The 5 Animals Form Book

At 30 years of age, Grandmaster Frank Yee (Yee Chi Wai), third generation disciple of the authentic teachings of Wong Fei Hung in Hung Ga Kung Fu, wondered what contribution could he leave in the world, what mark could he make in history, what would last through the ages. He realized that books have survived hundreds of years only to be rediscovered over and over again. This is what he decided to do. There was no publication on the third form of the system, Ng Ying Kuen, (also known as the Five Shape Fist or the Five Animals form) that holds the essence of the entire system. But even though the idea enveloped, Grandmaster Frank Yee, he knew it was too soon.

Grandmaster Yee has a brilliant engineering mind and has innovated the art of Hung Ga Kung Fu in so many ways! He has refined his art in such detail on a daily basis that his mind is like the age old manuscript "The Book of Changes" , constantly changing and evolving. Not a day goes by that he does not think about ways to improve his art. His earlier thoughts back when the idea for a publication entered his mind on the Five Animals form was; "How could I write this book when I am still constantly developing my martial art?"

It is now more than 30 years later. The contributions Grandmaster Yee has made to Hung Ga, and the accomplishments set forth since then are incredible. This year, marked the founding of the World Hung Kuen Association , which has brought together all the lineages that have sprung forth across the world, from the famous Chinese Hero Wong Fei Hung.  Grandmaster Yee thought is was finally time to accomplish the writing of and completing the book he had the idea for,  so many years ago.

The original deadline was set for December 2015! But to this Grandmaster, nothing was near to impossible. He planned to have the book completed, edited, pictures and all by the middle of August of 2014. The masters, disciples, students worked diligently together to accomplish the task and Grandmaster Yee was very resourceful to getting what he needed for the pictures, and the explanations, and the interpretations from Cantonese and English, proper information, etc.

My master, Grandmaster Yee's disciple whom he adopted to pass the lineage on, Sifu Pedro Cepero Yee was editor in chief. Sifu spent hours and hours reading and rereading and editing and making sure every detail was accounted for. He was in constant communication with Grandmaster Yee. One night Sifu was over by me and I think Grandmaster Yee called three times from China that night to go over details! With the long hours and hard work of all the masters, disciples, and students, the book was completed and ready for the publication process.

By September 24, 2014, the Five Animals Form Book was published printed and received! I have my own copy now and it is one of the most extensive training manuals I have ever seen. The history, the philosophy, the technical, the application and explanation, it is absolutely phenomenal! So utterly impressive. Other martial arts masters who have the book that I have seen comment on it all are in agreement: one of the best publications in the art, let alone in martial arts they have ever seen!

For more information on this historic and professional piece of work, go to www.yeeshungga.com. I am proud to be a part of this tradition that goes back so far. I love to study martial arts, but also in ones history. Grandmaster Frank Yee once said at a ceremony I was present at in 2012 "Tradition is important, but so is innovation." He and Sifu Pedro Yee do a phenomenal job at keeping this art so innovative while instilling and keeping alive the traditional values and I am proud to be a part of it. I congratulate both Sifu, Sigung, and the rest of the people who worked so hard on this book!

This November, Sifu will be going to China for the first World Hung Kuen tournament being held in Xiqiao, Foshan, China at the Emperor Palace, National Arts Studio. (BOWS)

Yours in service,
MASTER A TRENTO