Meet Francis Fong of Francis Fong’s Academy of Martial Arts in Johns Creek

Today we’d like to introduce you to Francis Fong.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I have over 50 years of experience in Wing Chun Kung Fu. In addition to actively teaching students at my academy, I have trained both amateur and professional fighters for competitions, appeared in movies and television, and traveled both internationally and throughout the U.S. to teach martial arts seminars, as well as conduct innovative business leadership and motivational seminars for major corporations.

I was born and raised in Hong Kong, and began training in martial arts when I was 12 years old. The promise of competition first attracted me to a Tae Kwon Do school, as well as Judo and WuShu. Several years into my martial arts training, a school friend introduced me to the art of Wing Chun Kung Fu. I was selected into a closed-door school led by Sifu (which means “teacher/father”) Jiu Wan, a well-known instructor who had immigrated to Hong Kong from Southern China.

Sifu Jiu Wan and Yip Man (considered by many to be the father of Modern Wing Chun as well as Bruce Lee’s Wing Chun instructor) studied martial arts together at the Jing Mo Guen in Foshan. It was considered one of the most elite institutions in southern China, dedicated solely to the highest levels of martial arts training.

Yip Man left early, completing the Wing Chun system elsewhere, and was the first to teach Wing Chun in Hong Kong. Sifu Jiu Wan went on to become a teacher at the Jing Mo Guen. When the communists came to China, Sifu Jiu Wan went to Hong Kong and joined Yip Man’s organization. My early training under Sifu Jiu Wan as very traditional and old-fashioned training, with a LOT of sticky hands training (Chi Sao).

In 1973, I came to the U.S. from Hong Kong in search of new opportunities. I went to college in Canada and then moved to Connecticut for work. On the weekends and summers, I would travel down to New York City to train with one of my Wing Chun brothers. I moved to Atlanta, GA in 1975, and established my own school teaching Wing Chun Kung Fu in 1976.

In 1981, I was asked by film coordinator Bobby Bass to help choreograph the fight scenes for the movie Sharkey’s Machine. It was during this filming that I met up with Sifu Dan Inosanto (Bruce Lee’s well-known student and successor). This led to a lifelong friendship with Sifu Dan and a sharing of our mutual respect and interest in the martial arts. Sifu Dan later introduced me to Ajarn (Master) “Chai” Sirisute (the first native Thai instructor to offer Thai boxing in America). I then began to further explore mastering other systems.

Throughout the years, my open-mindedness and desire to explore other arts led me to include Filipino Kali/Escrima, Jeet Kune Do, Muay Thai and Grappling arts, such as Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Shooto, alongside of the Wing Chun curriculum taught at the Academy.

I am currently the ‘Georgia Representative’ for Guro Dan Inosanto with full ‘Senior Instructor’ rankings in both Filipino Martial Arts and Lee Jun Fan Gung Fu and Jeet Kune Do. Additionally, I am a Senior Full Instructor in Muay Thai under Ajarn Chai Sirisute.

I am an honorable member of the Defensive Tactics Instructor Association of the state of Georgia, and have been a certified ‘Head Police Defensive Tactics Instructor’, having trained police officers, S.W.A.T. teams, and “Fort Benning Rangers” in close quarters tactics.

Due to my diverse background and experience, the U.S. Army sought my help in updating Army training manuals to include principles in the arts of Wing Chun, Muay Thai and Filipino Kali. I maintain ‘Special Deputy Sheriff’ classification in the Training/Special Operations Division in the state of South Carolina.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I had a successful location in Duluth on Satellite Boulevard for years, but then I had to move the Academy because a car dealership purchased the land. I moved to Norcross, but it was difficult for many people to find the location. Now, I have relocated to Johns Creek. I feel that this is the best location for our students. We have a beautiful facility with plenty of parking, and the Academy has a family atmosphere. I also am very proud of our Academy Team. My Academy Team Members demonstrate loyalty, good character, respect and honor. These traits are the foundation for leaders.

Please tell us about Francis Fong’s Academy of Martial Arts.
Our mission is to help our students improve themselves using the martial arts as a vehicle for personal growth and development. This improvement, change and growth will come in many ways. We want to provide our students with a non-threatening, safe, organized and professional place to train. The student’s individual progress is our focus of attention. Giving exceptional service to our students will come back to our Academy in many ways. This is why our Academy Team Members continue to be students. We take classes, attend seminars and continually work to improve our ability to help others reach their goals. Teachers who only teach and don’t train themselves will soon be drained and become stagnant in their own growth.

We believe that martial arts not only teach good safety skills, but character development that our students can take with them for the rest of their lives. We partner with parents to assist them with the challenges that occur with their children. Here at our Academy we have mat chats that discuss character, respect, discipline, the right way to handle anger, what to do if a stranger approaches, and the effects of bullying. The beauty of learning martial arts is that it encompasses not just the physical aspect, but mental and emotional lessons as well. The children in our classes learn valuable life lessons and skills to take throughout life. We use martial arts as a tool to build self-confidence, self-esteem, self-discipline, respect, concentration and courtesy.

Our 4 and 5-year old students receive basic punching and kicking skills, and the beginning aspects of protecting themselves on the ground. Coordination skills, learning about controlling themselves, manners, what a stranger is, appropriate ways to deal with anger, sharing and a host of other character building skills are focused on.

Our older children receive a combination of all of the martial arts systems that we teach to our adults, as well as character lessons and physical fitness/coordination skills. Each program requires better skills and techniques, as well as good grades and a positive attitude both at home and at school.

It’s never too late to get started! Even for adults! Adults sometimes don’t realize how they, too, can benefit from these diverse activities. And they may someday encounter a situation where they need to know how to protect themselves. The main goal of Martial Arts training is, above all, self-improvement.

From the very beginning, we emphasize self-control, self-confidence, and self-achievement as the real goals of Martial Arts training. Our instructors are here to help each student along the way. They emphasize and teach a solid philosophy of discipline, respect and goal setting. In turn, our students feel success, attain results, and achieve recognition as their skills develop and progress.

Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
Some of my favorite memories include spending Christmas and Chinese New Year with my family in Hong Kong. At Christmas time, we attended great parties and the decorations were always so beautiful. And during Chinese New Year, we always had a family reunion. You see your relatives that you normally don’t see during the year. And then you collect lucky money from your elders (your parents, grandparents, aunts/uncles, etc.). Lucky money is a symbol for energy, happiness and good luck. We are given money in red envelopes and it signifies luck and good wishes.

Contact Info:

• Address: 11035 Medlock Bridge Rd
  Suite 10
  Johns Creek, GA 30097
• Website: www.francisfongacademy.com
• Phone: 770-623-4997
• Email: francisfongacademy@gmail.com
• Instagram: francisfongacademy
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fongacademy
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/FrancisFongAcad

Image Credit:
Tracey Fong, Kevin Lee, Stephen Grantham