Ying learned from his father Wong Taai, who was a student of Luk Ah Choi. Later, Wong Kei Ying was sent to Luk Ah Choi to continue his study under Luk Ah Choi's guidance. Wong Kei Ying later became the martial arts instructor of the general of Guangdong's infantry regiment.


Wong Kei Ying was one of Southern China's famous "Ten Tigers of Guangdung" (Guangdung Sup Fu). Wong Kei Ying also exchanged a lot of knowledge with other kung fu masters, such as Wong Yan Lum, a "Lion's Roar" kung fu master and also a member of the Ten Tigers of Guangdung.


Wong Kei Ying died in 1886.


WONG FEI HUNG is a charismatic figure who has been portrayed in over 100 movies, played by such greats as Kwan Tak Hing and Jet Li. The real Wong Fei Hung was born in 1850 in Guangdung, Lam Hoi Province, Sai Chu County, Luk Huern Yan village, China. His father was Wong Kei Ying, a student and disciple of southern Siu Lum Master Luk Ah Choi. He was also one of the earlier 10 Canton Tigers of the late Ching Dynasty. While Wong Fei Hung was one of the later Tigers. It is important to note here that both Wong Kei Ying and Wong Fei Hung were inducted into the "Ten Tigers'' while they were still in their early twenties. The other 8 Tigers were all at an advanced age and of a higher kung fu generation. We must also note that the positions of the "tigers” were chosen according to Chinese tradition. The oldest or most senior holds the highest position i.e...#1, #2, #3 etc. This placement was given out of respect and had nothing to do with level of skill. It was also apparent that the induction showed great respect and had honored the Wong's in that their skills were compared with the Sifu's of a higher generation.


Wong Fei Hung began his martial arts training at the age of five. By the age of 13 he was already an accomplished martial artist and often went out with his father to demonstrate Kung Fu and sell medicine in different villages. On one occasion a famous teacher of another style, named Sifu Gwan Dai Hung was demonstrating on the same day. He became jealous because the Wong's had a much larger crowd watching their performance. Every time he demonstrated his famous left handed fishing pole techniques the size of the crowd would be unmatched. Sifu Gwan felt these two were invading his territory, so, with pole in hand he approached Master Wong Kei Ying and issued a challenge fight. Master Wong smiled and told his 13 year old son, Wong Fei Hung, to take up a pole and match skills with this Sifu using the Ng Long Ba Gwan Gwun (8 diagram pole techniques). Wong Fei Hung eliminated the challenger and the word spread far and wide. Wong Fei Hung even though still a child was a great fighter. This incident started young master Wong's fame.


Wong Fei hung is credited with formalizing the orthodox Hung System and creating the styles' most famous set, the "Tiger Crane Double Pattern Fist Form" (Fu Hok Seung Ying Kuen). According to Master Frank Yee's Grandmaster, Tang Fung, the tiger/crane set was developed from Tiet Kiu Saam's horse stance and hand bridge combined with Wong Fei Hung's fighting techniques. In fact, the Hung system's strength was in the tiger/crane techniques, the twelve bridges, horse stance and Wong's secret "Sup Juet Sao" or 10 Killing Hands,which was only taught to" in the door" disciples.


Wong Fei Hung was also famous for the tiger tail kick & shadowless kick. A lot of people believe, Wong Fei Hung invented the Mo Ying Gerk (shadowless kick), but he learned it from a famous man named Sifu Song Ton Fai. The story goes... Sifu Song was staying at a hotel and at night he used to practice in the courtyard. One evening he heard a woman laughing, he turned and asked the woman "Why are you laughing"? She stated "You only have hands with no kicks". He couldn't believe this woman would say this. Sifu Song asked the woman to show him, Song Ton Fai and the lady sparred. He couldn't believe that each time he made an advance within striking distance; he would be kicked, although he never saw it coming. Afterward he got to know and eventually married the woman and learned this skill from his new found wife. Wong & Song were friends, Song wanted to learn Wong's Tiet Sing Kuen, and Fook Fu Kuen and Wong wanted Song’s no shadow kick. So they exchanged and the Hung system inherited a new technique.


