Master Raymond K. Wong was born in Kwangtung, China and moved to Hong Kong when he was three years old. From childhood, Master Wong expressed interest in the martial arts. As such, he began his training in the My Jong Law Horn style of Kung Fu when he was eight years old under the direct tutelage of Grandmaster Yip, Yu-Ting, at South China Athletic Association. Master Wong’s intelligence and devoted promoted Master Wong to the position of assistant instructor at the age of fifteen. Master Wong continued his hard training until Grandmaster Yip passed away in December 1962. At that point, Master Wong reflected in one of Grandmaster Yip’s teachings: The study of martial arts resembles a sampan traveling upstream. If you don’t work hard, you’ll be carried downstream by the current.” Master Wong continued practicing the My Jong Law Horn training were not left unnoticed by Grandmaster Yip who promoted Master Wong to the position of assistant instructor at the age of fifteen. Master Wong continued his hard training until Grandmaster Yip passed away in December 1962. At that point, Master Wong reflected in one of Grandmaster Yip’s teachings: "The study of martial arts resembles a sampan traveling upstream. If you don’t work hard, you’ll be carried downstream by the current.” Master Wong continued practicing the My Jong Law Horn style of Kung Fu but in addition, also decided on exploring other martial arts systems. He kept an open mind to understand more from other styles. He subsequently studied a few years of Hung Gar (Tiger and Crane) style under Grandmaster Lam Jo, a short period of Yao Kung Mun under Grandmaster Har Kwok Chen, three years with Wu Don Tai Chi – Leong Yi (Ying and Yang) style of Tai Chi under Grandmaster Chan Chim, and obtained a Judo 2nd degree black belt in 1965. In 1968, Master Wong met Chiu Jook-Kai who was the Grandmaster of the Tai Chi Praying Mantis style. Grandmaster Chiu was already 68 years old at that time, but was healthy and active. Grandmaster Chiu had just returned to Hong Kong after spending over twenty years in Vietnam. Master Wong became a disciple of Grandmaster Chiu and began training in the Tai Chi Praying Mantis system. In September 1969 master Wong would immigrate to the United States. On January 1970, Master Wong returned to Hong Kong in order to further his studies with Grandmaster Chiu Jook-Kai. Master Wong would spend daytimes at the Grandmaster’s studio learning and assisting with patients in acupuncture, bone setting, and Chinese herbal medicine, while during the evenings he would train in the Tai Chi Praying Mantis curriculum. In 1972, Master Wong returned to the United States and co-founded the Tai Chi Praying Mantis Kung Fu Association in the San Francisco area along with two fellow kung fu practitioners and friends: Master Paul Eng and Master Kam Yuen. A year later, Master Wong and Master Yuen moved down to the Los Angeles area to continue teaching and promoting the Chinese traditional martial arts. Subsequently they established a number of studios throughout Southern California now it is called the Tai Mantis Association in the Los Angeles area. But the Tai Mantis Associations are around the world besides here in Lomita. In the early part of the 1980’s, Master Wong also created the My Jong Law Horn (Mi Tzon Lo Han) Kung Fu Association to continue promoting the art of Grandmaster Yip, Yu-Ting. Over the years, Master Raymond K. Wong has performed a number of demonstrations and has also been featured in numerous martial arts magazine including Black Belt, Karate, and Inside Kung Fu. Master Wong has been training, teaching, and promoting the traditional art of Chinese kung fu for over fifty years and is a true walking encyclopedia of the Chinese culture. Those who have witnessed his performances applauded his graceful movements, power speed, agility, peacefulness, spirit, and mastery of weaponry. Master Raymond K. Wong’s journey into the world of martial arts has been filled with dedication, persistence, focus, tradition, and effort. His students and grand students are spread across the United States and continue to pass on the arts handed down to them by Master Wong.
