WingChun Club News
WingChun News from 2010
New WingChun club in Crowborough
The IAW is pleased to announce the opening of a new WingChun group in Crowborough. The classes meet on Monday and Thursday evenings at 7.30 pm in the United Church, Crowborough and are taught by Steve Bowler. Best wishes to Steve. For anyone wanting more information on this class please refer to the Where To Train page.
Grandmaster, Sifu Klaus Brand Seminar
On the 3rd, 4th and 5th September 2010 we were hosts once again to our Grandmaster, Sifu Klaus Brand. There was a Technician seminar, two days of testing and an all-levels seminar over the weekend. As always it was a hugely enjoyable and inspiring visit.
Sifu Ed and Sifu Tony are pleased to announce that the following instructors/students have successfully passed their respective examinations:
Instructor Degree 1
Steve Bowler
Sihing Peter Jackson
First Technician
Mick Bayliss
Luke Cheetham
Second Technician
Sihing James Burgess
Dan Grace
Sihing Steve Robinson
Lee Wilson
The testing was conducted over two days by Grandmaster Brand and the certificates were presented by him on Sunday 5th September 2010. Congratulations to all of the above from Sifu Ed and Sifu Tony. It is great to see your commitment to your training pay off.
In addition, James Burgess was officially awarded the title of Sihing by Sifu Brand. Congratulations James.
Student Gradings July 2010
After 3 very successful grading seminars in July 2010 the following list of IAW-UK students passed their respective grade levels. Congratulations to all of them, but a special mention goes to Mark Heathcote and Adam Medhurst who both passed the test for the Pre-Primary Level after an intensive 4 hours.
First student level |
Forth student level Sixth student level |
Eighth student level Ninth student level |
Adam's Story
Adam Medhurst first started training in WingChun when just 7 years old. Each lesson this quiet unassuming child always did his utmost to please. I am sure Adam never realised what a hold on him WingChun would have. Six years later Adam joined the adult classes and immediately settled in to continue his personal task of being the best that he can be.
Adam arrives in the adult class
Adam is now 16 years old and an excellent partner for any of the senior students. He sets a very fine example for all other students by getting on at every opportunity with his training and never ever allowing himself to stop for a rest and chat when there is training to be had and a partner to learn with.
Seminars with Grandmaster Klaus Brand
I have rarely seen Adam miss a class in all these nine years and now he is training for his Pre-Primary Level. But not just this, Adam has just graduated with his Assistant Instructor Degree after being tested by Grandmaster Klaus Brand.
Adam receives his Assistant Instructor Degree from Grandmaster Klaus Brand
I never forget of course the support of Adam's parents who have ferried this young man every single week not only to my classes but also to those of Sifu Ed Pettitt in Tunbridge Wells. As Adam has immersed himself in WingChun undoubtedly they have been shocked by his consistent enthusiasm.
Adam will, I know, shortly be training hard for his Technician Levels and with his determination and ability to make every single second of his lesson time count this will be well in his grasp.
So, congratulations Adam for all that you have achieved so far. I am proud to be your instructor and to see your very real development for myself.
Your Sifu, Tony
WingChun Instructor Tests
Congratulations to the following Instructors/Students who passed their respective Instructor tests on Saturday 5th June 2010:
From left to right (standing): Sihing James Burgess (Instructor Degree 1), Adam Medhurst (Assistant Degree), Simon Orpen (Instructor Degree 1), Sihing Steve Robinson (Instructor Degree 1), Sihing Steve Rose (Instructor Degree 1), Sihing Julian Weston (Instructor Degree 1), Dan Grace (Instructor Degree 1).
Congratulations to the following students who were awarded the Student Level in Escrima on 6th June 2010:
Steve Bowler, Sihing James Burgess, Craig Collins, Marion Eeson, Dan Grace, Christopher Montgomery, Simon Orpen, Sihing Julian Weston.
Special Class May 2010
Student Gradings April 2010
First student level |
Third student level Fourth student level Fifth student level |
Seventh student level Eighth student level Ninth student level |
(T) Denotes a temporary grade.
This is where a student does not complete all the requirements to a full standard. They can though carry the grade and complete it at the next grading seminar.This is possible up to level 4 so the student if diligent and able can also test their next level in this same period.
It is necessary for students to train at least twice a week to test for level 9 and above because of the quantity to learn and standard to be attained. If this is not possible then it can be done over two grade periods.
We have made this easily possible by having the monthly training fee at just £10 more for those wanting to train more than one night a week. In fact for just £55 students can train up to 8 hours a week (yes a full 32 hours a month) by making use of the available venues. And I am pleased that many do take advantage of this possibility.
Sifu Klaus Brand was here in England again from the 18th to the 23rd February 2010
As always his visit was eagerly anticipated and proved both informative and inspirational. On Friday the 19th Sifu Brand taught a group of Pre-Primary and Technician Levels in the Technician Seminar. Here he explained some developments for our chi sau training with specific reference to one of the 1st Technician training programmes. With each seminar the WingChun becomes clearer and the logic and connections running through the system can be seen more and more. It is Sifu Brand's goal to teach a system that is clear from the beginning to the end, with no so-called 'secrets' or unnecessary variations. WingChun is highly sophisticated, but the emphasis is always on the practical function of self-defence. It is the mixture of mental and physical logic which makes WingChun so enjoyable and Sifu Brand's creativity in the development of the art is amazing. With every adjustment he makes to the system, WingChun makes more and more sense.
On Sunday 21st Sifu Brand taught a seminar for all levels. Again the main emphasis was to pass on some new developments to the student programmes and for much of the seminar all students trained the 3rd student level programme. Later, separate groups were made and other aspects of the student levels were trained. As always there were amazed smiles as the speed and power of WingChun were physically illustrated by Sifu Brand and by the end of four and a half hours there were a few weary bodies in the training hall!
At the end of the seminar, Sihing Ralph Dahl from Germany, a student of Sifu Brand for many years, Sifu Tony Hollander and Sifu Ed Pettitt were each awarded the Third Technician Level in WingChun. It followed a test on the Saturday in which they had to systematically work through all the training programmes and forms from the 6th Student Level to the 3rd Technican Level – a mental test as well as a physical one – under the critical eye of Sifu Brand. With that and additional training and corrections on Sunday it was a suitably tiring weekend and the three instructors were very proud to have their certificates presented to them by Sifu Brand. All of the Technicians and Instructor Levels here in England are personally tested by Sifu Brand and this ensures that there is a benchmark of quality and consistency in the IAW-UK.
As always, Sifu Brand shared some free time over a drink with anyone who wanted to come and was happy to answer any questions they had. We are truly fortunate to have such an open-minded and approachable Grandmaster who is constantly improving the WingChun system and is so exact about passing it on to others. We would like to extend a sincere thank you to Sifu Brand and also to Sihing Ralph who is now a regular visitor to England.
Sifu Tony Hollander and Sifu Ed Pettitt
WingChun December Grading Results
December 2009 saw another very successful week of gradings for the IAW-UK. It is great to see the progress everyone is making. Congratulations to all of you, listed below, for passing your respective grade levels.
First student level |
Fifth student level |
Ninth student level |