As an adult he taught martial arts to the navy in Canton and held a position in the General's office. Later in his life Wong Fei Hung left Canton and moved to Fukien to become the right hand man of General Tong Gin Cheung. General Tong was a resistance fighter of the Ching Dynasty, eventually the resistance fell. Wong moved back to Canton and started teaching Hung Kuen and also established his Po Chi Lum medicine shop. Wong was an undefeated fighter throughout his life. He also produced many famous students and disciples.


The following are 9 of his famous disciples:


Lian Foon - His #1 disciple. Famous for cracking the ground under his feet when he sat in horse stance.

Ling Wan Gai - Famous for his "Gwai Gerk" (ghost kicking skills).

Chan Din Biu

Lam Sai Wing - Famous for his saber techniques and writing 3 books on Hung Ga.

Tang Fung - famous for his strict, rigorous training and his stubborn" Old Square Mind" mentality.

Sui Low Ngan

Sui Low Yuk

Tak Gan Jow

Luk Jin Gun

Wong was not only good at martial arts but also had exceptional Mo Duk (martial virtue) and medicine. During the late Ching Dynasty he owned two herbal shops, one in Canton and the other in Futsan. At his Po Chi Lum herbal shops, he would make his own Dit Da medicine which became very famous. This led him to be known as one of the four top doctors in Southern China. These four doctors are still remembered even today. They were:


Wong Fei Hung

Jow Hong Gon

Lei Gam Chuen

So Hut Yee


During his lifetime Wong had 4 wives. There is a funny story about how he met his 4th wife, Mok Gwai Lan. Madame Mok Gwai Lan, also known as the "tigress" was watching a lion dance and Kung Fu demonstration during a celebration day for the Buddha in Fat San. Mok Gwai Lan, 19 yrs old, and already an accomplished martial artist herself, wanted to see first hand this famous man whose reputation preceded him. While Wong was demonstrating the Yu Ga Dai Pa (Yu's family Great Fork), he kicked and his shoe flew off and hit her in the face. Incensed, Mok Gwai Lan jumped onto the stage and smacked Wong Fei Hung in the face. Wong's students became infuriated. Mok stated that "This time it's your shoe, but what if the next time it's your weapon. You could kill someone. A person of your skill should not ever have an accident like that." Wong just smiled and said, "You are right I should not have been so careless." Mok Gwai Lan disappeared into the crowd. Wong had fallen in love; a woman that strong would certainly make a good wife. He searched, found and eventually married her.


At the end of the Ching Dynasty and the founding of the republic in 1912, Wong became the head instructor of martial arts for the Special Forces elite military unit, under the direction of General Lau Wing Fuk in Canton City.


In October of 1924 there was a strike against the government by all the businesses. Canton city fell to riots and Wong Fei Hung's home and herbal shop were burnt to the ground. He lost all his belongings and money. Later on, his son Wong Hawn Sum lost his job and was shot dead in an altercation with a drug gang. After all this Wong took ill and died in his home at the age of 83, in 1933. His wife moved with their sons to Hong Kong, Wan Jai Go Si Da Do, and taught Hung Kuen there. She also produced many famous disciples.


TANG FUNG was one of the most famous disciples Wong Fei Hung produced. Wong Fei Hung had more than one hundred "in the door" disciples. Some of the most famous ones were: Liang Foon (his #1 disciple, famous for cracking the ground under his feet when he sat in a horse stance), Ling Wan Gai (famous for his "Gwai Gerk", ghost kicking skills), Chan Din Biu, Lam Tsai Wing (famous for his Saber techniques and writing three books on Hung Ga), Tang Fung (famous for his strict and rigorous training and his "Old Square-Mind" mentality), Sui Low Yuk and Sui Low Ngan (Uncle and Nephew who spread the art to Malaysia), Tak Gan Jow, and Luk Jin Gun.


Grandmaster Tang Fung was born in Sam Soy village, Gwan Dong province in 1874. During his youth he learned Hung Ga from Sifu Wong Yau and Sifu Yuen Yin, and also studied Mau Shan, a form of folk sorcery. Later he learned from Wong Fei Hung, completing the orthodox version of Hung Ga and becoming Wong’s close disciple.


