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Master Garret Gee
Garrett Gee stands the eighth generation disciple of the Hung Fa Yi Wing Chun System taught under Grandmaster Dr. Ming Wang. Further more, Garrett Gee was born in a multi-generational martial arts family renowned for intellectual leadership, statesmanship, and excellence in martial arts and military matters. His historical lineage dates back to the Song Dynasty where his ancestor, Zhu Xi, had a profound influence on Chinese philosophical development for generations through his expositions on logical thought and scientific rationale. Sifu Loewenhagen is the first Hung Fa Yi Wing Chun Disciple of the 10th Generation of Hung Fa Yi Practitioners and teachers. At the age of 5, Garrett Gee
Garrett Gee comes from a family line renowned for intellectual leadership, statesmanship, and excellence in martial arts and military matters. Dating back 33 generations in Garrett Gee's direct ancestral line was Zhu Xi. Zhu Xi, one of the most prominent philosophers in all of Chinese history. Zhu Xi played a pivotal role in the revival of Confucianism through the establishment of advanced academic institutions, active public correspondence with fellow scholars, publication of close to 100 books, and instruction of personal disciples who achieved broad public acceptance in their own rights. In addition to his enlightening commentaries on Confucianism, Zhu Xi profoundly influenced Chinese philosophical development for generations through his expositions on logical thought and scientific rationale. An Imperial decree in 1251, decades after Zhu Xi's death, designated several of his published commentaries as required reading for all government students. During the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Xi was officially elevated to the stature of Confucius and his birth was celebrated twice yearly. Even the finest ancient academies of scholarly study in surrounding Asian countries, such as Korea, still focus their curriculums around the writings and philosophies of Zhu Xi.
In more modern times, Garrett Gee's grandfather, Chu Jun-Bak was a renowned military leader who served as an instructor at Wong Bo Military School, the foremost military academy in China. Won Bo's prominence equates to the status of West Point in the United States. Chu Jun-Bak's actually shared leadership at the Wong Bo Military School with Chiang Kai Shek in the early 1920s. Chu Jun-Bak then moved to Fatshan where his military and political acumen led to his service as Chief of Police and later as Deputy Mayor of Fatshan. Further political influence was curtailed upon the rise of Mao Tse-Tung and the Communist takeover of China.
(Meng San Chien) Benny Meng (maahng hing fùng) began his Ving Tsun Gùng Fuh (wihng cheùn gùng fuh) training in Hong Kong in 1982 under the movie star Sì Fuh Lee Hoi Sang, a student of Jiu Wan (jìu wáhn). Jiu Wan had completed training in the Ving Tsun system through Chàhn Yúh Mìhnin Chinaprior to beginning his training with Yip Man. Chàhn Yúh Mìhn was the son of Chahn Wàh Seuhn.In 1994, Benny Meng began another journey through the system with Sì Fuh Moy Yat, this time in private lessons. The goal of both the teacher and student was to examine the details and deeper aspects of the art form in totality as only a Master and his disciple can. These intense private lessons were completed in 1995. With Moy Yat's blessing, Benny Meng began another journey through the system in 1995 via extensive private lessons with his Sì Baak (gùng fuh uncle), Sì Fuh Yip Ching. This course of study was completed in November of 1997. Benny Meng has also trained with his Sì Baaks, Chu Shong Tin and Yip Chun. In 1998, Benny Meng was certified as a Senior Instructor by the Ving Tsun Athletic Association of the Yip Man lineage in Hong Kong.In addition to the learning from those listed above, Benny Meng participated in numerous training experiences elsewhere in the Yip Man lineage with members of the William Cheung and Ho Kam Ming families.The above training gave Benny Meng a comprehensive understanding of the system passed on by Yip Man. To broaden his knowledge of the original system, he sought further training from lineages separate from Yip man. Benny Meng had the privilege of studying under Sì Fuh Garret Gee in 1998 and became his disciple in Hung Fa Yi Wing Chun.
