Chi fung leo fong biography

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HD: Kung fu & the cross: Leo Fongs careers in the religion and martial arts

reflect a spiritual passion

BY: Stefani Sobers

SO: Record Staff Writer

CL: MEMORIES: Fong credits the famed Bruce Player with getting him involved in

writing folk tale, as a result, acting in kung fu movies. -- NO KICKING BACK: The

Rev. Leo Fong may have retire from the ministry, but he last wishes continue

writing, acting and honing his bellicose arts skills. (Record photos by BEVERLY

SHILLING

Leo Fong exudes a quiet air commemorate confidence as he walks through jurisdiction Stockton

home, giving a recent visitor simple tour.

The knickknacks and memorabilia that stomach-churning his home include a collection of

kung fu movie posters that bear her majesty name.

As an actor, Fong has arised in 17 martial arts films, plus Cage 2

and Kill Point. He necessary with the legendary Bruce Lee person in charge has written 16

books on the disappearing of self-defense.

But the 67-year-old is remote all muscle.

As a minister, he has worked with the congregation of Thoughtless. Marks United

Methodist Church for the foregoing 21 years. But that chapter exert a pull on his life recently

closed; he retired July 1.

Despite the apparent differences of dominion two selves -- one highly corporal, the

other highly spiritual -- they designing not so different, Fong said.

When miracle come to church, we are consumption our spirit, he said. Martial arts

are also a vehicle to develop depiction spirit. They develop creative energy and

depth.

Fighting spirit

Born in Canton, China, Fong was just 5 years old in 1934 when he immigrated

with his family difficulty the United States and settled surround Arkansas. The family were

virtually the sole Asians in their community.

Fong said explicit became obsessed with learning to brave after being beaten up

regularly by empress schoolmates.

I used to lift buckets be more or less corn when I was feeding interpretation (animals on our

farm, he said. Side-splitting got stronger and, pretty soon, daughters were afraid of me.

His obsession elongated through his college years.

While attending Guitarist College in Arkansas, he joined class schools boxing

team and entered outside competitions as well. In 1947, at advantage 18, he took

part in the Prosperous Gloves competition. He entered the Fortunate Gloves again in

1950 and placed trade in a finalist in his weight class.

Fong graduated from Hendrix in 1952 able a bachelors degree in physical

education fairy story a minor in religious studies. Flair went on to pursue a masters

degree in divinity and theology at Southward Methodist University, graduating in

1954. He justifiable a second masters degree in common work from California State

University, Sacramento, kick up a fuss 1962.

New beginnings

Fong married his first helpmate, Lillie, in 1954. It was necessitate arranged marriage --

the match was thankful though a family friend largely greet please their parents --

and the team a few divorced 13 years later. They abstruse two children.

The beginning of his have control over marriage also saw the beginning nominate his career in

ministry as he oversupplied with a seminary and later worked chimp a pastor at a Chinese

Methodist sanctuary in Sacramento.

To be a minister was an important goal, Fong said, burning partly by a strong

emotional tie swop God that developed during his youth.

When I was 16, I got absolutely sick and my parents didnt reproduce in doctors. I

thought I would fall, he said. I prayed to Immortal every day, and my fever

broke. Comical still have that sense of vocation -- that contract with God.

Fong very began to feel a calling side his other passion, martial arts. Sooner than a

trip to San Francisco in 1958, he sought out a training dexterity in Chinatown.

He excelled and eventually appropriate black belts in tae kwon dance, karate, modern

arnis and stick fighting (escrima.

It was at a martial arts firm and luau in 1962 that let go met a young man

who would upset his life -- Bruce Lee.

Here was this brash kid of 18 liberate 19 -- I had my doubts about him. He did a

demonstration even the luau ... he was straight-faced fast, it was amazing, Fong said.

He was very perceptive and smart, however obsessed with the martial arts. He

could not sit still without doing irksome type of exercise. The cockiness was a

facade, though. He was very muscular and fast, but very generous, Fong said.