Tang Fung was also a participant in the Luk Sin theater incident. In this famous incident Lam Sai Wing, Tang Fung, Tang Yee, Gwan Kwan, and a few of Lam's disciples became trapped by a rival instructor at the theater. The rival instructor led an attack with about 80 men, while Lam, Tang and his colleagues had fewer than 10. They sustained a few minor injuries. The rival side had a count of 80 people sent to the hospital. Tang, his brother Tang Yee and Lam Sai Wing left town to avoid trouble. Lam went to the Gwang Dong/Gwong Sai border and Tang Fung went to Singapore to work as a miner. Later Tang Fung returned to Gwang Dung.


After Wong Fei Hung was quite old, Tang Fung and his brother Tang Yee opened a school called “Yee Yung Tong” (Chivalrous Brave Hall), After Wong's Death, Madame Mok Gwai Lan, who was Wong's Wife, taught an all women's class at Tang's school. After the start of the Sino-Japanese war in 1937, Tang moved to Hong Kong. He established a medicine shop at Sum Soi Bo and helped many people with medicine; always having a good heart and never charging for treatments if one could not afford it. Grand Master Tang Fung also married twice but had no sons. Tang’s second wife, Ho Fan, was the one Tang’s students called Simo. Ho Fan was taught the Gi Mo Cern Do (mother & son twin swords) and often demonstrated in fighting sets with Tang. Tang lived in Kowloon, Wang Gok, But Lan Street. He taught six days a week, even though he was in his 70's. Master Tang taught 3 days on the Kowloon side at the jewelry association, then would take a one hour ferry on alternating days to the Hong Kong side 3 times a week to teach at the Shau Kay Won Fish Market Association. He also took over the position as head of security from Lam Tsai Wing at the Shau Kay Won Fish Market. During his years in Hong Kong, Tang established a strong reputation for himself. His teaching was known to emphasize hard stance training and strict detail to forms and applications. Tang was nicknamed “Lo Wan Ku'' which means "Old Square Mind." This was in reference to Tang's stubborn traditionalism. Tang Fung's daughter, Tang Sou Kin, broke from his traditionalist outlook and was heralded as Queen of the lion dance, during the 1920's. At that time women were not allowed to participate in lion dance, for which Tang Fung was well known. During the early 1950's, Tang himself, performed a special command performance lion dance for Queen Elizabeth even though he was well on in years.


According to Master Yee, Tang was famous for a weapon that was not a standard Hung Ga weapon. He was known for his Ngauh Gwat Sin (Beef Bone Fan) or Iron Fan techniques, which became renowned in Hong Kong, although his skill was rarely demonstrated. Tang produced his own roster of well known students & disciples:


Yuen Ling - Successor to Tang Fung - Represented in the U.S. by Master Frank Yee of Yee's Hung Ga Kung Fu Academy.

Lau Kai Ton - Represented in the U.S. by New Mexico's Master Frank Rivera.

Luk Gan Wing - Represented in Ontario, Canada by his son.

Wong Jo - A Hong Kong jewelry maker who still can be found on any given day at the Shau Kay Won fish market association.

Ho Lap Tien - Represented in the U.S. by Philadelphia's Master Cheurng Shu Pui.

Cheung Tai Hing - Represented in the U.S. by New York's Master Wan Chi Ming.

Jao Wing Duk - Represented in Spain by Master Lam Chuen Ping.

Kwan Kei Tin

Won Lei


YUEN LING was born in 1921 in Guangdong, Sun Wui, to a large family. While he was still young, his family lost its fortune due to the depression. He went with his older brother to Fatsan where they made a living peddling food from a pushcart at the railroad station.


At the railroad station, there were plenty of other food vendors and disputes were, more often than not, always settled with the use of force. Deaths were not uncommon. Grandmaster Yuen was known for his kung fu fighting skills and was able to establish an important position for himself within the Fatsan railroad station vendors’ community.


Grandmaster Yuen studied Old Style Hung Ga kung fu under a sifu who was nicknamed Sau Gau (Thin Dog). Old Style Hung Ga is a branch of the art not through Wong Fei Hung. During the 1940’s, with China engulfed in World War II, Grandmaster Yuen escaped to Hong Kong and settled in at the Shau Kai Wan Fish Market to make a living. Like the Fatsan railroad station, only the strong survived the vending competition. It was here that he met Grandmaster Tang Fung.


