PERFORMANCE - TEACHING - EXCELLENCE

KUNG FU MAGAZINE

Kung Fu Heroes

By Leila Dehghan

Published: March 6th, 2010

 

In a world full of challenges, there is much skepticism and a mocking attitude towards people who aspire to make a difference and change the world.

 

So when I came across the Kung Fu Heroes, I was amazed at their audacity to call themselves "heroes."

 

The word "hero" is derived from the Greek word "heros," and its literal meaning is protector or defender. A hero/heroine is simply an ordinary person in extraordinary circumstances, somebody who displays courage and strength in the face of adversity from a weak disadvantaged position, and prevails. And that's the main mission of this group of elite martial artists.

 

Kung Fu Heroes was founded in early 2010 with the goal to inspire and unite like-minded people around the globe. Their message is simple: we all hold the power within ourselves to be someone's hero.

 

The idea was originated by Philip Sahagun, a 7-time National Weapons Champion from Southern California, who simply called up a few friends to form this dynamic team. "I always keep my eye out for different opportunities to showcase martial arts," Sahagun says. "I think there are a lot of people who are focused on who's got the best tricks, who's the toughest fighter. I wanted to do something that went beyond the current trend of promoting physical skills... I wanted to start a group that reflected the concerns and ideals of traditional martial artists and that promoted the wonderful benefits of possessing a martial mind."

 

Kung Fu Heroes has fourteen members, forming a diverse group of expert martial artists. Philip explains, "Kung Fu Heroes is currently based out of Southern California with international members from China, Australia, Holland and France. The group has a wide spectrum of cultures, backgrounds and experiences. Some of us had parents while others struggled without role models... some of us attended regular school, while others grew up in the martial arts training camps of China.

 

All of them have many awards, medals and accomplishments under their belt;; among them, students, actors, stuntmen, gold medalists for the United States Chinese Martial Arts Team, competitors from China's famed "Kung Fu Star Competition," and even a member of the prestigious Beijing Wushu Team. However, they like to demonstrate and promote how to rise above adversity.

 

"Some of our members have faced extreme poverty and various persecutions, but ultimately they do not let it diminish their character or their dreams. Despite all of our martial arts accomplishments, some of us are fathers, sons, daughters and teachers... These are amongst our best achievements," states Philip.

 

Practicing martial arts is about the pursuit of personal improvement; it's not just about having a strong body and mind, but also a strong spirit. It means not giving up despite the odds against a person - which is entailed in the literal meaning of kung fu: excellence achieved through endurance in any endeavor.

 

As a keen martial artist, I was pleased to find a group promoting one of the biggest paradoxes in martial arts, its life-enhancing aspect, using a deadly skill to preserve and enrich life. As a Korean proverb says, "The sword is not for killing or hurting people; the sword is for protecting something valuable." Eager to learn more, I interviewed three of the members, Philip, Tommy Leng and DY Sao.

 

LD: Why the name hero?

 

Philip: Our group is about promoting inspiration and unity via the martial arts. We didn't choose the name Kung Fu Heroes because we view ourselves as great pillars of inspiration, but because we feel there's a need to show that beyond martial arts skill and despite one's adversity, religion, race, cultural or national boundaries, we all hold the power within ourselves to ignite positivity and become someone's inspiration. In short, you can say the name is a play on words, we want to inspire others to be their own heroes, whether it is for their family, their community, their loved ones, etc. We ourselves do not need to serve as heroes ... just brothers and sisters of a martial movement.

 

Tommy: Hero has a meaning to not only stand for what is right, but it is to stand up for what you believe in and at the same time help inspire most people.

 

LD: When there is a new group, one is inclined to wonder why? What is it that you perceived was missing? What gap do you hope to fill with KFH?

 

Tommy: We are here to spread a message of positivity and give people confidence to do what they need, whether it is learning, martial arts, fitness, etc. We just want people to know that in life nothing is easy and putting forth the work is always hard, but when the end result is achieved, it is you the individual who is proud to have made it happen. With that message we hope to inspire more people to become their own individual heroes.

 

DY: To bridge between the physicality of martial arts and the philosophy of martial arts in the real world is not something that everyone achieves. We hope to aid this understanding and grow together.

 

LD: You call yourselves Kung Fu Heroes, but what is it that makes one a KFH?

 

Philip: As most of our readers already know, the Mandarin word "kung fu" or "gong fu" refers to achievements that emerge through long practice in any endeavor. You can say that a person's kung fu is good in cooking, or that someone has kung fu in calligraphy; saying that a person possesses kung fu in an area implies skill in that area which they have worked hard to develop. So with that being said, we often tell others that our team member and lawyer Don Kiolbassa not only possess great skills in martial kung fu but he also has great kung fu in law. If you have something in your heart that you love and practice daily, that is your kung fu. If you share that dedication lovingly with those around you and use it as a means to elevate your way of living, then you are on the same page as us.

 

DY: Well, you don't have to know kung fu really. You just have to have a positive philosophy and be proactive in helping people in one way or another. We want to awaken something positive in both the young and old.

 

LD: What does it mean to you personally to be part of the KFH?

 

Philip: I feel proud to be a part of something that can potentially touch the lives of many people. I love charity work and I love martial arts ... so being a kung fu hero I wish to share the benefits of living a healthy lifestyle through martial arts with others.

 

DY: I know I'm in a group that will prosper and it adds meaning to my life.

 

LD: And what about yourselves? Who are your heroes?

 

Philip: I've been blessed to have a number of positive influences in my life, but none greater than my family. My mother and father gave me the tools I needed to do well in martial arts practice, and they were always very concerned with where I was headed. Other than family, various martial artists, singers, writers, monks and others come to mind. Some are dead and some are living.

 

Tommy: People who go out and actually change the lives of others in need, people who try everyday to make something out of nothing, knowing that their efforts are nothing but a tiny fraction, but it's the fact that they continue to fight no matter the cost.

 

DY: My father.

 

LD: I'm sure some readers wonder if they could join the group?

 

Philip: Sure! Kung Fu Heroes is a brand-new group that is continually looking to expand our network for future projects! If you or someone you know is a "hero" or positive role model in their local and worldwide communities, let them know about us.

 

LD: Tell me a bit about your hopes for the future?

 

Philip: Well, we are currently working on a couple of very exciting projects. In the future we hope to expand our youth outreaches by developing a fifty-city, fifty-state health-and-wealth tour with various partners. We want to team up with a few of our closest allies such as former American Gladiator Justice Smith in creating a dynamic campaign to educate young Americans on the importance of personal safety, money management and general well being. If anyone reading would like to help participate with this project, feel free to contact us.

 

DY: Make the world a smaller place like what Jet Li did with his One Family Foundation illustrating that there is but one family under the heavens.

 

LD: Anything else you want to add at the end?

 

Philip: As representatives of martial arts culture, we have no egos to strengthen, only traditions to maintain. Let's all work together and continue our training. For those of you that support the Kung Fu Heroes, thanks for all the support.

 

Tommy: Look out, Kung Fu Heroes are coming; it is only the beginning

 

DY: Like Bruce Lee said, the ripples never end.