LEARN KUNG FU FROM THE WONG PEOPLE
The Wong People Kung Fu Association, a Washington DC based group are among the few that are dedicated to the practice and preservation of non-commercialized Kung Fu. The organization was established in 1985 under the direction of Raymond Wong. Group Kung Fu lessons are provided free of charge to the community. To take advantage of the free lessons one must become a member of the organization. The annual membership fee is $150.00 per person. For the cost of the membership one will receive not only unlimited group Kung Fu lessons but also private lessons as well as be invited to an array of educational cultural events.
WHAT IS KUNG FU?
Kung Fu is a lineage of human experiences accumulated through the constant struggle to survive. These experiences consist of cultural teachings and philosophical principles that were practiced and developed through generations of usage. The collection of human experiences evolved into a system of self defense. One would use this system of self defense to cope with the perils and struggles of daily life.
Kung Fu began its origin at a time when farming and hunting were the two main skills or professions one must posses in order to survive. Many of the Kung Fu principles, techniques and weaponry are a directly based on the aspects of farming and hunting. Farmers/hunters would constantly have to protect their food supply from bandits. This continuing need for self defense led to the development of Kung Fu.
THE MANY STYLES OF KUNG FU
There are many styles of Kung Fu. Each styles posses special characteristic that are unique to the family or entity that developed it. The multitude of Kung Fu styles is catagorized into two major groups, “family lineage” and “commercial”.
Family lineage Kung Fu styles are based on cultural teachings and philosophical principles. The endless rigorous physical training method develops ones character and incorporates traditional family values as a precept. The purpose of the training is to teach one how to cope with the harsh and perilous realities of daily life. The ultimate goal is to empower one not only physically, but also mentally and spiritually, enabling one to accept social responsibility and become a valuable component to the community. This type of Kung Fu is steadily diminishing due to the lack of people having the perseverance, patience and discipline to endure this traditional type of training.
Commercial Kung Fu styles are the most popular and most abundant type of Kung Fu styles that exist today. This type of Kung Fu is designed to conform to the consumer market. Commercial Kung Fu is designed to make money by incorporating the popularity trends as seen on TV, movies and video games. Promoting traditional family values and noble purposes are not part of this program. The purpose of commercial Kung Fu is based on entertainment and sports. It is about feeling good and having fun on demand. Commercial Kung Fu styles are geared towards those who are influenced or victims of main stream media. Whenever there is a new popular market fad there will appear a new style of commercial Kung Fu to represent that fad. Many times it is difficult to determine between the two types of Kung Fu because commercial Kung Fu styles will often use the facade of the family lineage Kung Fu styles to give the impression that it is not commercial Kung Fu.
The style of Kung Fu that the Wong People teach is called "Jow Ga"(for information and history about this style of Kung Fu search key words Jow Ga, Chow Gar, Zhou Gia, or Chau Ga and read some of the many wonderful historical accounts of this Kung Fu style)
KUNG FU is NOT Entertainment or Recreation
KUNG FU is CULTURAL STUDY
General Kung Fu Program
Kung Fu classes are free to all members of the WONG PEOPLE KUNG FU ASSOCIATION
To become a member the annual membership fee is $150.00 per person
CLASS SCHEDULE is Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 7 PM - 8:30 PM
LOCATION: 218 Florida Ave NW, Washington DC 20001
PRIVATE LESSONS ARE SUBJECT TO SCHEDULING AVAILABLITY
STUDYING WITH THE WONG PEOPLE
THE NINE MOST IMPORTANT SECRETS OF KUNG FU THESE SECRETS PRINCIPLES HAVE BEEN PASSED ON FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS AND NOW THEIR BEING PASSED ON TO YOU
1) Know, understand, respect and maintain the purpose of Kung Fu. Kung Fu is a global endeavor, determine what your role is as a Kung Fu person and the importance of it.
2) Accept both mental and physical discomfort as part of Kung Fu training and daily life.
3) Do not make excuses for things you failed to do, instead apply more time and effort in practice and get things done correctly.
4) Always accept criticism in a positive way No matter how harsh it may be. Criticism is an extremely powerful tool if one knows how to use it.
5) Do not allow egotism and vanity to take control of your actions. This is a major obstacle that will prevent you from learning Kung Fu the proper way.
6) Be disciplined and consistent with your regularly scheduled practices, do not allow anything to interfere with your kung fu practice sessions.
7) Perseverance is when you keep practicing no matter how boring or hopeless it seem. You definitely know you have perseverance when you still practice though everyone around you is not and thinks you are crazy.
8) Do not get distracted and lose focus on the true purpose of Kung Fu. Things like TV, movies, video games, internet, your friends or any type of media that is designed to program and place thoughts in your mind to achieve a commercial means will distract you from your Kung Fu training.
9) If you cannot remember all of the above, then just try to remember and study number one and you will understand more about Kung Fu than many who have practiced for years.
Kung Fu began it's development during a time when maintaining a strong family structure was the life long goal of people. The skills of farming and hunting were the most important professional skills that everyone had to learn and master. People at that time lived in the wilderness where self-reliance and self-sufficiency were the keys to survival. It was vital that a family had to bond and work together in order to exist. There was no room for any dysfunctionality, every member of the family had their daily roles and responsibilities to carry out. Discipline, perseverance, patience, respect and withstanding hardships are the 5 Traditional Principles that had to be applied to everything everyday to insure the survival of the family.
Discipline, perseverance, patience, respect and withstanding physical/mental hardships are the 5 Traditional Principles that make up the timeless formula for success. Who ever used the 5 Traditional Principles correctly in farming, hunting and raising a family successfully survived and thrived. The ones who did not used the 5 Traditional Principles correctly as a result had more family problems and came short of the essentials needed for survival. These individuals had to rely on the goodwill of other families and eventually stole from others in order to survive. These lousy farmers eventually changed profession to become bandits. The need to develop defense against the bandits became part of the regimen of family teachings.
