Great Grandmaster
Yeh Yu-Ting
The late Great Grandmaster of Mi Zong
Lo Han, Yeh Yu-Ting, learned the Lo Han system from his father and
uncle, just as it was passed down from generation to generation in the
family for seven generations. Because of his quick mastery of this
demanding martial arts system, he was drafted into the family security
service business in goods transportation at an early age. Bandits and
robbers were fearful of his kung fu prowess as they were routinely
defeated in battle, in their attempt to steal the goods. Due to his
reputation, he was invited as a military instructor where he taught in
several military regiments for more than 10 years. He was later invited
to teach at the Chin Woo Association in Shanghai, China, for
approximately six years as a senior instructor. It was here that he
polished up on the mi-zong system of the famed Huo Yuan-Zia. He was
dispatched by the Association, brought the Lo Han system from his native
Hebei province to Hong Kong in the 1920's. He taught at the Hong Kong
South China Athletic Association and met up with 2 other northern
kung-fu stylist, who later became known as the "3 Tigers from Hebei". He
taught hundreds of students and disciples over the years. |
Grandmaster Yep died in Hong Kong on December 15, 1962 at the age of 70 with his
loyal students at his bedside. However, his famed legacy and the Mi-Zong Lo Han
system continue to be taught by his senior disciples. Among the few surviving
senior disciple is Master Raymond Wong, who later learned the northern Tai Chi
Praying Mantis system from the famed late Grandmaster Chiu Chok-Kai, and the Dao
Ga system (the Taoist family style). (An expanded version of the Mi Zong Lo Han
organization, history, etc. and its website by Master Raymond Wong is under
construction and can be currently accessed under
www.MJLH.org).
Master Raymond Wong
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Master Raymond Wong is the first of
several senior Mi Zong Lo Han disciples to immigrate to North America.
He left Hong Kong in 1968 with a brief stay in Vancouver, B.C., Canada,
before he moved to San Francisco and later to Los Angeles in 1971. He
impressed the West Coast exhibition spectators with his speed, smooth
agility and light-footedness in his exhibition tours in the early and
mid-1970s. He was featured on the cover of the 1973 Black Belt Magazine
yearbook along with a lengthy main article. A number of other articles
were written about him by major martial arts magazines, including Inside
Kung Fu. Soon thereafter, Johnny Lee immigrated to the U.S. (former
chief instructor and founder of the White Leopard Kung fu school in
Florida and Louisiana), currently in Dallas, Texas. Another disciple,
Hilton Tam, also moved to the United States. He teaches Mi Zong Lo Han
and resides in Cleveland, Ohio. And Chi-Hung Marr, the most senior
disciple in North America, is currently coordinating several martial
arts classes on the East Coast. |
Included in the mass migration of the late Grandmaster Yeh's disciples are
Wing-Kin Chao in Toronto, Canada, Tung-Yam Lau's student Alex Kwok in Calgary,
Alberta, Canada and several others in Australia. However, Mi Zong Lo Han is
alive and well in Hong Kong where Chi-Hung Marr's students conduct classes at
the Kowloon Chin Woo Association. Classes are also held at the South China
Athletic Association under the direction of Tung-Yam Lau's son. Tung-Yam Lau was
the eldest disciple of Grandmaster Yeh.
Master Raymond Wong taught several hundred students over the last 30 years at
numerous locations in Southern California. Currently, he conducts a class at a
park in San Gabriel, CA. His students are charged with continuing the legacy in
the western region of the United States under his leadership through classes
conducted by his first generation of student/instructors (in order of seniority)
Ron Quan, Los Angeles Chinatown, Kee C. Ling, Camarillo, Ca, and Mar Elepano,
University of Southern California campus.
Other students/instructors consists of Fred Ho, USC, originally a student of Mar
Elepano; Douglas Williams in Seattle, WA. and Corey Wong in Oahu, HI. Brian
Tuan, UC Irvine, originally a student of Dominic Cheung (first generation, 5th
in line after Mar Elepano). Voltaire LeBron and Justin Ling, Camarillo Kung fu
Club, Amy Ling, UC Berkeley, CA - students of Kee Ling; Brian Nosaka, Yong Li
and Wayland Tam, East Wind Foundation for Youth, L.A. Chinatown, CA. - students
of Ron Quan.