Grandmaster Yuen became Tang Fung’s last disciple. He learned Hung Ga and Dit Da medicine, as passed down by Wong Fei Hung, from Grandmaster Tang Fung. Being a strong-willed, intelligent and capable person, it was not long before Grandmaster Yuen established himself as the Number One person at the Shau Kai Wan Fish Market, with control of all the seafood distribution throughout Hong Kong.


During this period, he also established a school at Main Street East, where he taught Hung Ga kung fu and treated patients at his clinic. Grandmaster Yuen was well known and legendary for his "negotiation" skills in settling disputes for his students, neighbors, friends and association. He would often attend these negotiations alone, carrying nothing save the iron whip-chain he wrapped around his waist. He would sit down with the opposition to discuss the issues and, if the negotiation did not go well, he would settle the matter with force.


Grandmaster Yuen was also proficient in lion dancing. He was well known for his Ngauh Chat Sau Dai Si. His black lion head was famous throughout Hong Kong for its run-ins with other lions and dragons; having never lost in these encounters. He always emerged victorious, just as he did in the Cheurng Pao contests. He was also famous for his Dit Da medicine – jow, paste and pills.


Due to the tremendous strain of running both the fish market and the kung fu school, while suffering from stomach cancer, Grandmaster Yuen’s health took a turn for the worse. He died in 1966 at the young age of 45. On the day of his funeral, martial artists from all over Hong Kong, as well as members of the law enforcement and underworld communities came to pay their respects. It was one of the largest funeral processions in Hong Kong’s history.


YEE CHI WAI (FRANK YEE) born on July 28, 1951, began his kung fu training first with his father at the early age of six. Then, formal Tang Fong Hung Ga kung fu training under the tutelage of Grandmaster Yuen Ling, who was a disciple of Tang Fong, a close disciple of the legendary Great Grandmaster, Wong Fei Hung. Master Yee immersed himself in his Hung Ga kung fu training, studying intensively and diligently under the watchful eye of his Sifu. After many years of dedicated studying, he was rewarded with the Bai See ceremony and became a disciple to his sifu. Grandmaster Yuen Ling also had other disciples who were noted for their Hung Ga Kung Fu skills, they are: Do Duk Sun, Tsui Hung Bao, Fok Siu Jong, Yuen Yao Chin, Lee Siu Fong, Chiu Sien Jee, Yu Ja Cho, Deng Sing Ging, Yuen Kai Chi, and Kong Wing Kao. Of all the disciples of Grandmaster Yuen Ling, only Frank Yee has dedicated his life to the teaching of Tang Fong Hung Ga Kung Fu.


Before Master Yee left Hong Kong, he found the time to learn from His Brother, Yee Sihk Tim, a practitioner of the Bak Hsing Choy Lee Fut system, the “Lin Wan Chop Choy”, a technique that he feels is a great attacking method as well as the Mouse stepping patterns. This style was created by the Grandmaster, Tam Sam. He also found time to learn some Northern Shaolin from his other brother Albert Yee.


In 1968, Master Yee emigrated from Hong Kong to Montreal, Canada. Soon after, he went to Toronto where he earned a Mechanical Engineering degree from George Brown College. During this period in Canada, in addition to working and going to school, he taught Hung Ga Kung Fu at George Brown College, the Jong Ting Association, and the Hung Moon Association (also known worldwide as the Free Masons). There he met and became close friends with Master Lore (Loh) King Hung (James Lore) of the Village Hung style. Master Lore shared and taught him his methods of stance shifting, a specialty of Master Lore’s. He also learned the Elbow Cover Blade method of the Butterfly Knife which master Yee felt was useful and added it into his Mother /Son Double Knives form (Ji Mo Seurng Dao). During those early years in Canada, many stories of the exploits of Master Yee and his students are still talked about today. These moments in history where Master Yee and his students helped to bring the community into a state of peace, while bringing justice, are talked about like legends of the past.


