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Mr. Marlon Pilossoph DIRECTOR
AND PRESIDENT’S BIOGRAPHY Mr. Pilossoph began his martial
arts career in 1976 at the age of 14.
He first studied Shotokan Karate, Tang Soo Do and Tae Kwon Do.
In 1977 he began training in Northern Shaolin Kung Fu Wu-Shu for five
years under Grandmaster Alan Lee located in Manhattan New York. In the
late 80’s for three years he trained in Hong Cha/Hung Gar Kung Fu under the
tutelage of Master Jan Miller in Long Island, N Y. In addition to his martial
arts training during his teen years, he learned and taught Indian Raja Yoga at
the Yogi Gupta Ashram in Elmhurst, Queens, and taught Hatha Yoga at the Viking
Health Spa. He is a disciple of Swami Kailashananda (Yogi Gupta) from Rishikesh
India. During his early 20’s his studies also included Gymnastics, studying with
John Traetta (Traetta’s Gymnastics Elite) in Hackensack, N.J.
He trained at the U.S. Gymnastics Training Camp (USGTC) in Springfield,
Mass. for two summers and had won numerous competitive awards in “men’s all
around” gymnastics. Later he taught children’s classes at Gelfand Gymnastics,
located in Hempstead, N.Y. In 1990 Mr. Pilossoph joined the
Praying Mantis Martial Arts Institute and since then he has painstakingly
studied the Northern Praying Mantis Gung Fu system under Master Tony Chuy. In
1994 Mr. Pilossoph began Yang Style Tai Chi Chuan, Tai Chi Sahn Sao
(applications), Toi Sao (sensitivity exercises) and the Tai Chi Gim (sword)
learning from his Sifu Tony Chuy.
He assisted his Sifu first as a
class assistant and then as an assistant instructor since 1995. Mr. Pilossoph
became a 10th Generation disciple of the Northern Praying Mantis
style of the late Master Wong, Hon Funn lineage in February 1998 during the
Praying Mantis Martial Arts Institute’s 16th Anniversary celebration.
That day, in the presence of his family, friends and classmates, he underwent
his Bai Si disciple initiation ceremony, which was performed by his Sifu
Tony Chuy. Mr. Pilossoph also participated with
his Sifu Tony Chuy’s Lion Dance and Martial Arts demonstration Team in
over 100 performances. He held various positions over the years in Tony Chuy’s
Praying Mantis Martial Arts Student Association, including having served four
years as its Chairman. Mr. Pilossoph learned Praying
Mantis Sahn Sao (self-defense techniques), Kam-La (joint locking techniques),
Praying Mantis Lo Han Gung (internal power set), and the Three sectional Staff
versus Spear weapon sparring form directly from Master Brendan Lai during
seminars in 1996 and 1997. In 1990, Mr. Pilossoph to self
cure a serious herniated disk lower back injury began studying Chinese Medicine,
including Sit’s family “Dit Da” (Hit/Bruise, Bone Setting) Medicine, “Gee-Na”
(Acupressure/Massage), “Cern-Hong” (Internal Medicine), Acupuncture, Herbal
Medicine and “Chi Yute Gung”, Medical Acupoint Techniques” from his Si-Bak Gung
(Si-Gung Brendan Lai’s senior classmate), Dr. Sit, Chiu-Wai who began studying
with Master Wong, Hon Funn in Hong Kong in 1953. Mr. Pilossoph graduated from the
Praying Mantis Martial Arts Institute on May 17, 2003 at its 21st
Anniversary celebration in the presence of his Si Bak-Gung Dr. Sit, Chiu-Wai and
his family, Mr. Pilossoph’s family, friends and fellow classmates. With the permission of his
teachers, Mr. Pilossoph opened the Praying Mantis-Tai Chi Center,
in Mamaroneck, N.Y. on January 12, 2004. It was a success due to the support of
his Sifu Tony Chuy and Mr. Pilossoph’s many fellow classmates who participated
that day in the grand opening celebration. Mr. Pilossoph taught Martial
Arts to students, staff and faculty at Fordham University, Bronx, New York for
two years, from September of 2004 to 2006 in addition to teaching personally
more than twenty classes at the Praying Mantis – Tai Chi Center seven days a
week. On October 22nd, 2006
Dr. Sit and his family adopted Mr. Pilossoph as the 4th generation
inheritor of the Sit Family Chinese medical system. That morning an induction
ceremony was held at Dr. Sit, Cheuck Sing’s burial site. For lunch that day Mr.
