This video biography of Leo T. Fong was presented during his induction into the 2006 Black Belt Hall of Fame as Kung Fu Artist of the Year. Throughout the decades, Leo T. Fong has worn many hats—actor, writer, director, producer, minister, social worker and fitness coach—but his most important role has been that of kung fu master. Leo T. Fong has attained master-level rank in taekwondo, jujutsu, sil lum kung fu, choy li fut kung fu and wing chun kung fu. Leo T. Fong often receives credit for inspiring Bruce Lee to develop his boxing skills and for helping him formulate jeet kune do. Leo T. Fong’s impact on the American martial arts community dates back to the 1970s.

First, he penned Sil Lum Kung-Fu and Choy Lay Fut Kung-Fu for Ohara Publications (now Black Belt Books). They were the first books about those arts written in English and aimed at the general public.

Leo T. Fong was recommended to draft the text by his friend and training partner, Bruce Lee. During the 1970s and ’80s, Leo T. Fong became one of the first people to produce and star in martial arts instructional films. As a martial arts teacher, Leo T. Fong integrated self-defense principles and techniques with spiritual lessons, and the result inspired and educated thousands.

By combining fitness training, psychology, spirituality and the martial arts, he created chi fung, a complete mind-body-spirit workout. He teaches it 10 times a week to hundreds of followers.