From: doug@eng.umd.edu (Douglas N. Cohen)
Subject: Re: Wong Fei Hung  - Fact or Fiction?
Date: Thu, 15 Oct 92 20:14:57 GMT
Organization: hah!  we don't need no steenkin' organization!
Summary: 	-=-=-< observation >-=-=-
Followup-To:      doug:  <doug@eng.umd.edu> : <doug@lpf.umd.edu>
Keywords: 	-=-=-< fact >-=-=-
Cc: kwp@ukc.ac.uk


In article <1863@eagle.ukc.ac.uk> kwp@ukc.ac.uk (K.W.Pang) writes:

>
>
>Since I was a young kid, I have always heard stories of WFH. Stories of his
>excellence in the martial arts and his involvement in China's history.
>But since I have become older I have also become more sceptical about these
>"rumours".  
>
>Does anyone out there actually know the truth of WFH. Where did he come from
>(Fatsun...?), who was he, what MA did he practised (Hung Gar...?), and are 
>there still living students of WFH?

	not only was he a real person, but he is still alive today.  he used to
star in his own movies, a long time ago, and i would dearly love to get a
hold of these.  i actually know someone who grew up on these, in canton and
hong kong.
	he did, in fact, practice Hung Gar, and was the hero that he is
portrayed as, though not as flamboyant as the 'once upon a time in china'
made him out to be.
	he was a special emmisary of the transitional governments around the
beginning of the century, but as he traveled around, he found that he was in
a type of moral dilema, and in a position to really help the common people.
true to his martial arts training, he did try to help as many as he could,
but was constantly running afoul of the current political position, and was
constantly under attack, physically and politically by the government, who,
after putting him there, couldn't do much about him.....
	he did have many chances to meet with all kinds of people, and the
scene of him and yat sen sun, in the classroom, where he talks about chi,
is based in fact.
	the young actor who portrays him in the movie seems to have
captured the spirit of Wah Fei Hung, and i would like to think that while the
portrayal is a little exagerated, it pretty much captures the true hero aspect
of Wah Fei Hung, and the martial arts hero.....

>
>If you know, maybe you can direct me to the source of your knowledge.

	i have read many books, and the guy who has actually seen the movies
(with the *real* Wah Fei Hung) is one of the proprietiers(sp?) of mr. huang's
(a chinese and sushi resteraunt in laurel, maryland.... steve chan and dave
pipes, among others, know the place.....  friday, as usual, guys?  at the bar!)

>
>
>Kam. :-)
>
>P.S. How much of the HK movies depicting his life is true?

	his kung fu was reportedly *MUCH BETTER* than the actor's, but then...
the actor has made him much more famous to at least another generation, and
seems to not have disgraced the name or image.....
	i recommend the movies (2) very highly!  excellent.  especially in 
light of the discussions on the poor quality of available martial arts movies.
these are great!  (but captioned.....)  and quite exciting, clever, and well
acted and choreographed, as well as based in historical fact!
	another opinion, worth what you paid for it!
	and, as always, i am/at:

	     doug:  <doug@eng.umd.edu> : <doug@lpf.umd.edu>

	-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-< a ghost in the machine >-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

	"presidential elections are planned distractions
	 to divert attention from the actions behind the scenes....
	 like a game of chess when the house is a mess, or
	 a petty money squabble when your marriage is in trouble,
	 or a football game when there's rioting in the street!

	 it's just another movie.....  another song and dance.....
	 another poor sucker who never had a chance!
	 it's just another captain goin' down with his ship.....
	 it's just another jerk, taking pride in his work!

				       greetings from timbuck three!

Newsgroups: rec.martial-arts