Sifu Kee Ling
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Kee Ling began his martial arts
studies in his early teens in tai chi, then moved on to karate and
taekwondo before he settled in with Mi Zong Lo Han in the early 1970’s
in Vancouver, B.C., Canada, under the instruction of Sifu Alex Kwok.
After he moved to LA in 1975, he continued his studies under Master
Raymond Wong. He has been with Mi Zong Lo Han for about 30 years. To
foster his interest in lion dancing, Kee Ling joined the original few
members and classmate, Sifu Ron Quan of the East Wind Lion Dance
foundation, LA Chinatown, at the Lung Kong Benevolent Association in
1976. Soon thereafter, they moved out of the facility to several other
locations over the next few years. While performing kung fu on behalf of
the group and assisted in the instruction of kung fu to its home boys,
he learned southern China lion dancing from the group. At the same time,
he continued his studies of Mi Zong Lo Han with Master Raymond Wong. The
unique liason continued until he moved out of the area in 1981.
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In January 1982, Kee Ling established the Camarillo Kung Fu Club, located in
Camarillo, CA (a small city between LA and Santa Barbara in Southern Ca.). It
teaches its members the Northern Shaolin kung-Fu system called Mi Zong Lo Han
(or My Jong Law Horn in the Cantonese dialect), the Way of the Lost Monk or the
lost track buddha. Its origin is from the Shaolin Temple in Northern China.
Kung fu training includes hand, feet, weapons and self-defense techniques. It
enhances a person's self-confidence, fitness, and teaches discipline, humility
and respect for all. Traditional forms, philosophy, and ideas are passed on to
the students as it was taught many generations ago. However, the Club is very
progressive in its ideals and practice. Its open-minded and open door policy
have attracted and welcomed many martial arts practitioner from all walks of
life. It requires a sense of dedication and devotion to learn this intricate
system of kung fu.
The students of the Camarillo Kung Fu Club are major medal winners in the
numerous tournaments they have competed in over the years. At the 1996 USA Wushu
Kung Fu Federation National and International Tournament in San Francisco, it's
9 member team won 16 gold, 5 silver and 4 bronze medals including the gold medal
in the advanced team weapons competition. Its members also compete locally and
in major southern California karate tournaments, and have consistently been a
major medal winners in various categories including numerous 1st place winners
over the last several years at the Ed Parker International Karate tournament and
Ventura County Open Karate Championships. Most recently, a number of students
competed in the Southern California Karate Classics on October 15, 2000 at East
L.A. College. Our Junior Assistant Instructor, Justin Ling, won the grand
championship in the black belt division for 17 years old and under. He also took
first place in showmanship. Other members also came away with 1st, 2nd and 3rd
places in forms and sparring in various divisions.
Southern lion dancing is also taught at the Club, in conjunction with the
Ventura County Chinese-American Association, its original sponsor in 1982. The
Chinese Association was formed more than 30 years ago and was incorporated as a
non-profit organization in 1976. Donations received from lion dancing goes
towards replacement of the expensive equipment and scholarships for college
bound students, as all its members are volunteers.
The paper mache "lion" is a few thousand years old Chinese tradition
representing the belief that the lion will drive away evil spirits and bad
omens, and bring with it good fortune, wealth, health, blessings and prosperity.
These performances were carried out during the Chinese New Year and other happy
occasions including weddings, anniversaries, parades and other official/formal
events. The lion dancers have participated in many parades and won in many
tournaments they have entered annually throughout Southern California. Business
organizations including Santa Barbara Museum of Art, World Affairs Council,
Civic groups, colleges/universities and Chinese restaurants from Santa Barbara
and Ventura County to Riverside County invites them to perform for various
occasions, every year.
The organization pride itself as the largest lion dance group in the
tri-counties of Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo in Southern
California who can perform the “pedestal” routine in accordance with the
International lion dancing standards, besides its brother group in L.A.
Chinatown, East Wind Lion Dance Youth Foundation. |