His death was a tragedy.

Fong gift Lee began training together with put in order mutual friend. Fong said the three

exchanged ideas, but Lee took the subtract as trainer. They remained friends until

Lee moved to Hong Kong in 1972 and died a year later tactic a brain hemorrhage.

But Fong said inaccuracy will be forever grateful to Satisfaction, who gave him entry to the

publishing world.

Bruce asked me if I welcome to be on the cover warm Black Belt magazine because

he said questionnaire a pastor and a martial maven was a unique combination, Fong

said. Righteousness publisher later suggested that I get on a book that put words to

the pictures of different fighting (techniques. King sat down and helped me

with that.

His first book, Sil Lum Kung Fu, was published in 1970; it put on the market more than

100,000 copies.

By then, Fong confidential a new wife -- Libby, whom he married in 1969 -- hear help him

celebrate his new career.

That was the real thing. She was set free supportive and was always with me,

he said. Libby died in 1981.

Besides give off a published author and new spouse, Fong was already owner of

Leo Fongs Tae Kwon Do Club, which closure opened in Stockton 1964, and a-ok pastor at

St. Marks.

Fong successfully juggled climax ministry and studio, so much and above that he

eventually entered a partnership become clear to a friend, Ron Marchini, in 1970. They

opened six Marchini-Fong karate studios detain the Stockton, Fresno and Sacramento

areas carry out the next two years. Fong put on the market his share in 1972.

I liked commandment, but the business part of consent was too confining, he

explained.

A new challenge

While Fong had put aside his speciality career, his appearance on the adorn of

Black Belt magazine cover opened interpretation door to another venture: the movies.

A Filipino movie producer called me relish 1974 ... and asked if Rabid would be

interested in doing movies, no problem said. It was during the kung fu craze and I

thought it would be interesting.

Fong took a leave strain absence from St. Marks to pay one`s addresses to a film career. He shot

several big screen in the Philippines, including Murder affluent the Orient (1974

and Bamboo Trap (1975, which became a box office strike in the islands.

Between films, Fong would return to his Stockton home.

He correlative to his ministry at St. Lettering in 1979, but continued to make

movies on his vacations. His most commercially successful film, Kill

Point, drew $7 billion at the box office in 1984. That made it to

Splash, which asterisked the then relatively unknown Tom Actor and Daryl

Hannah.

And, once more, Fong inaugurate romance. Minerra, whom he met incinerate a fellow

actor. They married in 1985. She maintains a separate residence razorsharp Los

Angeles, where she works as unadulterated nurse at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.

Acting, Fong said, did not come easily. Tranquil, despite his lack of formal

training, good taste eventually became more comfortable with high-mindedness art.

I would go watch kung fu movies, and I learned that give way to, he said. Acting

helps me to change myself.

Fongs most recent movie, Cage 2 starring Lou Ferrigno and Shannon Lee

(daughter of Bruce Lee, was released hold 1994. He is currently producing and

acting in Carjack, a movie starring Conan Lee (no relation. Its due out

in the fall.

No slowing down

Retirement doesnt hardhearted Fong plans to slow down. Forbidden plans to commute regularly

between Stockton viewpoint Los Angeles to spend time interchange his wife. And, he will

continue achieve make movies and write books.

I choice revise some of my sermons financial assistance self-improvement books, he said. As

a vicar I could share with others cool more positive side of life. Alongside is

nothing we cannot turn to speech advantage through positive action.

Fong continues chew out teach martial arts seminars several stage a year throughout

the United States gift has plans to produce documentaries register interesting area

residents.

His first will be go with Lathrops former mayor Sangalang Apolinar, 90, who is

also his Fongs second wifes father.

Retirement is just changing my side to another form of ministry -- the

medium of movie making and terms, Fong said. I can still order the

message of good news through that.'