Blog

As I prepare to start secondary school in September, I have tried many sports and clubs. The closest thing to Wing Tsun I ever tried was karate, but the classes came to an end during the pandemic and I never continued. From what I can remember of the karate classes I attended, I didn’t actually do any drills, focusing more on exercise.

When Si-Hing Matt asked me to join his brand new Kung-Fu class at his new location, White Oak, I jumped at the opportunity.

The first class I attended was with Si-Hing Matt and Si-Hing Jarek. Inside I felt extremely anxious, anticipating what I might expect, but everyone was welcoming and very supportive. Throughout the class my nerves eased and being paired with Si-Hing Jarek was great as he was very patient and explained things very clearly, helping me feel more comfortable and part of their community.

I was prepared for my first grading quite quickly which was a big challenge for me. I was really scared as I arrived in London, and it took a lot of courage to stand up and join in. As the time came to grade I was very tearful, but I pushed through and gave it my best shot and achieved my first grade. I’ve since done another grading and achieved my second and third grade. Both times I’ve felt very nervous, but also proud of myself for continuing and not giving up. It’s shown me that being brave doesn’t mean you’re not scared, it means you try anyway.

Since starting Wing Tsun, I’ve learned a lot of new skills. I’ve improved my balance, coordination, and reaction times. I’ve also learned different forms and techniques that have deeper meanings behind them.

One really interesting thing I’ve learnt from Wing Tsun aside of the martial art is the skill of some different languages, learning to count in Cantonese and the names of techniques and forms. This is something I never expected to be taught when I first started, but something I have enjoyed along the way.

I feel very proud to be part of the Wing Tsun Swanley class. It’s more than just a hobby, it feels like being part of a team. Having Si-Hing Matt and Si-Hing Jarek as my teachers makes a big difference because both are very patient, kind, and always encouraging me to do my best.

My goals for the future include improve my skills, my knowledge and become a Master. My message for anybody reading this is that joining Wing Tsun is one of the best things I have ever done, if you’re a kid or an adult and thinking about it, it would be one of the best decisions of your life.

Thank you for reading