Instructor profile - James Burgess

My introduction to the Martial Arts was, like so many before me, inspired by watching both the likes of Jet Li on film and the UFC on television. Due to the latter, I chose Jiu-Jitsu as my introduction to training Martial Arts at a club whilst at university. In 2001 I began training in the Russian sport of Sombo, Combat Sombo (a full-contact variant of Sombo), and Mixed Martial Arts.

In 2003 my instructor introduced me to Yip Man Wing Chun, which immediately hooked me with its focus on the non-sporting, “real”, elements of fighting without any notion of competition. This led me to seek full-time training from Sifu Tam Woon Biu in China. I returned to the UK and continued training the Weng Chun Kung Fu system until I began training under Sifu Ed Pettitt at the beginning of 2005.

Following my introduction to Grand Master Klaus Brand’s system of WingChun via Sifu Pettitt, I have not looked back, and relish the opportunity of studying a brilliantly conceived Martial Art that honestly delivers the best self defence system that I have had the good fortune to discover.

In February 2009 I was awarded the 1st Technician Level, and in June the Assistant Instructor Degree. I began teaching my first class in September 2009 as both the next progressive step in my learning and in order to spread my knowledge of this system to others.

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