KFK’s Got Talent — Winners! (2018)

For the last couple of years our Kung Fu Kingdom’s Got Talent features have proved to be hugely popular on Facebook. This year we expanded the competition with a Junior and Senior martial artist category to showcase winners.

As always we were sent many varied clips featuring lots of different styles, skills and even your short movie action scenes. (In fact next year, we may even have a separate short film category and be involved in recruitment, knock knock!)

It made choosing winners very difficult for our judges. In the end, by majority decision both winners happened to be practitioners of Chinese martial arts who demonstrated great skills along with a difficult weapon to master.

We are pleased to announce that the winners of Kung Fu Kingdom’s Got Talent 2018 are…

For the Juniors: EVAN TANG from California, USA and
For the Seniors: SIDNEY NGO from Cebu City, Philippines!

Learn more about our winners Evan and Sidney – what motivates them and the training they do in the interview below! We hope our annual competition inspires YOU to train hard and take part in next year’s Kung Fu Kingdom contest!

Kung Fu Kingdom’s Got Talent 2018 Junior Category Winner Evan Tang

Welcome to the Kung Fu Kingdom Evan and Sidney! Congratulations on winning Kung Fu Kingdom’s Got Talent 2018 – we loved your clips with the nine section whip chain! Before we find out a little more about you, what do you think of the website and what do you think of the name Kung Fu Kingdom (KFK)?

ET: I think it is a very nice site. It provides a variety of information about martial arts. I like the Profile pages that showcase different past and present martial artists/stars. The Kung Fu Kingdom Facebook page also provides a lot of good/entertaining kung fu videos.

SN: Awesome website! Very informative especially to martial arts fans. So many videos that motivate you to train. The name itself is magnificent!

Kung Fu Kingdom’s Got Talent 2018 Senior Category Winner Sidney Ngo

That’s very kind of you to say! Let’s find out a bit more about you for our readers. Can you tell us when and where you were born, height and weight etc?

ET: I was born on June 6th, 2005 in Fremont, California. I am 4’11” (125cm) tall and weigh 85lb (39kg).

SN: I was born on December 18th, 1984, in Cebu City, Philippines. I am 5′ 6” (171cm) tall and weigh 150lb (68kg).

How did you both first get into martial arts, how old were you?

ET: I got into martial arts because I liked watching Kung Fu movies. My parents asked me if I want to learn Kung Fu and brought me to a local Kung Fu school for a tryout. I fell in love right away and told my parents that I want to do it. So I started doing martial arts from the age of 7.

SN: I started martial arts when I was 16 years old. I joined a traditional group named Chian Hsi Chuan Internal Arts Society in Cebu. We were practicing traditional forms focusing on Dragon, Taiji, Xing Yi, and Bagua. We also trained competitive forms and weapons.

You both obviously love your kung fu! What have you achieved during that time in your martial arts training; have either of you ever competed in any tournaments?

ET: Since I participated in my first Kung Fu tournament in 2013, I have won Grand Champion 4 times in TCKFMC (Tiger Claw Kung Fu Magazine Championship) and Chinese Martial Arts Tournament (CMAT), and numerous Gold/Silver/Bronze placements in Contemporary Wushu Categories (hand forms, sword weapon, and long weapon, two-hand weapons).

SN: Unfortunately, I not yet had a chance to compete because it conflicts with my job. Presently, I couldn’t afford to be absent from work.

Some impressive results there Evan! It would be great for you Sidney if you could get to show your skills at a tournament one day! Who would you both credit as having most influenced you in the martial arts and who would you consider your heroes or inspirational figures?

ET: I would say my master Shifu Zhenlong Yu inspired me the most. He has exceptional skill in both traditional Kung Fu and Contemporary Wushu. He is also an excellent teacher. He spent countless hours in helping and teaching me various Kung Fu techniques, helping me advance my martial arts skills.

SN: Jet Li, Jackie Chan, Donnie Yen, Edward Folayang (Team Lakay), Mark Sangiao (Team Lakay).

What is a typical training session for you both?

