5th Generation from Wong Fei Hung

Contact information: +1 (570) 850-3164, yeeshunggaofnepa@gmail.com

Sifu Matt Kopetchny (余馬修), Sifu 3rd Dan, developed his passion for martial arts at a young age, inspired by classic Hong Kong Shaw Brothers kung fu films and the legacy of Bruce Lee. Among the many styles portrayed on screen, Hung Ga Kung Fu stood out as the art that captured his interest most deeply.

In 2002, he began formal training under Sifu Allan Ondash, a student of Philadelphia’s Master Lau Phatt, studying Village Style Hung Ga Kung Fu. This foundational period lasted approximately five years.

From 2005 to 2008, professional commitments brought Sifu Matt to Hong Kong on a regular basis. During his first visit, he made contact with Master Mark Houghton, widely known in martial arts circles as the “White Tiger.” Master Houghton is a disciple of the renowned Shaw Brothers choreographer and orthodox Hung Ga Grandmaster Lau Gar Leung (Lam Sai Wing lineage). Under his guidance, Sifu Matt was able to experience authentic Hung Ga training at its source.

As these travels came to an end, Sifu Matt sought Master Houghton’s advice on continuing authentic Hung Ga Kung Fu training in the United States. He was directed to Master Pedro Cepero Yee (余彼祖), World President of Yee’s Hung Ga International Kung Fu Association, legally adopted son of the Grandmaster Frank Yee (余志伟), the 4th Generation from Great Grandmaster Wong Fei Hung, and the lineage holder of Orthodox Hung Ga Kung Fu (GGM Tang Fong / GGM Yuen Ling Lineage).

In 2008, upon returning to the United States, Sifu Matt met Master Pedro Cepero Yee and became a close private student. Despite the significant distance—requiring nearly a two-and-a-half-hour drive each visit—he trained with dedication and consistency. After eleven years of study, he earned the rank of Jo Gow (Black Sash – Assistant Instructor).

Later that same year, in recognition of their close teacher-student relationship, Sifu Matt was invited to perform Bai Si, formally becoming an inner-room (Yup Suht) disciple. This ceremony placed him officially within the lineage as a fifth-generation disciple of Grandmaster Wong Fei Hung, one of the most legendary figures in Southern Chinese martial arts. This honor exceeded his greatest expectations.

In his pursuit of deeper knowledge beyond martial technique, and in the tradition of the ancient Kung Fu masters, Sifu Matt began studying with Master Pedro Yee the Traditional Chinese Healing Arts. This path expanded his skill set to include Medical Qigong, Qi Meditation, traditional Qigong methods, and meditation practices. Through years of dedicated study, disciplined practice, and a genuine compassion for others, he earned certification as a Medical Qigong Therapist / Qi Healer through the Center for Tuina and Qigong Therapy.

Today, Sifu Matt Kopetchny teaches Hung Ga Kung Fu, Qigong, and Meditation in both private and small group settings in Northeastern Pennsylvania, while continuing his personal training under both his teacher, Master Pedro Cepero Yee, and his grandteacher, Grandmaster Frank Yee. 

Contact information: +1 (570) 850-3164, yeeshunggaofnepa@gmail.com