In 1973, Master Yee arrived in New York City’s Chinatown to be reunited with his aging medicine teacher Doctor Sit Chuek Sing, who was famous for his healing skills and whose family was renowned for having been the personal physicians to the Imperial Ching Emperors of China for four generations. Doctor Sit was also known as one of the four famous four doctors of Hong Kong. Master Yee continued his studies of Dit Da and herbal medicine during this time, assisting and running his Chinatown Clinic. Master Frank Yee also learned internal medicine from his teacher’s son, Dr. Sit Chiu Wai.


It was during this time that Master Yee decided to stay and teach in NYC establishing Yee’s Hung Ga Kung Fu Academy. His teachings became a sort after commodity. While his students demoed as well as competed, winning in numerous championships, soon he became a familiar name amongst the NYC Chinatown greats. His Lion dance skills were also in high demand, which led to him sharing his Lion Dance skills with many noted kung fu associations. In addition to teaching at his kung fu school, Master Yee found the time to teach at Long Island and Columbia Universities as well as Hunter College.


During the early New York City years, Master Yee was one of the founding fathers of the Eastern United States Kung Fu Federation and had served as its President, Vice-President and Secretary. He became an avid supporter and protector of the Chinese Staff and Workers Union in NYC Chinatown as well as its Vice President, attending many of their rallies with students and providing security and protection for the workers when situations arose. On one such occasion he and his students were asked to attend the Union rallies for the fair treatment of restaurant employees. They were expecting trouble, and when the trouble appeared Master Yee dispatched his students to end the threat. These occasions were the norm during the turbulent Chinatown years as he was called upon to help different organizations in times of need.


During the early eighties he would have a chance meeting and introduction to Master Kwan Tak Hing, renowned movie star and humanitarian. It was from Master Kwan that Frank Yee would learn Crane Qigong as well as his specialty, the six and one-half point Long Pole techniques, which Master Kwan Tak Hing was famous for. He also studied Buddhist meditation with Master Kwan. Their relationship was such that Master Kwan often treated Master Yee as a close friend, but he had too much respect for him, and considered him like a teacher. Master Kwan Tak Hing bestowed upon Master Yee, two couplets of personally done calligraphy, One referencing “To clean the name of the Sick Men of Asia”, and the other stating that “his skills are number one”. Master Yee later donated the first couplet to the Huang Fei Hong Museum in Foshan, Peoples Republic of China, where it hangs today.


Moving forward, Master Frank Yee met his Sisuk Jyu Yuen Ming, who had recently moved to NYC Chinatown. He was a student of Grandmaster Tang Fong as well as the famous Tai Chi grandmaster Cheng Ting Hung, whose fighters were renowned for winning numerous Lei Tei (Platform) matches in Hong Kong and Taiwan. Master Cheng was also famous for a set called the “Yin and Yang Method of Tai Chi Gong” which was a set Qigong exercise, which developed incredible ging and amazing ability to take blows. It is from his Sisuk Jyu Yuen Ming, that he later learned these exercises and then traveled with his Sisuk to visit and do some additional training with Master Chen Ting Hung. Master Yee later taught only the Yin portion of the exercises to his students as he felt this portion was a good benefit and better fit for them.


In 1984 Master Yee was invited to be a part of a special Kung Fu delegation invited by the Chinese government for an exchange of knowledge. This trip took him across China, to the Shaolin temple and to Taishan the birthplace of his father. When he saw the poor conditions that existed there, he felt saddened. This planted a seed that would grow exactly one decade later. After the passing of his father, Master Yee often wondered what he could do in memory of his father and family name. Thoughts of building a park for children to play in their family name, or building a monument, the decision was slow coming. In 1994, after a series of life changing events Master Yee had the opportunity to spend 9 months in Taishan, China. During this time he immersed himself in his Hung Ga training and began teaching the elderly, Wong Fei Hung’s Traditional Hung Ga Kung fu. Even though the students were of advanced age, they still worked hard and always longed for the traditional teachings. This sparked the idea that he would move to Taishan and establish a lineage. In addition he would teach for free to give back to his father’s city.


