Coach/Instructor... Chris Young
Chris Young has been engaged in martial arts or gymnastics for nearly his entire life. He has over 20 years of Chinese martial arts experience in several styles. He started teaching over 15 years ago. He is on the board of the International Baiyuan Tongbei Quan Association.
While he teaches, Chris continues to train and improve his own kung fu and lion dance knowledge as well and studies Xing-Yi and Bagua in addition to Baiyuan Tongbei, Ying Jow Keun and Wu Tai Chi. He is a disciple of Master Zhang Yun of the Yin Cheng Gong Fa Kung Fu family, originally of Beijing, and his lion dance mentor is Corey Chan of San Francisco.
In addition to Chinese martial arts, Chris also studies Capoeira Angola (a Brazilian martial art) with Mestre Joao Grande .
Outside of the martial arts, Chris was also a Commissioner on the PA Governor's Advisory Commission for Asian American Affairs and the board of the National Association of Asian American Professionals - Pittsburgh Chapter.
Assistant Coach/Instructor... Jon Wilson
Jon was first introduced to martial arts with Tae Kwon Do with his uncle and earned his black belt at a young age. He put martial arts on hold during high school to pursue other life goals. Encouraged by the woman who would later become his wife, Jon started to train at Steel Dragon in 2009. He soon began immersing himself increasingly in his training, and even found himself performing lion dance at his own wedding. He is a disciple of Chris Young. Jon's training focuses primarily on Ying Jow, Xing-Yi and Lion and Dragon Dance. He also helps instruct classes and coach lion dance at Steel Dragon and also teaches an after school program at Reserve Elementary. He has Act 33/34 clearances.
Our School... Gong Lung (Steel Dragon)
Steel Dragon was initially founded as a lion dance team in 2003. Because good lion dance requires a strong kung fu foundation, Chris started teaching Ying Jow Keun as well. Over a few years, Gong Lung developed a reputation in Pittsburgh for lion dance as well as for kung fu. Eventually, his sifu, Master Zhang Yun, suggested he should teach Baiyuan Tongbei as well. So this informal group gradually grew over the years and became an actual, physical martial arts school in 2009. It continues to grow, and Chris and the students of Gong Lung grow with it.
We are often asked if we train girls too. The answer is of course! Girls especially need to know how to defend themselves! We don't care what a person's race, sex, religion, sexual orientation, or whatever is. These have nothing to do with a person's martial arts ability or ethical integrity. When a student is training, s/he is just a martial arts student like everybody else. During class these distinctions don't mean anything.
Thank you to Shifu Zhang Yun for giving me permission to open my door and accept Jon Wilson and Alex Pang as indoor disciples in the Yin Cheng Gong Fa Family. Also, thank you to Grandmaster Wang Peisheng, Grandmaster Luo Shuhuan and all my other kung fu ancestors for passing on this valuable martial knowledge through to us. Novermber 4th 2012
On October 14th, 2014, Ken Beers was also accepted as a disciple under me in the Yin Cheng Gong Fa Family.
On January 16th, 2016, Andrew Demosthenous was also accepted as a disciple under me in the Yin Cheng Gong Fa Family. Ken Beers could not be there so his picture was added the main photo so it can be complete.