Ted Wong - Martial Arts

Martial Arts

Wong's first encounter with 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 Gregory Smith, Teri Tom, Stefan Nikander, Richard Torres, Georgio Sirag, James Ter Beek, Bill Muttucci, Bob Landers, Tommy Gong, Tommy Carruthers, Patrick Chan Yu-Tin, Joaquin Marcelo, Lewis Luk, Albert Grajales (INTERPOL) 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.