It was also during this time that he established new personal goals; and created the Taishan City Toi Sing Kung Fu Association where he still teaches traditional Hung Ga Kung Fu and lion dance. Master Yee accepted only those students who showed a commitment to learning and who were of high moral character. He provided living quarters, equipment and training to his students free of charge. Through his school, he worked to revive traditional Southern kung fu in China in the face of the onslaught of wushu. It is due to his dedication that the people of Southern China are being reintroduced to and are embracing traditional kung fu once again. At the request of the Taishan City government in China, he is currently the President of the Taishan Kung Fu Association, overseeing martial arts activities for the city of Taishan. He also serves as an advisor to the Wong Fei Hung Museum in Foshan, China as well as the coach of the museum’s Traditional Kung Fu Division.


During his interactions in China he helped to promote the first traditional kung fu championships in Guangdong, in which practitioners paid an entrance fee, an unheard of and unknown idea in China. The consensus was that people would never be interested in that. But Guangdong province tried the idea and soon found themselves overwhelmed as they had more than five thousand competitors wishing to compete. They had to arrange regional championships in different parts of the province to handle the mass turnout, culminating in a final determining event for the winners. Master Yee’s Students placed first in many events as well as became the Lion Dance champions of Guangdong Province. The Name of Yee’s Hung Ga International Kung Fu Association and the Taishan City Martial Arts Association was now firmly established in Southern China.


Master Yee, while in Hong Kong on one of his many visits, was introduced to Shaolin Monk So Jan, a 103 year old, 38th Generation successor of the Shaolin Temple. He had graduated and left the Northern Shaolin Temple to travel south in 1922. He is believed to be the last living fully graduated Monk that exists from the time before they burned the Northern temple in 1929. Sifu began spending some time and established a friendship. This monk would later ask Master Yee to help him in his pursuit of rebuilding the original Fukien Po Tin Southern Shaolin temple on the true grounds where it stood. After Monk So Jan went south, he met up with and trained on the grounds with the successors of the Southern temple after it was grazed. It seems that the original surviving monks continued to practice at the ruins, which is where Monk So Jan headed to after visiting his family and continued training there. He was considered successor to both the North and South Shaolin temples as proved by being in possession of the Green and White Jade Seals (Chops), which was gifted by the Tang Dynasty’s Emperor, one to the North Temple and One to the South. Monk So Jan, along with Master Yee, also supported by members of the present day Northern Shaolin Temple, after meeting with the government officials and pleading his case, was given a parcel of land near, but not on the grounds. As a gift of appreciation, Monk So Jan gave one of the seals to be placed in a museum. He bestowed upon Master Yee the title of 2nd advisor to the new Southern Shaolin temple, which was to be built.


Upon returning to the States Master Frank Yee wanted to promote and reignite the flames of traditional kung fu here as well as to honor the name of Great Grandmaster Wong Fei Hung by inaugurating the Wong Fei Hung Northeastern All Kung Fu Championship tournament in 1996. This annual tournament grew each year, attracting over 500 competitors from all over the United States, Canada, Europe, South America and Asia, with over 136 divisions including Traditional Kung Fu, Modern Wushu, Shuai Jiao, Internal Styles, Fighting, Chi Sau and Push Hands events. This Championship ran for 13 consecutive years.


In 2001, Master Yee wished to introduce his USA disciples to Taishan and bring the whole family together. When word spread of the possible visit, he was asked to have a friendly meeting and exchange of skills in a no holds barred method with the Foshan Ching Woo Association. It was requested that some of their fighters meet some of his. Master Yee immediately agreed and called upon his senior disciple and adopted son Pedro Cepero Yee to prepare fighters for the event. When the USA Family arrived they performed across Hong Kong for their Uncles and Si Tai Pau and then in Foshan at the Wong Fei Hung museum as well as the Taishan Sports Arena. This arena has 3,500 seats. The show was filled to capacity as well as 6-8,000 people trying to break down the doors to the stadium to see the Americans perform/ even the government officials could not get through. The military was called in to clear a path, as the event could not start without them. Taishan city is one of the oldest martial arts towns in China and to hold an audience's attention there, needs a high level demonstration of skills. Master Yee’s show held the audience captivated and to standing applause for nearly 3 and ½ hours. It was an astounding effect. The skill level was now demonstrated and Yee’s Hung Ga across the world had gained newfound respect in the international martial arts community and its birthplace. The final stop would be the exchange at the Ching Woo Association. Up to this point, all the demos were aired on national television. When the USA team arrived it was asked that we exchange as friends, with no need to have physical confrontation, but to show unity to the world and demo, as friends would have a greater effect on the Martial Arts Community. And so it was, establishing greater ties with the Ching Woo Association, and future joint workings to promote our traditional values and systems.


