Gin Foon Mark

MARK Gin Foon Age 91 Died on December 19, 2018 Formerly from Maplewood, MN and Manhattan, NY. Preceded in death by wives: 1st, Jean and 2nd, Juanita, and parents Mak You Goo and Gam Ying; and brother, Gin Hong Mark. Survived by loving sister Emily, daughters Sandra and Paula, and sons David, Eliot, and Len. Step family Rodney, Roxy, Danny, and Rita. Many grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Born in a village of Toisan, in the Guangdong province of Southern China. He is best known as the 5th Grand Master and foremost authority for the Asian Martial Art of Kwong Sai Jook Lum Gee Southern Praying Mantis Kung Fu. His Great-Grandmaster is Lam Wing Fai. In NYC, two famous students were Bruce Lee and Rocky Graziano. He is known to be one of the first Masters to teach Chinese Kung Fu to Non-Chinese descent students and to introduce the Culture of Chinese Martial Art to Minnesotans. He is a Master Chef of Chinese Cuisine and owned 3 restaurants with his wives. He was published on the cover of Black Belt magazine August 1969 and to have won divisions in a Karate vs. Kung Fu Tournament at Madison Square Garden with members of his family Jimmy, Son-David, Kip, Jimmy, and students to demonstrate at Columbia University. He performed Lion Dances and drums throughout communities and at events. He is noteworthy documented in a Living History film series by the Minnesota Historical Society and to a local filmmaker, Slavko Nowitsky to create a “Kung Fu Master” film. He appeared in The Rich Little TV show “You Asked for It”, filmed in Taiwan with his Grand Master Lam Wing Fai with his grown children Eliot, Paula. He is also a Chi Kung Breathing instructor, and a talented Oriental Brush Artist, calligrapher, herbalist, acupuncturist. Master Mark and his family had restaurants, attended tournaments, produced publications and videos of Praying Mantis Martial Art and Chi Gung. He is loved, and is missed and will be greatly remembered, by his family, friends and many students for his teachings, stories, humility, spirit, and humor. A public visitation open to family and friends will be 4-8PM on Friday, January 18th at Mueller Memorial Funeral Home, 835 Johnson Parkway, St. Paul. There will be a private, by invitation only, funeral service on a later date.