Ted Wong
Encyclopedia
Ted Wong was a martial arts
practitioner best known for studying under Bruce Lee
.
was in 1967, in Los Angeles, California
, where Lee was giving a Kung Fu seminar. Wong had no martial arts training, and was interested in western boxing
and some martial arts. He was so impressed by Lee, however, that he decided to study at Lee's kwoon
, the Jun Fan Gung Fu Institute in Los Angeles. Shortly after beginning his studies, Lee accepted Wong as a private student. Wong became Lee's sparring partner and close friend.
Wong was present as Lee developed Jun Fan Gung Fu into Jeet Kune Do
. He was present to see Lee train other martial artists, including Karate
Champion Joe Lewis
and basketball star Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
. Wong was one of only a few people to receive rank in the art of Jeet Kune Do by Bruce Lee. Wong never learned another martial art besides what Lee had taught him, thus he never taught anything other than what he learned .
Wong gave seminars and continued to teach privately until his death. He coauthored several books about Jeet Kune Do. Some of his students included Bruce Lee’s daughter Shannon Lee
. Wong was a lifetime board member of the Bruce Lee Foundation and the Jeet Kune Do Society.
Ted Wong had a core group of long-time students whom he certified as instructors such as Teri Tom, Richard Torres, Georgio Sirag, James Ter Beek, Bill Muttucci, Bob Landers, Tommy Gong, Tommy Carruthers, Patrick Chan Yu-Tin, Albert Grajales, Joaquin Marcelo, Lewis Luk
and others around the world. These instructors are continuing practice the JKD as taught by Ted Wong, as taught to him by Bruce Lee, at their own locations.
Ted Wong was inducted into Black Belt magazine's Hall of Fame as the "Man of the Year" in 2006.
Martial arts
Martial arts are extensive systems of codified practices and traditions of combat, practiced for a variety of reasons, including self-defense, competition, physical health and fitness, as well as mental and spiritual development....
practitioner best known for studying under Bruce Lee
Bruce Lee
Bruce Lee was a Chinese American, Hong Kong actor, martial arts instructor, philosopher, film director, film producer, screenwriter, and founder of the Jeet Kune Do martial arts movement...
.
Early life
Wong was born in Hong Kong in 1937. His father, a native Californian of Chinese descent, was stationed there while serving in the US Navy. His family moved back to San Francisco, California in 1953 and a few years later to San Diego. After completing high school and college, Wong served in the US Army as a Lieutenant for 2 years in West Germany. After serving, he returned to San Diego in 1962.Martial arts
Wong's first encounter with Bruce LeeBruce Lee
Bruce Lee was a Chinese American, Hong Kong actor, martial arts instructor, philosopher, film director, film producer, screenwriter, and founder of the Jeet Kune Do martial arts movement...
was in 1967, in Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
, where Lee was giving a Kung Fu seminar. Wong had no martial arts training, and was interested in western boxing
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
and some martial arts. He was so impressed by Lee, however, that he decided to study at Lee's kwoon
Kwoon
A kwoon is a training hall for Chinese martial arts.According to A Chinese-English Dictionary 1978, from Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press , the word guǎn can also mean1) Accommodation for guests;2) Embassy, legation or consulate;3) shop;4) A place for...
, the Jun Fan Gung Fu Institute in Los Angeles. Shortly after beginning his studies, Lee accepted Wong as a private student. Wong became Lee's sparring partner and close friend.
Wong was present as Lee developed Jun Fan Gung Fu into Jeet Kune Do
Jeet Kune Do
Jeet Kune Do is a hybrid martial arts system and life philosophy founded by martial artist Bruce Lee with direct, non classical and straightforward movements. Due to the way his style works they believe in minimal movement with maximum effect and extreme speed. The system works on the use of...
. He was present to see Lee train other martial artists, including Karate
Karate
is a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Islands in what is now Okinawa, Japan. It was developed from indigenous fighting methods called and Chinese kenpō. Karate is a striking art using punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes, and open-handed techniques such as knife-hands. Grappling, locks,...
Champion Joe Lewis
Joe Lewis (martial arts)
Joe Lewis is an American kickboxer, point karate fighter, and actor. As a fighter, Lewis gained fame for his matches in the 1960s and 1970s. He has twice been voted the greatest fighter in karate history, and has attained the titles of "United States Heavyweight Kickboxing Champion," "World...
and basketball star Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is a retired American professional basketball player. He is the NBA's all-time leading scorer, with 38,387 points. During his career with the NBA's Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers from 1969 to 1989, Abdul-Jabbar won six NBA championships and a record six regular season...
. Wong was one of only a few people to receive rank in the art of Jeet Kune Do by Bruce Lee. Wong never learned another martial art besides what Lee had taught him, thus he never taught anything other than what he learned .
Wong gave seminars and continued to teach privately until his death. He coauthored several books about Jeet Kune Do. Some of his students included Bruce Lee’s daughter Shannon Lee
Shannon Lee
Shannon Emery Lee is an American actress. She is the daughter of martial artist and actor Bruce Lee and Linda Lee Cadwell, and the younger sister of Brandon Lee.-Personal life:...
. Wong was a lifetime board member of the Bruce Lee Foundation and the Jeet Kune Do Society.
Ted Wong had a core group of long-time students whom he certified as instructors such as Teri Tom, Richard Torres, Georgio Sirag, James Ter Beek, Bill Muttucci, Bob Landers, Tommy Gong, Tommy Carruthers, Patrick Chan Yu-Tin, Albert Grajales, Joaquin Marcelo, Lewis Luk
Lewis Luk
Lewis Luk Tei FKC , Hong Kong based businessman, son of the late Toy Industrialist Dr. Luk Chung Lam - Chairman of Harbour Ring International Holdings Limited and Hutchison Harbour Ring Limited...
and others around the world. These instructors are continuing practice the JKD as taught by Ted Wong, as taught to him by Bruce Lee, at their own locations.
Ted Wong was inducted into Black Belt magazine's Hall of Fame as the "Man of the Year" in 2006.