Pilossoph along with his students and the Sit family celebrated the event
culminating with a sumptuous banquet at the East Manor Restaurant in Elmhurst
Queens N.Y. During late April and early May
2008 Mr. Pilossoph, Dr. and Mrs. Sit, along with seven students visited Hong
Kong. While in Hong Kong we enjoyed “Yum Cha” a meal with Master Yuen Man Gai
(Master Brendan Lai’s senior classmate), as well as with Dr. Sit’s senior
brother and the only other remaining student of his father Dr. Sit Cheuck-Sing.
Mr. Pilossoph along with Dr. and Mrs. Sit and Paul Levine visited the Hong Kong
Jing Woo Athletic association off of Nathan Road. We were well received and Mr.
Pilossoph personally enjoyed being able to use the facilities. It was a special
experience to hold and practice with many different antique weapons that the
ancestors of the Northern Praying Mantis style such as Wong Hon Fun who taught
and practiced there actually had held and used. We also visited “The Peak”
(highest point in Hong Kong), Kowloon its Park and its many sites, the worlds
largest Buddha statue on Lantau Island, as well as General Gwans oldest Temple
and some even went to Maccau. In May of 2008 the journey continued into China. Mr. Pilossoph, Dr. and Mrs. Sit enjoyed staying at the “Rameda”, a five star hotel at the base of Tai Mountain in Shandong. We were almost literally blown off the top of Tai San but will never forget the amazing Buddhist and Taoist temples, the beauty and phenomenal views. We shopped for weapons locally in Shandong and experienced eating outside with the natives of the area, who were all so happy and so friendly. The highlight of the trip was visiting Lao Mountain and communing with the Wang Lang memorial statue, his actual burial site and tombstone. It was a great honor to stand in the place that the creator of the Northern Praying Mantis style developed the Northern Praying Mantis System. To honor his memory, in front of Master Wang Lang’s memorial Mr. Pilossoph performed the original empty hand forms that Wang Lang first created. Mr. Pilossoph and Dr. and Mrs. Sit continued on to Suzhou and Hangzhou (the West Lake) visiting many beautiful Taoist and Buddhist temples, the Chinese Herbal Museum, and many awesome and truly unforgettable natural wonders.
Mr. Pilossoph, Dr. and Mrs.
Sit and students enjoying “Yum Cha” (tea/meal) with Master Yuen Man Kai, Mr.
Pilossoph’s Si Bak Gung (Senior classmate to Master Brendan Lai) while in Hong
Kong during their China trip in April 2008
BRENDAN LAI (8TH),
TONY CHUY (9TH), MARLON PILOSSOPH (10TH)
The 8th, 9th
and 10th Generations of the Northern Praying Mantis style
Mr.
Pilossoph with his Si Bak Gung, Dr. Sit visiting the
Hong Kong
Chin Woo (Jing-Wu) Athletic Association in April 2008
Above: Master Law Gwong Yook’s picture in the Hong Kong branch of Chin Woo. He was 6th generation of the Northern Praying Mantis style and one of the first instructors of the Chin Woo. The Hong Kong branch was established in 1919 and is where Seventh generation Master Wong Hon Funn taught for more than 40 years. Below: Master Hou Yuanjia (1868-1910) was the founder of the Chin Woo. He established renewed morale, pride and health in the Chinese people by organizing the first Chinese Martial Art schools in 1910. He was murdered shortly thereafter by poisoning, but his legacy lives on. Bruce Lee and Jet Li both portrayed his character in the movies “Fists of Legend” and “Fearless”. For a full history of Hou Yuanjia visit www.chinwoo.org/history.htm. Si-Gung Tony Chuy (9th generation) modeled the Chin Woo’s achievement and advancement testing system into his school. Mr. Pilossoph has further incorporated the Chin Woo Three Principals and Ten Concepts as moral and philosophical guides to Life into the Praying Mantis – Tai Chi Center Charter. Visit www.chinwoo.org/history.htm for more information.
Biographical Picture Tours Biography Picture Tour 1993-1995 Biography Picture Tour 1996-1997 |
