My current instructor learned Longfist from a Sifu by the name of Femon Ong. Has any one heard of him or by chance know a lineage for this particular person?
Wasn’t he a Southern Shaolin guy that lived in Ohio? I thought he was one of John Allen’s teachers…Not sure tho…
I am a big beleiver in luck. The more I work, the more luck I have.
Fee Mon Ong
I have heard his name mentioned several times. He lived in Barbeton , Ohio and taught a style something like 5 Animal Shaolin. Im not 100% on this as it was handed to me from another.
Ive heard some great stories abot demos he did. He was a very strong teacher from what his students have said. Most of his students teach under Kwan Yin Do.
Hope this helps.
In Boston,
Dale Dugas
Feeman Ong was one of Green Dragon Studio’s John Allens teachers, as well as one of my senior Lung Ying/ Northern Shaolin Training Brothers. Legendary in Ohio. From Stories I’ve heard, It got so that at tournaments he would show up, no one would want to fight him, he’d be given 1st place, and then everyone else would fight for second. Had a Broad knowledge of different Kung Fu Systems, not just Southern 5 animal. Used to fight in tourneys with Tai Chi. Judging from my Si Hings pedigree and that of John Allens, Feeman Ong was the real deal.
Greetings,
In these tournaments were the allowed to make contact? From some articles i have read there was a time of transition in tournaments. From real heavy contact to the sport point competions you see at some tournaments. Did he really use tai chi? I also remember that CMA stylist were look at as they are good in forms, but didnt far well in sparring...until several CMA stylist started winning and getting recognized. I do know as you have stated that he did teach members of green dragon studios. Any info on this and Mr Ong? Hope to hear from you guys soon.
Johnny
Thanks for the input
Thank you to all those who replied, I dont suppose anyone has a photo of Feeman or knows his lineage off hand? I am trying to put together a photographic lineage chart for WU TANG Martial Art Association of Ohio. Although Feeman is not from wu tan styles as far as I know, my current instructor did train under him and he will be in the chart. Good men and women should be remembered. Thanks
Master Ong
Master Ong was a gift to the northern Ohio Chinese martial art community. He learned from Master Kao to sheng/Gao dao sheng,Master Lau/Lowand Master Ma. Master Kao is in his 80’s now and has knee surgury but he remains the leader of one of the better Long Fist Praying Mantis kung fu schools in Taiwan. If you ever wanted to contact the school it is at Wan-Hua District, Ch’ing Nien Road, Lane68,no. 30 B-1. Taipai, Taiwan R.O.C.Other info on Master ong may be seen on the Mantis Cave website.Cleveland /Akron area has a lot of great martial artists who are students of Master Ong,like Dave Wetzel, Bob Krueger,Stephen Ong.Master Ong taught a lot of material that some people feel is made up, I don’t know about that but if you believe in the teachings and do them you’ll see yourself advance in skills.
Master Kao’s stance exercises were some of the hardest I’ve ever experienced, I still wince, and it’s been 10 years…
Dear Michael Jacobs:
I arrived in Akron years after Femon Ong had died but knew a few of his students.
In the Sunday, October 15, 1972, Akron Beacon Journal the article is entitled PEACEFUL MAN WITH A LETHAL ART, by Mickey Porter has his story and pictures included. The article says he studied under:
- Liu Pie-Chung of Taiwan
According to the article, in 1972 Ong won the PRESIDENT’S CUP KAUSUT TOURNAMENT, the President being Chiang Kai-shek. The author states that Femon Ong was born in China, graduated high school in 1952, and went back and forth to Taiwan and China.
There was no relation with the Wu Tan Martial Arts Development Center of Taiwan. However, Master Kao was primarily a praying mantis teacher and was friends with Liu Yun Qiao and Tony Yang. Tony often ate with him and they taught near each other in the park in Taiwan. In the 1970s, Inside Kung Fu or Black Belt carried an article on Master Kao. I have seen the article but do not have a copy.
A friend of mine in his mid 70s (Taekwando) knew of Femon Ong and indicated he was the real deal. He is somewhat of a legend here in the Cleveland/Akron/Canton area and as you might guess, legends often become larger than life. Some hate him some love him, you know, so what else is new. I do not know his son personally, but I understand he continues to teach in Barberton.
I hope this helps.