(Meng Lai Tsut) (Ving Yat) A respected military strategist, tactician, leader, and teacher, Richard Loewenhagen, Lt Col, USAF (Ret.) has dedicated over 30 years to the study and practice of leadership and martial arts. While a commissioned officer of the United States Air Force, he taught Wing Chun Kung Fu and Shaolin Chin Na to combat and security police personnel. The school he founded, Meng's Martial Arts of Arizona, is an official Hung Fa Yi Wing Chun School, an official Moy Yat Family Ving Tsun Branch School, and the West Coast Affiliate of the Ving Tsun Museum. It is also one of the largest full-time Wing Chun Kung Fu schools in North America with an active adult membership in excess of 300 students. In July 2000 his school was chosen for the prestigious Top 200 Schools of North America award out of more than 19,000 contenders. Currently Richard Loewenhagen is a fully trained master of the Yip Man Ving Tsun System and is undergoing indoor discipleship training at a master's level in the Hung Fa Yi (Red Flower Society) tradition under the guidance of Grand Master Garret Gee, the world leader of Hung Fa Yi Wing Chun and Master Benny Meng, the Curator of the Ving Tsun Museum. Master Loewenhagen is the first Hung Fa Yi Wing Chun Disciple of the 10th Generation of Hung Fa Yi Practitioners and teachers. Master Loewenhagen has participated in world Wing Chun leadership as Vice Chairman of the Ving Tsun Museum's Founding Committee and currently serves as the Museum's Director of West Coast Affairs and as Western Regional Director of the Hung Fa Yi Wing Chun Federation. Within the Ving Tsun Kung Fu world at large, the Ving Tsun Athletic Association recognizes him as having earned their highest level of Wing Chun certification--that of Senior Instructor (7th Degree equivalent). He remains one of only a handful of Wing Chun teachers in the world to be certified and witnessed at this advanced level by seven Grand Masters of Wing Chun. Likewise, he is the first Ving Tsun Museum member to complete discipleship training in the Yip Man System under Master Benny Meng and the strict curriculum of the museum. The discipleship name granted him by Master Meng upon completion of this training is "Ving Yat" meaning "Forever One". Master Loewenhagen's in-depth knowledge of Wing Chun Kung Fu was further enhanced via a 5 ½ year Grand Special Student relationship with Grand Master Moy Yat of the Yip Man System. Academically, he has achieved Bachelor of Arts Degrees in English, History, and Theatre Arts, as well as a Master of Science Degree in Systems and Logistics. Additionally, he is a graduate of both the United States Air Force Command and Staff College and the United States Marine Corps Command and Staff College. As a researcher of military and martial history, he was awarded the International Society of Logistics Engineers' Graduate Researcher of the Year Award in 1983. Professionally, he has been tested by that same International Society of Logistics Engineers and awarded their coveted Certified Professional Logistician (CPL) designation. Only a handful of military commanders and tacticians have ever achieved this rigorous certification.
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started his martial arts training under the tutelage of his father. While attaining mastery of the various styles in his Kung Fu family lineage, Garrett Gee demonstrated an affinity and flair for swordsmanship. He and his brothers are the inheritors of Grandmaster Peter Kim Ho Chu's accumulated knowledge. Consequently, Garrett Gee is an accomplished practitioner and instructor of traditional Kung Fu weapons styles. At the age of 13, Garrett Gee impressed Dr. Ming Wang as they became acquainted while training daily in a park. Garrett Gee became the last of Dr. Wang's four disciples who received full training in Hung Fa Yi Wing Chun Kuen. Garrett Gee has been teaching since his move to the United States in 1975. Traditionally, Hung Fa Yi Wing Chun Kuen was taught primarily to family members and/or indoor disciples. Until instruction of Garrett Gee by Dr. Ming Wang, Hung Fa Yi was never taught outside the family. In order to preserve his art and to honor his Kung Fu lineage, Garrett Gee has decided to pass on his knowledge to students who have demonstrated sincere interest in this Wing Chun style. He is currently the 8th Generation successor of Hung Fa Yi Wing Chun. His decision to open the system represents the first time in its 363 year history that Hung Fa Yi Wing Chun Kuen has been taught outside China or to the public.
The move to Futshan in the mid-to-late 1920s coincided with the development of this region as a center of martial arts Renaissance, thus allowing access to a myriad of styles. Garrett Gee's father and first instructor, Grandmaster Peter Kim Ho Chu, is a much-respected Wu Tang instructor with more than 40 years teaching experience. Grand Master Peter Kim Ho Chu has a very famous Kung Fu lineage. Grand Master Chu's lineage dates back to one of the famous Five Northern Tigers in 1920's China - Fu Zheung Sung. Fu Zheung Sung's famous Kung Fu system was the "Wu Tang Kung Fu System" which included Fu Style Tai Chi, Leung-Yi Keun, Sei Cheung Kuen, Lightning Palm Kuen and Dragon Style Pak Qua. Grandmaster Peter Kim Ho Chu had also mastered another Kung Fu system from another very famous Kung Fu master named Sun Lu-Tang. Sun Lu-Tang was a very influential and important figure known for his internal boxing art called 'Sun Style' Tai Chi. Grandmaster Peter Kim Ho Chu was responsible for bringing Fu Style Tai Chi, Leung Yi Kuen, Sei Cheung Kuen, Lightning Palm Kuen and Dragon Style Pak Qua to the United States in 1975. All these styles are considered lost arts in the traditional world. He is also the last person to maintain the high level Kung Fu System of the famous Fu Zheung Sung's "Wu Tang" Clan. At the same time, he has attained prominence as a qualified instructor of Shaolin Animal Kung Fu systems, the Ching Wu System, and two other Tai Chi styles: Wu and Yang. Since 1975, Grandmaster Peter Kim Ho Chu has been one of the masters in the West to promote true traditional Kung Fu systems. Thousands of students have studied under Grandmaster Chu in China, Hong Kong and the United States; one notable student was the daughter of a family friend, Phoebe Lee, sister of Bruce Lee.