ET: We typically begin the class with warm up exercises, running and stretching, followed by various kicking/punching combos and Kung Fu basics. Then we practice our current belt form requirements. We will also practice our own individual forms and group forms.

SN: I normally train the basics; punching, kicking, flexibility, jumping, which is really important, sometimes training weapons and most of all, core and endurance.

You both clearly appreciate the importance of regularly practicing the basics! Do you have a favourite exercise or any special training techniques that you find brings out the best in you?

ET: I enjoy doing nandu (difficulties). Nandu takes a lot of time and effort to learn and often you feel discouraged in the beginning when you fail to do the movement. It is very satisfying to finally be able to master a nandu after spending hours in practicing the same movement.

SN: I love to do Tuck Jumps, Duck Walks, Hanging Leg Raises and planking variations.

What is one interesting thing that people don’t really know about you?

ET: Being a Chinese-American, people always think the music of choice is piano or violin. One interesting thing is that I like to play drums and was able to convince my parents to let me learn to play drums!

SN: I eat a lot. Hahaha!

How funny! What are your Top 10 Martial Arts Movies?

ET: My favourite Martial Arts movies are Karate Kid (2010), Ip Man, The Last Airbender, Kung Fu Panda, Rush Hour, The One, Way of the Dragon, and Here Comes The Boom.

SN: Ip Man, Drunken Master, SPL, Kung Fu Kids, Iron Monkey, Fatal Contact, Once Upon A Time In China, Tai Chi Master, My Father the Hero and The Bodyguard from Beijing.

That’s a great selection of classics from both of you! Who are some of your favourite movie stars or martial artists?

ET: Bruce Lee, Donnie Yen, Jet Li, Jackie Chan and Wu Bin.

SN: Jet Li, Jackie Chan, Donnie Yen, Edward Folayang (Team Lakay), Mark Sangiao (Team Lakay).

Excellent! What in life do you really Like and Dislike?

ET: I like playing video games and playing the drums. I hate to eat fatty meat!

SN: Like? WUSHU! Dislike? Laziness and tardiness!

What would you say is your proudest accomplishment so far?

ET: Being able to balance school work with kung fu practice.

SN: With my years’ training in Wushu, though I never had the chance to compete, at least I was able to showcase my talent and inspire others. I have joined a film and I am a licensed Wushu coach as well as a Sanda judge.

What do you hope to achieve in the next few years?

ET: I wish to become a black belt and start teaching martial arts at my Shifu’s school.

SN: I’m hoping to be able to compete in Wushu – either Taolu or Sanda. Or to get involved in another martial arts film project.

Great ways to awaken others to their own talents! Do you have a special or inspirational message for KFK fans?

ET: I would like to tell everyone that you will improve as long as you keep trying because the same happened to me. Everyone has the potential to be good at something they enjoy.

SN: To all KFK fans and followers, if you are a martial-arts practitioner, continue practising. You may not be able to appreciate what you’re doing now but trust me, someday you will be thankful. If you’re not a martial arts practitioner, find time to learn, it’s not just for self-defence/fighting but it’s also for your health. Help the weak, use your skills for the good of humanity in any way. Learn it with all your heart and in every aspect of martial-arts: “RESPECT, HONOUR, DISCIPLINE, INTEGRITY and COURAGE” Train hard! Jiayou!

Thank you Evan and Sidney for taking some time to tell us about your martial arts mindset, background and training. We wish you all the best in your future endeavours and we’re sure all your hard work will pay off. Congratulations on winning KFK’s Got Talent 2018 – please keep in touch as you continue to advance and accomplish! Are YOU an aspiring martial artist, who are your heroes and what do you practice? Let us know below, Like, share and join in the conversation on Facebook and follow us on Twitter & Instagram. (Whatever your style, welcome to the FUniverse!)

Glen Stanway

Influenced by the movies of Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan, Glen began training in martial arts and gymnastics in 1995. He made his first of many visits to Malaysia and Singapore in 1998 to learn Chin Woo kung fu under the supervision of Master Teng Wie Yoo. Glen is the author of "The Art of Coaching" and "Fearless The Story of Chin Woo Kung Fu", and runs a kung fu & kickboxing school in Hertfordshire, England.

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