The Martialist: The Magazine For Those Who Fight Unfairly

A Day with a True Master

By Sifu Anthony Iglesias

I take great pride in keeping up to date on the who’s who of the Wing Chun world. My philosophy is that Wing Chun is Wing Chun regardless of lineage. This has opened many doors for me on my path to Wing Chun “wholeness.” On one such occasion I got to train with Sifu Francis Fong. Let me share with you my wonderful experience with this modern-day master.

Sifu Anthony Iglesias (left) with Sifu Francis Fong.
Sifu Iglesias is not a student of Sifu Fong.
His opinions do not represent those of the
Francis Fong Martial Arts Academy.

A few years ago I first heard about Sifu Fong and read about his accomplishments as a Martial Artist and teacher. I immediately wanted to meet him and hopefully get a lesson. One of the reasons for my “need” to meet him was that he was also a student of Guru Dan Inosanto. I have been an admirer of Guru Dan Inosanto since I was very young, first seeing him in the movie Game of Death starring the legendary Bruce Lee. (I also saw him in just about every Bruce Lee book ever written.)

Sifu Francis is the Georgia Representative for Guro Dan Inosanto, with Full Instructor ranking in both Filipino martial arts and Jun Fan Gung Fu (JKD Concepts). Less then a year ago I also had the pleasure of speaking with a few of his students, such as Sifu Eric Winfree (right) and Sihing Michael Rosenblum. Both gentlemen were friendly and knowledgeable and paid great tribute to Sifu Fong. This excited me even more as I planned to meet this great Kung Fu master.

One day, while browsing through Sifu Fong's web site, I came across an ad for a seminar being hosted in Rochester New York (an hour and a half from home by car) at a school called Martial Arts America on May 17^th & 18^th, 2003. The timing couldn’t have been more perfect, for I was scheduled to be in Rochester doing a job on the 17^th and would be able to catch the second day's class.

I awoke at 7 a.m. and drove to the school, getting there long before anyone else. About half an hour, later a red jeep pulled up and parked next to me. I decided to get out of my car and get some air and that is where I met Bob. Bob has been a student of Sifu Fong for four years. Like the two students I met before, Bob was very warm, friendly, and deeply knowledgeable. We hit it off instantly. Soon other people started showing up and the owner of the school opened the doors to let us in to warm up.

Sifu Winfree soon arrived with his students and I started to feel more at home and less nervous. Another ten minutes went by before, out of the corner of my eye, I spotted Sifu Francis Fong entering the school. He is of average height and had an inviting smile and persona about him. I know to some people this might seem a bit silly, but I could see and feel an aura or energy coming from him. He took the time to greet everyone -- not as a group, but one on one with handshakes, smiles, and hellos.

Class started with an introduction and then we went right into the warm up. Sifu Fong's warm up of choice started off with “The shrimp.” This is a ground fighting technique in which one lays on his back and, while rolling to one side, curls up like a shrimp, thus pushing back and away from danger. After that we got into some Muay-Thai drills (which I always welcome), which consisted of “leg catches.” This is a technique in which you catch an opponent's round kick and raise up, affecting the pressure point Spleen-6, then push.

Sifu Fong then formed combinations from that technique with leg sweeps, leg blocks, and dodging. After the warm up, Sifu Fong said with a smile, “Nothing better then Muay-Thai to warm you up, right?” The class, now breathing heavily and sweating, smiled and chuckled in agreement.

It was now time for Chi Sau. We started with Dan Chi Sau (single sticky hands) basics, which consisted of the basic Bon/Tan/Fook and some running hand. Sifu went around the room paying very close attention to each pair of students. His attention to detail was great. He could spot even the slightest angle and make corrections where needed. After that we got into Seung Chi Sau (double sticky hands). This is the part I was most excited about because I’m always concerned about my ability in Chi Sau and always want to get better.

We did Poon Sau (rolling hands) and then went into Luk Sau (forward energy), followed by some running hands and basic traps. As time went by, the techniques got more and more advanced.

One favorite moment of mine was when Sifu Fong got on the subject of not fighting force with force, a very important principle of Wing Chun. As simple a concept as it sounds, it is surprising how easily people go back to being rams, butting heads in an effort to out-muscle their opponents. Sifu Fong demonstrated this concept by choosing the largest man in the room, Sifu Winfree, and telling him to muscle in. Sifu Fong easily dissolved Sifu Winfree's energy, thus proving the validity of the concept. He then chose another student from the room who was of average height and very thin. Sifu Fong began Poon Sau with him and then started to push him across the room until he had him against a wall. The student was trying so hard to fight force with force that he was in a full-on Karate style front Bo stance (zenkutsu). All the while Sifu Fong remained in a perfect Yee Jee Kim Yang Ma (Character two pinching stance/horse). You could hear the other classmates muttering under their breaths to their fellow classmate “Rotate, dissolve the energy.” This was a valuable lesson indeed on the power of not fighting force with force.

The class ended soon after with a wonderful lecture by Sifu Fong. He then shook hands with and hugged each student. Everyone applauded and smiled at one another, in awe of the great 4+ hours of seminar they had just completed with a true Master of Kung Fu -- Sifu Francis Fong.

The day was not over for me just yet, however. I wanted to ask Sifu Fong about an injury I acquired while doing a drill that was taught to me by Sifu Alan Lee. Sifu Lee warned about pushing myself too much, but sometimes I guess you have to learn the hard way.

Learn the hard way, I did. My doctor said I had the beginning signs of a torn rotator cuff in my right shoulder. It had been bothering me for 3 months and nothing I did helped. I politely asked Sifu Fong if there was anything I could do to fix it. Sifu Fong sat me down and began to work on the shoulder. He immediately located the trouble and started a series of acupressure treatments and other things to which I am still very new.

Within minutes he said “Ok, try it now.” I stood up and, low and behold, my arm felt much better. I could lift things and rotate my arm without pain. Sifu Fong put his hand on my shoulder, smiled, and said, “Now take it easy for a few days and you’ll feel better.” To this day (a month later) my shoulder feels great. I don’t know how he did it but I am very thankful.

Sifu Francis Fong is, in my humble opinion, a true Master. He and his students represent what every martial artist should strive to be. They are humble, friendly, possess a desire to help others, and are physically, mentally and spiritually aware. Before leaving, I said my goodbyes to the new friends I ,made that day. I was also lucky enough to have my picture taken with Sifu Fong. Sifu Winfree shook my hand and said, “Welcome to the family, brother.”

I am honored to be a part of that family and look forward to a long relationship with its members.

Disclaimer: I do not make any claims to being a direct descendent or student of Sifu Francis Fong, nor do my opinions represent the opinions of the Francis Fong Martial Arts Academy.