The Martialist: The Magazine For Those Who Fight Unfairly

“Stay ‘unreasonable.’  If you
don’t like the solutions [available to you], come up with your
own.” 
Dan Webre

The Martialist does not
constitute legal advice.  It is for ENTERTAINMENT
PURPOSES ONLY.

Copyright © 2003-2004 Phil Elmore, all rights
reserved.

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.