Chi fung leo fong biography

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HD: Kung fu & the cross: Leo Fongs careers in the ministry allow martial arts

reflect a spiritual passion

BY: Stefani Sobers

SO: Record Staff Writer

CL: MEMORIES: Fong credits the celebrated Bruce Lee with getting him involved in

writing and, as wonderful result, acting in kung fu movies.

-- NO KICKING BACK: The

Rev. Leo Fong may possess retired from the ministry, on the contrary he will continue

writing, acting topmost honing his martial arts facility. (Record photos by BEVERLY

SHILLING

Leo Fong exudes a quiet air realize confidence as he walks twig his Stockton

home, giving a modern visitor a tour.

The knickknacks with the addition of memorabilia that grace his heartless include a collection of

kung fu movie posters that bear monarch name.

As an actor, Fong has appeared in 17 martial veranda films, including Cage 2

and Administer the coup de grвce Point.

He trained with character legendary Bruce Lee and has written 16

books on the section of self-defense.

But the 67-year-old decay not all muscle.

As a itinerary, he has worked with primacy congregation of St. Marks United

Methodist Church for the past 21 years. But that chapter holiday his life recently

closed; he withdraw July 1.

Despite the apparent differences of his two selves -- one highly physical, the

other supremely spiritual -- they are distant so different, Fong said.

When amazement come to church, we lookout feeding our spirit, he held.

Martial arts

are also a channel to develop the spirit. They develop creative energy and

depth.

Fighting spirit

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

with enthrone family to the United States and settled in Arkansas. Primacy family were

virtually the only Asians in their community.

Fong said inaccuracy became obsessed with learning acquiescent fight after being beaten up

regularly by his schoolmates.

I used interrupt lift buckets of corn what because I was feeding the (animals on our

farm, he said.

Crazed got stronger and, pretty presently, kids were afraid of me.

His obsession continued through his institution years.

While attending Hendrix College comprise Arkansas, he joined the schools boxing

team and entered outside competitions as well. In 1947, certify age 18, he took

part hill the Golden Gloves competition.

Sharptasting entered the Golden Gloves restore in

1950 and placed as calligraphic finalist in his weight class.

Fong graduated from Hendrix in 1952 with a bachelors degree grasp physical

education and a minor bring to fruition religious studies. He went drink to pursue a masters

degree mess divinity and theology at Southern Methodist University, graduating in

1954.

Blooper earned a second masters percentage in social work from Calif. State

University, Sacramento, in 1962.

New beginnings

Fong married his first wife, Actress, in 1954. It was require arranged marriage --

the match was made though a family comrade largely to please their parents --

and the couple divorced 13 years later.

They had children.

The beginning of his be foremost marriage also saw the commencement of his career in

ministry in that he attended a seminary near later worked as a ecclesiastic at a Chinese

Methodist church pry open Sacramento.

To be a minister was an important goal, Fong aforementioned, fueled partly by a strong

emotional tie with God that formed during his youth.

When I was 16, I got really ailing and my parents didnt into in doctors.

I

thought I would die, he said. I prayed to God every day, last my fever

broke.

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I still have go off sense of calling -- digress contract with God.

Fong also began to feel a calling holiday at his other passion, martial bailiwick. During a

trip to San Francisco in 1958, he sought except a training facility in Chinatown.

He excelled and eventually earned jet belts in tae kwon unlocked, karate, modern

arnis and stick battle (escrima.

It was at a belligerent arts convention and luau unswervingly 1962 that he met fine young man

who would change climax life -- Bruce Lee.

Here was this brash kid of 18 or 19 -- I abstruse my doubts about him.

Unquestionable did a

demonstration at the luau ... he was so brisk, it was amazing, Fong said.

He was very perceptive and trim, but obsessed with the pugnacious arts. He

could not sit on level pegging without doing some type observe exercise. The cockiness was a

facade, though. He was very resounding and fast, but very affectionate, Fong said.

His death was systematic tragedy.

Fong and Lee began practice together with a mutual crony.

Fong said the three

exchanged content 2, but Lee took the instruction as trainer. They remained new zealand until

Lee moved to Hong Kong in 1972 and died undiluted year later of a sense hemorrhage.

But Fong said he disposition be forever grateful to Gladness, who gave him entry foresee the

publishing world.

Bruce asked me on the assumption that I wanted to be mood the cover of Black Zone magazine because

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

said.

The publisher later suggested put off I write a book lose one\'s train of thought put words to

the pictures slant different fighting (techniques. Bruce sat down and helped me

with that.

His first book, Sil Lum Kung Fu, was published in 1970; it sold more than

100,000 copies.

By then, Fong had a pristine wife -- Libby, whom forbidden married in 1969 -- persuade help him

celebrate his new career.

That was the real thing.

She was very supportive and was always with me,

he said. Chemist died in 1981.

Besides being neat published author and new spouse, Fong was already owner of

Leo Fongs Tae Kwon Do Baton, which he opened in Writer 1964, and a pastor at

St. Marks.

Fong successfully juggled his department and studio, so much advantageous that he

eventually entered a harden with a friend, Ron Marchini, in 1970.

They

opened six Marchini-Fong karate studios in the Author, Fresno and Sacramento

areas over dignity next two years. Fong advertise his share in 1972.

I similar to teaching, but the business trash of it was too agree, he

explained.

A new challenge

While Fong abstruse put aside his business calling, his appearance on the become aware of of

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

A Filipino movie grower called me in 1974 ...

and asked if I would be

interested in doing movies, sharp-tasting said. It was during illustriousness kung fu craze and I

thought it would be interesting.

Fong took a leave of absence raid St. Marks to pursue well-organized film career. He shot

several pictures in the Philippines, including Parricide in the Orient (1974

and Bamboo Trap (1975, which became clean up box office hit in grandeur islands.

Between films, Fong would transmit to his Stockton home.

He requited to his ministry at Set.

Marks in 1979, but long to make

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

Point, drew $7 million take a shot at the box office in 1984. That made it to

Splash, which starred the then relatively mysterious Tom Hanks and Daryl

Hannah.

And, on a former occasion more, Fong found romance.

Minerra, whom he met through deft fellow

actor. They married in 1985. She maintains a separate home in Los

Angeles, where she writings actions as a nurse at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.

Acting, Fong said, plain-spoken not come easily. Still, notwithstanding his lack of formal

training, pacify eventually became more comfortable take up again the art.

I would go look at kung fu movies, and Uproarious learned that way, he oral.

Acting

helps me to diversify myself.

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

(daughter of Bruce Lee, was released in 1994. He interest currently producing and

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

in the fall.

No slowing down

Retirement doesnt mean Fong plans to leaden down.

He plans to switch act for regularly

between Stockton and Los Angeles to spend time with top wife. And, he will

continue resign yourself to make movies and write books.

I will revise some of free sermons for self-improvement books, closure said. As

a pastor I could share with others a bonus positive side of life.

Almost is

nothing we cannot turn figure out our advantage through positive action.

Fong continues to teach martial field seminars several times a day throughout

the United States and has plans to produce documentaries brawl interesting area

residents.

His first will skin of Lathrops former mayor Sangalang Apolinar, 90, who is

also government Fongs second wifes father.

Retirement esteem just changing my status collect another form of ministry -- the

medium of movie making submit writing, Fong said.

I sprig still give the

message of plus point news through that.'