WingChun Club News 2007
WingChun news from 2007
15th December 2007
Congratulations to the following students who passed their respective grade levels during December 2007.
Imogen
Davnall |
Level
1 |
10th September 2007
Congratulations to the following students who passed their respective grade levels during August and September 2007.
Will Wood |
1
Distinction |
20th August 2007
Sifu Klaus Brand was in England for the third time in August 2007, and, as before, his visit proved a great inspiration to all of the students and instructors here.
On Friday 17th Sifu Brand taught an evening seminar for those who have the Pre-Primary or Technician Levels. The focus of the lesson was chi sau for the First and Second Technician Levels and some insightful explanations of how the training of the Forms translates exactly into various applications. The technical explanations brought a new level of understanding to the training of chi sau, and the chi sau itself was a challenge for the minds and the bodies of the participants!
Saturday 18th was the day of the main seminar, open to all students of the IAW-UK. Student programmes 1-4 were taught for those at that level, and Sifu Brand highlighted the most important points in each, with the emphasis being on realistic and functional self-defence. Sifu Brand reinforced the importance of these programmes and reminded the students that there is no quality in the higher programmes if levels 1-4 are not properly trained and understood. Students of the 5th Level were trained in the use of the elbows and again, there was training in chi sau for the 6th Student Levels and upwards. Later, the more senior students were shown an insight into the weapons defence programmes, with fundamental techniques against a stick and a knife, whilst student levels 1-4 were tested on the speed of their basic steps and punches.
With each visit Sifu Brand adds a new layer of understanding to each area of training. He teaches with patience and humour and demonstrates with ferocity, and the combination of these qualities always makes for an inspiring weekend. Not only that, Sifu Brand also shares a drink with students after the seminar in case they have any more questions. We are very fortunate to have such an amazing Sifu.
Thank you to Sifu Brand for another great weekend, and thank you to Sifu Alex and Sihing Ralph who accompanied him and assisted the students and instructors in their training.
24th June 2007
On Sunday the 24th June 2007 Sihing Tony Hollander and Sihing Ed Pettitt were proud to be invited by Grandmaster Klaus Brand to an International Academy of WingChun event in Stuttgart, at the WingChun Academy of Sifu Alex Lemuth.
The event was a grading seminar for Technicians and those testing for various Instructor Degrees. There was training in various student programmes and in the Technician programmes from 1 to 3. Some of the subjects covered were:
- How to manage the distance between you and the opponent
- Angles of attack
- Defending against stick and knife attacks
- Combining techniques
- Applying Siu Nim Tao and Tsum Kiu, the first two empty-hand forms of WingChun
- Applying Biu Tse, the devastating third form of WingChun
The event was a real inspiration, and combined with another seminar on the Saturday and private tuition from Grandmaster Klaus Brand on the Monday, Sihings Tony and Ed returned to England with their minds buzzing and full of motivation. Roll on August when Sifu Brand returns to England for what promises to be another great weekend.
9th June 2007
On Saturday 9th June, seven WingChun students from the Dulwich school, run by Tayo Davy, came to Tunbridge Wells to review student levels 1 and 2.
The three-hour session was the first of many which will ensure the quality and understanding of all students who are members of the IAW-UK. All of the students who attended have varying degrees of previous experience (in other Wing Chun, WingTsun styles) so the purpose of the session was not to grade them in the usual way, but to ensure they were clear about the fundamentals of WingChun so that their progression in the system is built on strong foundations and is not confused with ideas they may have previously learnt. WingChun has a clear progressive structure and therefore must be understood from the very beginning. The students who attended were extremely motivated and Head Instructors Sihing Tony Hollander and Sihing Ed Pettitt would like to thank them, and their instructor, Tayo, for a great afternoon.
29th April 2007
Congratulations to the following students who passed their respective grade levels during the week ending Sunday 29th April:
Mark
Darby |
1
SL |
25th February 2007
Over the weekend of the 24th and 25th February 2007 our Head Instructors Tony Hollander and Ed Pettitt were very proud to be appointed as the UK Head Instructors for the International Academy of WingChun by Grandmaster Klaus Brand. Having been affiliated with, and taught by, Sifu Brand for nearly a year now, this is a very exciting development for the organisation. We look forward to a thoroughly inspiring and rewarding future under Sifu Brand's expert guidance.
15th January 2007
 |
Matthew Brownbridge 6th August 1972-14th January 2007 It is with great sadness that we announce the death of one of our senior students. Matt Brownbridge had his life cut short in a motorcycle accident on Sunday 14th January 2007 at the age of 34. Matt had been a student of WingChun for more than 5 years and had attained the 12th (Pre-Primary) Student Level. He was a wonderful person with a wicked sense of humour and a genuine way with people. Matt was generous and laid-back and was a great help to lower-level students and a fearless training partner for his peers. He was also a great friend to many of us outside of class and brought a warmth to any gathering. His presence in class and in our lives is sorely missed. We will always remember him. |
