The lofty rooms were ceremonially decorated reflecting the magnificence and elegance of Chinese Wing Tsun. Traditional hangings adorned the walls, with its characters quietly shimmering in the light. Photographs displayed the history of the schools and paintings majestically depicted the masters; you could almost touch the ancestry of the art. High up on the wall the Master’s pictures watched silently over the proceedings.

 

Welcoming and smiling helpers frequented the door. Bowing and greeting they ushered in the multitude of faces; people from all cultures and backgrounds brought together for a single purpose and a single ideal. Fresh and wholesome food was shared together with happiness and laughter. The Graduation was the very personification of Chinese Wing Tsun…

Good morning.

I would like to give my very best wishes on this Christmas day

It is the one day, in the brief passage of time which is our life, when we can stop for a moment and appreciate those people whom we take for granted all year. For me, the spirit of Christmas is actually far removed from the commercial aspect. Whilst buying and giving plays a part, I believe that this is merely the periphery of a much more important ideal:  Christmas is not about us, but rather about everybody else.  As John Donne famously stated in one of his sermons: ‘no man is an island entire of himself’. We all need the help and support of the people around us; it is not possible for us to achieve what we do without it, and our life would be so much worse without those ...

Greetings on this chilly winter morning.

 

Good morning.

 

It was with yesterday’s post in mind that I wanted to give something extra back to the students, a kind of special thank you for all their hard work and support in 2008. Although the feeling of working together is far more rewarding than any material goods, I still though that it would be nice if the schools could do something. It was, therefore, decided at a meeting of the teachers that we would offer a 35% discount on all uniform and equipment on the night of the Graduation.

 

This is substantial discount and should be useful, particularly in the current economic climate, for all the students who have just graded as it includes uniform of all levels and grading badges. To ensure that there is not a huge queue on the night of the Graduation we have introduce ...

Good morning.

 

One of the absolute pleasures of teaching traditional Chinese kung fu is seeing how the students interact and help each other, particularly in difficult times. It did, admittedly, take a number of years to develop this kind of culture within the schools, but like a seed when nurtured, it is amazing how it then blossoms and grows strong. And this is actually the essence of a kung fu family – something outside your biological family where everyone from different backgrounds, beliefs and cultures works together for the common purpose of self-improvement and improving the world around them. This, it has to be said, is far removed from a ‘martial arts social club’ where people learn ‘martial arts’ almost as an aside; there are many opportunities to do just this, but very few chances to go deeper and achieve much more than simply amusing on ...

Good morning.

I would like to write briefly about the forthcoming Graduation which will take place on next Friday, 12^th December.

It has been specifically arranged in the evening, commencing at 7.30pm, to ensure that every student has sufficient time to come after work with the minimum amount of disruption to daily life. As I have mentioned before, this is a very important event in the Wing Tsun year and one which all members of the school are required to attend (as the dates were published in January students also have no excuse!). The Graduation was actually the topic of the first meeting that I had with the teachers at the beginning of the year, and there have been numerous meetings with the teachers, assistants and other helpers since then. A lot of time, energy and effort have been put into the Graduation to make sure that it is something to be remembered.

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