PERFORMANCE - TEACHING - EXCELLENCE

ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

Kung Fu Heroes come to Costa Mesa

 

By Barbara Venezia

Published: Feb 5th, 2013

 

 

The music pounds as they fly through the air kicking, twirling, and tumbling. They seem to defy gravity and the laws of nature as they maneuver swords and sticks. The Kung Fu Heroes are martial arts wonders, and they're coming to South Coast Martial Arts in Costa Mesa on March 2 for a charity exhibition benefiting the Walking Tall Foundation.

 

Kung Fu Heroes is the brain child of 25-year-old Costa Mesa resident Philip Sahagun.

 

Sahagun's not only an accomplished martial arts instructor, he also is a seven-time National Weapons Champion, three-time International Martial Arts Council Grand Champion, and was a contestant on two of China's top-rated reality competitions, Kung Fu Star and Jackie Chan's Disciple.

 

With an extensive background in American Kenpo, Kickboxing, Wushu and Shaolin Kung Fu, in 2008 and 09 he toured as a martial arts 'Ninja' performer for Tina Turner's 50th Anniversary World Tour.

 

Sahagun says he hand-picked the 12-member team of Kung Fu Heroes in 2010.

 

"In the group -- six are based out of South Coast Martial Arts -- five are international -- two of those are from China," he says.

 

If you look at the photos of the group on their website, kungfuheroes.com they look like movie star action heroes. Most are in their 20's, three are in their 30's, good looking and have interesting backgrounds.

 

Sahagun's 23-year-old sister Nicole is their only female member.

 

Yanxu and Yan Hong are monks from China's Songshan Shaolin Temple, which was established in 495 AD.

 

Don Hyun is a corporate attorney/CPA and a gold medalist for the United States Chinese Martial Arts Team.

 

Kjer, from Amsterdam, grew up inspired by Ninja Turtles and Jean Claude Van Damme movies, he says.

 

Sebastian Castellanos's martial arts specialties include Hook Swords, Scorpion and the rare two finger Zen skill. He's also an aspiring model and motivational speaker.

 

When he was just 9, Wes Scarpias was a member of America's first Jr. Wushu Team trained exclusively in Beijing and Shanghai. He's an actor as well.

 

DY Sao began his martial arts career by doing martial arts stunts for movies, TV and live shows.

 

Thevada, from France, is a French National Champion in Long Fist, Broadsword and Staff.

 

Augie De' Angelo holds a second degree black belt in American Kenpo. In 2008 he represented the USA during the 2008 World Traditional Wushu Festival in Shiyan China, and earned a gold medal for the team. He's also a drummer.

 

Tommy Leng is an expert in Kung Fu, Karate, Wushu, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Judo.

 

All began their martial arts training as children.

 

The Kung Fu Heroes soared to national fame in 2010 as semi-finalists on NBC's hit television show America's Got Talent. Sahagun said the contest really launched the Heroes and they've gone on to do exhibitions all around the world and even filmed a reality show of their travels, which appears in the form of webisodes on their site.

 

For the past 20 years their parents, Gina and Joaquin Sahagun, have owned the South Coast Martial Arts gym in Costa Mesa. The March 2 fundraiser will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the gym and raise funds for the non-profit organization Walking Tall Foundation Sahagun's parents created. The foundation supplies martial arts scholarships to young people. 

 

This event in particular, will raise funds for two students to accompany and perform with the Kung Fu Heroes at a charity martial arts exhibition in Paris on March 23. "There will be teams from all over Europe and we'll be representing America at the event," Sahagun says.

 

Martial arts teaching has been around for thousands of years and Sahagun feels it's important for young people. "Beyond the physical aspect, it gives them self-confidence and will help them throughout life," he told me. "The strength is in the internal component."

 

Sahagun says martial arts teaches people how to explore their curiosities and that things aren't always as they appear at first glance.

 

"Everyone sees the kicking and flipping - it's so much more than that. Once you go through the experience, it changes you," he said.

 

I've watched some of the videos on the Kung Fu Heroes site and they truly are amazing athletes. I'm looking forward to seeing them on March 2.