During the years in China Master Frank Yee made many friends in the Martial Forest who contributed to the growth of Master Yee. One such friend, was Mr. Gong Wuen who would give Master Yee access for 8 hours a day, to many rare and ancient martial and military arts manuals in the Government Libraries. This allowed Master Yee to gain insight into the beginnings of many weapons and fighting arts and actual battlefield records, military and martial strategies that were used in wars past. This helped improve Master Yee’s views on many things.


Another such friend of over twenty years today is 94 year old Grandmaster Chan Wing Yan (Chen Rong En) of the Fut Ga Style. He was a disciple of the Great Grandmaster Leung Ting Chiu, the creator of the Flying Dragon Pole System and the Fut Ga System. Their friendship had grown so close that Grandmaster Chan Wing Yan stated that they should become blood brothers, but Master Yee had so much respect for Grandmaster Chan, and looked at him as more of a teacher. Grandmaster Chan Wing Yan shared with Master Yee his Pole and empty hand techniques. Grandmaster Chan also put on DVD for Master Yee the pole and hand methods of the system for a historical record. This has allowed Master Yee’s Pole techniques to blend the teachings of three teachers. Master Yuen Ling, Master Kwan Tak Hing and Master Chan Wing Yan.


Over the last decade Master Frank Yee has appeared in numerous documentaries and many national and international magazines and covers. He is well known in China for his 2 episodes of “GDTV’s Search for the Twenty Heroes of China” and “Exercises of the Martial Field”. Both of these have been airing for more than ten years almost weekly. He has been asked to represent Wong Fei Hung’s Traditional medicine on numerous talk shows in China as well as numerous medical forums, and many other television shows which air across the country.


He established a ranking system in 1974 to better gage the development of students, while setting strict criteria into levels. As branches grew, and instructors reached a certain level he established a Dan (Duen) system to maintain the standards of the art. This system added levels of testing for instructors 1-10. Level 10 could only be obtained after you at least reach the age of 60 years, and have been a full instructor for at least 40 years. Master Yee himself conducts these tests, with instructors above the level being tested for.


With more than 40-years of teaching, he currently has students all over the world with five generations forward, established to date. Yee’s Hung Ga International Kung Fu Association branches are established in China, United States, Scotland, Europe, Canada, Brazil, Peru, Argentina, Czech Republic and Germany. Over the decades, Yee’s Hung Ga has competed in countless local, national, and international tournaments, winning thousands of medals including over a thousand gold medals. Since 1994 Grandmaster Yee has regularly traveled to the USA, China and abroad to administer promotion tests and to hold seminars and special instructor workshops to keep his disciples growing as he himself is doing, as well as holding the annual Traditional Bai Si Ceremonies.


JOSEPH DEMUNDO  began his Martial Arts training at the age of 17. Initially he studied both Isshin Ryu Karate and Tae Kwon Do. In 1990, he began studying under Sifu Yee and throughout this time trained diligently.

Because of his dedication to Sifu Yee and his commitment to the Hung Ga style of training, Joseph Demundo is one of the few close Disciples of Sifu Yee. Joseph Demundo currently holds the rank of 6th Dan. He is: 

“I am proud and honored to be part of the Martial Art World, my Kung Fu family, and my Sifu.”

“I believe my Kung Fu training has given me a feeling of being part of something complete. Every day, no matter how much or how little I train I always learn something new or have a better understanding of what was previously learned.”

Sifu Joseph Demundo has been the operator and Chief Branch Instructor of Yee’s Hung Ga Kung Fu Academy’s New York City Chinatown location for over twenty years. He continues to teach the tradition of Hung Ga to the next generation of Martial Artists.  He says that, “one of the benefits of teaching is that it reinforces what you know, maintains what you have learned and refines your overall knowledge.”