What is Chin Woo Kung Fu?
Chin Woo is an umbrella system that incorporates many different styles from open hand training, pressure point fighting, single, double and two/three man weapons sets, animal forms and much more. This style contains so much that it takes many years to cover even a small part of the syllabus. The system is in fact so big that you could learn it for a lifetime and still not know it all. To become proficient in this style and achieve a black belt takes about six to seven years with regular training.
What is Wushu?
Wushu, the Mandarin word for martial art, is the national sport of China , and is becoming increasingly popular throughout the world. Originally a fighting system involving elaborate weapons, it was evolved, hundreds of years ago, by Buddhist Monks of the Shaolin Temple in the Songshan region of China in order to defend their temples from marauding robbers. These days it can be used as a form of self-defence and mental discipline, but its main function is as a competitive sport, spectacular in content, involving high kicks, gymnastics and explosive martial techniques. Standardised competition sets in Wushu are used as qualifying routines for entry into the South East Asia Games.
What's the difference between Kung fu and Karate?
There are many different styles of Kung Fu. Many of them incorporate more than just kicks, blocks and punches. They include throws, sweeps, wrist-locks, arm-holds, pressure points and various weapons. Many styles also include gymnastic techniques such as somersaults, headsprings, free cartwheels and back flips.
Karate was derived from Kung Fu when the Japanese visited China . They took some of these elements back to Japan for Japanese villagers to learn how to defend themselves against bandits and warlords.
What should I expect when I come for a class?
The classes run for two hours. We will start you off with a warm up, followed by a conditioning circuit to help you build up the muscles you are going to need and then a stretch. We will then go into doing basics, so if you are in a gymnastics class we will do basic gymnastics, if you are doing kickboxing we will start drilling basic skills and combinations and if you are in kung fu we do basic kung fu! We then progress you to developing the basic skills you have learned in the class, so a back flip in gymnastics, a routine in kung fu or a bit of sparring in kickboxing. The class ends with a cool down circuit and stretch. We cater for varying abilities and fitness levels in our classes as well as all age groups.
What do I bring with me?
Come dressed in comfortable clothing that doesn't restrict your movement (no jeans). If you have them, wear flat soled shoes, if not, then normal trainers will be fine. Bring at least 1.5L of water with you to drink. Do not bring fizzy drinks or sugary drinks. If you are training for a long time, mix 1/3 fruit juice (e.g. apple) with 2/3 water along with a small pinch of salt, as it is an isotonic drink that will give you energy and maintain your electrolyte balance through your training.
What is BICMA's lineage?
Master Yap was brought over to Malaysia from Shanghai Chin Woo by his elder brothers to help establish Chin Woo in Malaysia . Master Teng studied under him from 1960 till his death in 1979. Following Master Yap's death, Master Teng was elected to follow in his footsteps as the Master for Selangor Chin Woo. He maintained that position till 1998 when he retired to set up the Northern Shaolin Chin Woo Centre but is still a life member of the Selangor Chin Woo Association. Alasdair Monteith started training with Master Teng in 1989 and regularly travelled to KL to train with him. Alasdair is his most senior student in the UK and set up the BICMA in 1994 to provide professional quality martial arts training in this country.
Why should I come to your class when I can go to a cheaper class down the road?
Our classes prove to be excellent value for money. They are 2 hours long rather than the usual 1-hour or 90 minutes, and everyone, regardless of sex, age or ability, will benefit from them. Our coaches come from professional sports teaching backgrounds and have numerous qualifications, and they are all fully insured to teach. They all have many years of experience practising, competing in and teaching martial arts and have all trained in the Far East . We supply all equipment and arrange for training with our Grand Master in Malaysia , as well as trying to bring him to the UK at least once a year.
So what if you're qualified? My brother teaches and he's got a black belt.
A black belt is not a teaching qualification. It is a benchmark to show someone's level of ability at a particular discipline. It does not mean that they are an effective communicator, or that they can break a technique down for a novice to understand. In addition, in the event of an accident, an insurance company is unlikely to pay out if the instructor is not suitably qualified and insured. |
