Learn Authentic Five Family Five Animal Southern Shaolin

As passed down by Grandmaster Ark Yuey Wong (1900–1987)

Learn Basics & Salute Act

Start your journey with the essentials. This combined course teaches the fundamentals of blocks, punches, kicks, and stance training, while the Salute Act builds alignment, power, and focus. Perfect for establishing a strong foundation in both body and mind.

What You Get in the Basics & Salute Act Course

This course delivers over 4 hours and 59 minutes of in-depth instruction, guiding you through the essential foundations of the Five Family, Five Animal Southern Shaolin system. Everything is carefully structured so you can stream or download the videos for flexible learning at your own pace.

Here’s what’s included:

1. Introduction to the System (10:09)
Gain a clear overview of the Five Family, Five Animal system, its principles, and how the basics form the foundation for the entire curriculum.

2. Qigong Practices (52:36)
Three guided videos:

• Introduction to Qigong
• Set 1: Exercises with feet together
• Set 2: Exercises in Horse Stance
  These routines cultivate energy, focus, and proper body alignment, preparing you for martial training.

3. Basics (2:57:17)
Six detailed lessons covering:

• Stances: Learn how to “set your horse” and root your body for power and balance.
• Hand Techniques: Master fundamental punches and blocks.
• Kicking: Develop precision and control in your kicks.
• Stepping Exercises: Coordinate footwork for smooth movement.
• Combining Hands with Stepping: Integrate punches, blocks, and movement for fluid, martial expression.

4. Salute Act (59:09)
Seven focused videos guiding you through the Salute Act:

• Introduction and demo
• Lesson 1 → Lesson 6
  The Salute Act reinforces core principles, alignment, and power generation, serving as the cornerstone for all basic forms.

With this course, you’ll build strong fundamentals, internal power, and a solid foundation to confidently progress into the six basic forms and eventually the Five Animal forms. Perfect for beginners or anyone looking to deepen their practice.

About the System & Grandmaster Ark Wong

The course you’re viewing focuses on a single form, but each form is designed to build on the last. Starting with the Basics & Salute Act, students develop strong fundamentals in stance, punches, blocks, and coordination. From there, the basic forms progressively refine power, fluidity, and combat ability, preparing you for the advanced Five Animal Forms: Tiger, Dragon, Snake, Crane, and Leopard.

By following this system, you’re not just learning isolated techniques — you’re entering a structured path that cultivates strength, agility, and internal energy, just as Grandmaster Wong taught to his students. Each form adds a layer of skill and understanding, making it easy to progress naturally toward mastery of the full curriculum.

History

Grandmaster Ark Yuey Wong (1900–1987)

One of the first masters to openly teach traditional Chinese Kung Fu in America. Born in Guangdong, China, he trained from childhood with many teachers and also learned Chinese medicine. After immigrating to the U.S. in 1921, he eventually settled in Los Angeles, where his Chinatown school became a landmark of authentic Shaolin training. Revered for blending deep tradition with open teaching, Ark Wong helped introduce genuine Chinese martial arts to the Western world and left a lasting legacy through his students and his Five Family Five Animal system.

Master Louie Martinez (1956–2015)

Master Louie Martinez discovered the Five Family, Five Animal system and fell in love with it at first sight. He devoted himself wholeheartedly to practicing and teaching the art, working his way up to black sash and becoming an instructor at Grandmaster Ark Wong’s school. After Grandmaster Wong’s passing, Master Martinez continued teaching as the school remained open, always avoiding drama and disputes while striving to get along with everyone.

Beyond Kung Fu, Master Martinez was an accomplished energy healer, inspired by a close friend diagnosed with a terminal illness. His dedication to both martial arts and healing left a deep impact on his students, friends, and family. Sadly, he left this world far too early, and is deeply missed by his family, Kung Fu brothers, and students.

Franklin Fick (1977 – present)

Franklin Fick spent many joyful days practicing in a park next to Master Louie Martinez’s home, learning, training, and sharing conversations from morning until afternoon. Most of his training was one-on-one with Master Martinez, which provided a deeply immersive experience in the Five Family Five Animal system. Franklin earned his black sash in 2005, with Master Martinez making him promise to continue teaching and sharing the system — a promise that led to this video series.