Drunken1 RAF, Ong’s /Kao-tao-sheng forms
I’m curious about the history of Master Kao’s forms, which were definately part of Master Ong’s curriculum. For those who have contributed to this discussion, please ask your sifu’s for some history.When it comes to spelling,I’m probably making mistakes and there is also the problem of cantonese verse mandarin sounds and and having an English speaker attempting to put those sounds into words using the alphabet.
For example, some schools teach forms such as Shao fu yin and gok my gin,which may have a Cantonese pronunciation to them. I have heard there is a form called Xiao Hu Yan(Small Tiger Swallow) which is the first part of a 3 section form called Hu Yan Quan.
Master Kao taught 2 staff forms-PanLong Gwun(Coiling Dragon Staff) and Feng Mo Gwun(Crazy Demon Staff). The spear forms were Xiao Liuhe Qiang(Small 6 Harmony Spear) and Da Liuhe Qiang(Big 6 Harmony Spear). Are these similar in name to the forms taught in the Akron/Barberton area?
There are also forms such as the small body and the big body( small frame, big frame?)The 9 times with it’s lots of screaming loud tones and requiring herbs. Any info on these.
So it seems Master Kao’s forms are of northen shaolin origin but from a different lineage from Wong Jack Man/Wing Lam/Master Ku(?).
All errors if any are mine and I’d like to know more.
Pilgrim:
I cannot speak about Femon Ong’s lineage. Some of it looks like Northern long fist and the others I have seen looks like Southern forms.
All I know about Master Kao is that he taught 7 star praying mantis (primarily). I know the feng mo guen (from Tony Yang) so that sounds about right. Xiao Hu Yan, seems to be a combination of praying mantis and longfist we also teach Si Lu Ben Da (can’t remember the translation, 4 roads something). Most of our mantis is from Master Su Yu Zhang (Tony’s Uncle taught him meihua tanglang quan at an early age and GM Liu sent him to his gong fu brother for Liuhe tanglang quan).
I also heard that Femon Ong’s proper name was Femon Huang. Supposedly his other relatives spell it that way.
Femon Ong taught literally thousands of people in the Cleveland/Akron/Canton area and there are many stories about him, both good and bad. I knew one of his top students who was an underground fighter and he strongly believed in his material. I know others who feel they never got his gold after so many years.
Who can say?
My mistake regarding Master Kao. He taught Shuai Shou Tanglang Quan (Slapping hand praying mantis) and long fist. He learned somethings from Han Ching Tang.
He was a very nice person. Friendly, good heart.
Gao Dao Sheng
His book’s Si Lu Beng Da and Hsiao Hu Yen list his teacher as Wang Song Ting. A famous teacher from China who came to Taiwan in 1949
Feeman Ong/Small and Big Body/Iron Vest
Do any of you who train in the Small Body (maybe also called small frame) , can you ask your sifu of the histiry of this exercise. Also what about the Big Body(big frame)? Have you used herbs while training in the beginning? Do you know what any of the herbs are? Green Dragon calls the small body iron vest.
In the 1980s, prior to my formal association with Tony Yang, I met 3 different students who did the small body 3 different ways. One required no meat and no sex for, hmmmm, 90 days, I think? Another did not do this at all. Another guy did different exercises than the first guy and did them in a completely different tempo that made more sense than the guy doing the Vege/Sex limitations.
As a result of this confusion, I decided not to train in the system. I think that the only person who could answer your question is Steven Ong whom I do not know personally. Sometimes students have a tendency to take what their teachers give them and add their own spin on to it. Its bad because you never know what is correct and what is not correct
I am from the Akron area and have trained with one of Sifu Ong’s direct students and several of that lineage’s members in the past (70’s and 80’s). Also, my closest kung fu brother trained with the group for several years.
Many of the forms Sifu Ong taught were actually taken from other systems and drastically shortened. They have a version of Bung Bu from 7* Praying Mantis. Their “9 times” form is a bad version of the Hung Gar Iron Wire set. They also teach a form they call “Far Ken” which is a shortened version of a Choy Li Fut set. Plus, they have various animal sets (including monkey 
). They referred to their fist sets as “tokens” (fist way).
They place a heavy emphasis on Iron Palm which they call “Little Hand” and “Big Hand” and Iron Body. Their Iron Body instruction is top notch. I learned their Iron Body training in the middle 80’s from **** Pitts Jr., who was a student of Gene Chicoine. Mr. Chicoine was a student of Sifu Ong for a while.
The only weapons set I ever saw performed was a fan set.
