Hong Luck Kung Fu Forum Toronto ~ View topic

Joined: 02 Jan 2005 Posts: 2

Hey,

Not that I know everything about this place, but just wanted to say a little about the training options over here in London.

So far, after investing much much time researching kung fu classes (over the internet)here, I have realized the following:

1. In the vicinity of London, there aren't many options for Kung Fu classes. They have either been combined with karate, kickboxing, and other styles of kung fu, resulting in the All-In-One school, or they look hyped up.

2. The classes offerred are only about 1-2 hours twice a week, and the tuition is generally at least £50 ($125Can) a month, with a minimum 6 or 12 month commitment. There is also generally a one time registration fee.

3. Most places won't allow you to watch a class before deciding whether to join or not. They will, though, allow you to take a trial class for a nominal fee. Mine cost £8 for a 1.5 hour class.

4. Not many kinds of kung fu are offerred here. I didn't have luck finding a choy li fut or do pi school in London, though I believe there was one outside of London.

About my trial class at a wing chun school:

The class I took was 1.5 hours and was mixed level. There were about 4 people, all males under 30, I think. I had a lot of problems with the class and the teacher. After finding out what I took in Toronto, the teacher proceeded to diss choy li fut, do pi, and hung gar. (I apologise to everyone for not defending it, but I couldn't talk back to my teacher, right?) He was also arrogant and had B.O. (:-& PEW!)

As for the class, it was not structured at all. They didn't do any drills, practice any forms or do any stances. I was seperated from the class and did the basics by myself. I was also taught the first bit of a form. I didn't feel part of the class at all, so it wasn't motivating.

But it wasn't all bad. The one thing that I thought was really good was that for the duration of the class, the students were constantly sparring bare handed. All they did was spar, and it wasn't even a sparring class.

So, needless to say, I didn't go back. I couldn't afford to go back anyway, as they needed 6 months paid up front.

Other than that, I haven't had luck finding another place that is affordable and has long enough classes (at least 2 hours).

If anybody has any suggestions or has had a different experience here, please let me know.

You will find a lot of other styles dissing each other. At least I know karate dissing kung fu when Ray went to fight in a karate competition. One of the karate opponents asked Ray what kind of dance is he going to do. I guessed showed him his punching power and he kept back pedalling occasionally turning his back on Ray.

If there were no "only straight punch" and "no contact to the head" rule, Ray would knocked him out.

Joined: 17 Jan 2005 Posts: 1

Yeah I was in London all of last year and found the same problems (limited styles offered in the central London area and the insanely high costs). I studied the Fujian White Crane Style last year at the city Islington location. It was pretty decent basic training, and definitely made me sweat! As with many clubs (not just in London) there was an excessive amount of pressure placed on grading, which I think is basically a cash grab. Other bad things: they didn't have a set location to train at, moving from community centre to community centre which meant there were no punching bags, etc. And the classes were timed to the minute with no opportunity to train before or after class.

I did one trial class at the Shaolin Temple UK and it was really good (I literally almost passed out!), but they insisted on a membership fee and I only had a few months left in London so figured it wasn't worth it. Trial classes are pretty cheap so it might be worth checking out....

http://www.shaolintempleuk.org/stuk/index.html

D.

Grasshopper Joined: 21 Feb 2006 Posts: 5 Location: Ireland

so much for respect between styles. I guess its traditional for some styles to be constantly at eachother. Dad says his school- Bak Mei, used to always be challengedby Wing Chun in Hong Kong.
I think it's probably very hard to find a good non moneygrabbing kung fu school in the west, there are a few, but I don't really know.

Lee Gwok Pui taught Bak Mei (I think) in Birmingham, but he might have gone back to Hong Kong, and he still hasn't found any gifted students to teach and pass onto, and he is in his eighties now.

Of course he may be very strict in accepting students, like making you take vows and learn all the riles .