In addition to Kung Fu, Franklin studied energy healing under Master Martinez and assisted in preserving the Five Family Five Animal system for future generations. He helped transfer countless old VHS recordings to digital formats, which Master Martinez later shared with his Kung Fu brothers, ensuring the system’s history and teachings would endure.

Understanding the Structure of the System

The Five Family, Five Animal Southern Shaolin system is carefully designed—not random. Every technique, form, and movement builds upon what came before, guiding the practitioner from foundational skills to advanced mastery. To truly understand and develop your Kung Fu, it’s important to learn the complete system step by step.

Click the links below to explore each individual course and see how each form contributes to the full progression of the system.

Basics

Training begins with the fundamentals—blocks, punches, and kicks—supported by strong stance work known as “setting your horse.” Students learn to root the body and connect the hands, feet, and waist into unified movement. Once the foundation is steady, these elements are combined with stepping and coordinated motion, teaching how to strike, block, and move as one fluid expression of power.

Introduction to the Basic Forms

There are six basic forms in the system. Each form builds on the last, developing coordination, structure, and strength. As skill deepens, the forms cultivate both external power and internal integration, preparing the student to train the advanced Five Animal Forms. Even at this stage, the six basic forms develop genuine fighting ability and a strong martial body.

Salute Act

Serving as the salute for all the basic forms, the Salute Act establishes the essential body mechanics and energy alignment of the system. It teaches proper power generation through structure and breath, instilling solid fundamentals that support everything to come.

Small Cross Act

The Small Cross Act focuses on direct, powerful punches and solid blocking techniques. The form’s footwork trains the student to move efficiently in multiple directions, creating the ability to attack and defend from changing angles.

Butterfly Act

Building upon earlier lessons, the Butterfly Act introduces flowing, circular movements through the Butterfly Palm technique. While continuing to refine strong punches and blocks, this form begins to develop soft, continuous power and introduces the dynamic movements of the Tiger and Crane.

Blackbird Act

Inspired by the flapping wings of a blackbird, this form emphasizes circular arm motions, powerful chops, and the development of “rib power”—torque and expansion generated through the body’s core. It deepens the practitioner’s ability to issue force through twisting and coiling motions.

Combination Act

The Combination Act weaves together elements from the previous forms while introducing the fluid grace of the Dragon and the strength of the Tiger. Its circular and spiraling techniques teach how to harness flowing power for both attack and defense, expressing energy through coordinated movement from the waist and ribs.

Palm Act (Kuan Yin Palm)

Named after the Bodhisattva of Compassion, the Palm Act emphasizes relaxed, circular motions, cuts, and chops that transmit effortless power to the extremities. This form teaches how to issue energy through softness, using relaxation rather than tension to generate strength and precision.

Introduction to the Five Animal Forms

The Five Animal Forms expand upon the solid base developed through the basic forms. They build greater strength, flexibility, and agility while broadening the practitioner’s martial vocabulary. Each animal embodies distinct physical mechanics and a unique mental or spiritual quality, guiding the student toward a deeper, more complete expression of Kung Fu.

Tiger Acting

The Tiger embodies raw power and fearless intent. Its movements drive straight through the opponent with ripping claws, crushing strikes, and unstoppable forward energy. The Tiger trains courage, ferocity, and rooted strength.

Dragon Acting

The Dragon combines circular flexibility and direct power. It uses both long and short techniques, coiling and uncoiling from the waist to block, strike, or thrust with devastating effect. The Dragon represents spirit, adaptability, and expansive internal force.

Snake Acting

The Snake is the most internal of the five. It avoids direct confrontation, flowing around the opponent’s strength with supple, continuous motion. The whole body pulses in unison to send precise power to the fingertips, developing sensitivity, accuracy, and penetrating force.

Crane Acting

Graceful yet deadly, the Crane balances on one leg as it glides, kicks, and strikes with precision. Its movements cultivate stability, balance, and timing. The Crane’s whipping wings and beak strikes refine lightness, focus, and elegant control.

Leopard Acting

The Leopard relies on speed and agility rather than brute force. Quick to leap and shift, it darts from position to position, striking with explosive bursts of power. The Leopard trains sharpness, mobility, and the ability to strike decisively from any angle.