Their students are typically rock solid from the training. Forms with applications were taught. However, sparring was forbidden. Some members engaged in bar fights and dojo storming in the past to test their skills.
Al Wasil took over the head of the system after the death of Sifu Ong.
Femon Ong’s Kwan Ying Do System:
Feeman Ong was
Feeman Ong taught a bunch of stuff, quite an experience being part of his kwan Ying do system, and I really mean that.
Who Feeman Ong was
I’ll go further with my statement. Those who know me know me for my bluntness.
Feeman Ong taught a bunch of stuff. When I was a younger person some 34/35 years ago, I was introduced to Feeman Ong’s Kwan Ying do, although it was named Kenpo Karate at that time, Nobody seemed to know what was what. Feeman Claimed to be one of the 10 tigers. 10 tigers of what? I have no Idea.
There where only 10 famouse figures whom I know of as 10 tigers, and Feemans name isn’t mentioned. He also claimed to be trained by the Shaolin Monks, and claimed he was a Shaolin monk, and to be the winner of several death matches while part of the famed Dragon fighting team. “never heard of it”. Claimed that the finish to one of his death matches was the removal of a still beating heart of his opponent. Anybody getting the Idea who Feeman Ong was? Claimed that The Monks at the temple in China knew of
everything going on at his studio’s and approved. Claimed that these same monks
where in the mountains picking rare Chinese herbs for his Iron Palm medicine that sold for $300 to $2100 dollars depending on which 1 gallon mix you purchased.
Never mind all that stuff about the cultural revolution. There where so many bizarre stories, Its a surprise I didn’t give up training altogether.
I will say the study of Feeman Ong’s kung fu without a doubt is the biggest waste of time a person could embark upon. Fraudulent training sets, pieces
parts of this and that. Iron Body training that Is not iron body training but part of the basic training for White crane. basic set after basic set. A mile wide and an inch deep.
To top it all off, the senior instructors that have been left behind in charge, Alex Wasil or Dr. Alex Wasil, what a load of crap, and the psychotic Robert Kruger,candidate for a rubber room
if there ever was.
These two Jackweeds have a complete inability to ever speak any truth.
completely incompetent in their understanding of the material they teach.
and they have no problem relieving students of their money while teaching
some rare qigong out a book that they picked up two weeks prior.
I have had an opportunity to meet several people over the years that trained with this group. I am embarressed for them when they demonstrate their stuff. Someone mentioned Richard Pitts Jr. a long time student and instructor
under Feeman Ong, I met one of this persons instructors who had eight years of training, This person had absolutely no skill and was on his way to getting hurt.
I asked him what have you been doing, his reply was that Mr. Pitts beats us,
because if you can take a beating you where one step up on others… I suppose?
I have trained with some of these people in my past at one time or another, what a waste of time. These people have ruined countless enthusiastic students.
I think if I hear one more time about how instructors from this group can teleport themselves across town while in some meditative state, honest to God I may
hit that person.
I dont know about the monks, but many authentic schools knew what was going on in Akron, Instructors in San Francisco laughed and refered to the training here as Chop Suey. I call it Crap. It was quite a cult in the day, still is but not as much. Allen and the rest of them are no better, forms pirates, that prey on
the unknowing.
Did people work hard, you bet, like freeken animals! It is a shame that this got into the hands of such ripoff artists,
Some of these folks have gone on to better themselves and get training that is legit, God bless em, I’ll leave them to speak if they so desire.
You fight how you train an old kung fu saying goes. Holding stances and practicing *******ized forms for 10 years just wont cut it. Feeman never trained any fighters, The people who could fight, could fight before they met Feeman and thats the cold truth of the matter. Kung fu is for the average person to be able to
survive against a more potent adversary. I actually witnessed two students with over 6 years of training each get the snot beat of them in a garage kickboxing match against a person with less than eight months of training. If anything the training these guys had, was what got them snot kicked.
Ive seen dozens of posts over the years on this subject, well here is your firsthand account. you no longer need to speculate an Feeman Ong and his
group of inept instructors.
I could go on and on, but I’ll let you guys chew on this for a while
Greetings,
Gongli,
On the six hour Q&A tape from Green Dragon, Sifu Allen gave me the impression that he was more than a little spooked by the metaphysical aspects of training that Master Ong taught. That being said, did you learn the Golden Buddha Meditation? Would you please share what it is about and share your experiences with it?
Thank you and welcome to the forum.
mickey