Student Testimonials

Jonathan EvansKungfu and Taichi Student, Aged 28, Environmental Consultant

Head Assistant Instructor, Kungfu and Taichi

My personal experience of kungfu is one where I have not only had to train regularly, but actually think about what I am actually doing. To work out what the movement actually means and more importantly how it feels. Only by doing this have I been able to understand some of the more intricate principles in this style.

Apart from all the hard work and hours of practicing, training in kungfu is fun! From balancing cups of water on my knees and hands in low horse stance, or running around a field with a car tyre tied around my waist, you can’t beat the feeling of knowing that you are keeping fit, healthy and actually learning a traditional Chinese martial art.

For me, by far the most difficult part of the Crane system is the Taichi. It’s a common misconception to think it is slow, gentle and easy to learn. Don’t you believe it! The Suang Yang style is complex, It takes years to gain an understanding of the movements, yet some of the principles can be easily learnt. Overall, Suang Yang has allowed me to delve deeper into my martial arts training.

Bella Taichi student, aged 72, cake baker

The term Taichi personally means ‘inner peace’ to me. Although a martial art, with the addition of meditation and the healthy wellbeing it creates, it goes further.

At first when I began attending classes, I felt clumsy and erratic, but at the end of that very first session I was on a high and felt relaxed. My balance wasn’t great at first, but gradually I’ve become more stable.

Watching our instructor perform the entire pattern for us is remarkable; I notice in his movements many triangular shapes created by his body and the spaces inbetween, and the movements of birds.

I appreciate being shown the movements of Suang Yang and also how the relaxed, smooth movements relate to martial arts. I find this makes me understand more about how I should be moving.

Since attending Taichi sessions I have felt more relaxed and able to hold my own, in a gentle way. I’m stronger and more flexible and, people have remarked, younger! But I know I still have a lot to learn.

Gary Bellinger Taichi Student, aged 22, tyre fitter

I have epilepsy and cerebral palsy, and I’ve been learning Taichi with head instructor Darren for seven years now, and I’m still enjoying it.

If you say to people that you’re learning Taichi, their answer is always, ‘that’s the slow one, isn’t it?’. At one point, I would have said the same.

But Taichi isn’t the slow one. It’s not until you try this martial art that you realise it’s so much more. It can help you like it has helped me, with posture, balance, joint problems, relaxation and much more besides.

You can even take parts out of the lessons and adapt them to everyday life, which is why I enjoy this style so much. Doing this style has proven to me that I can do anything, despite my condition.

Arnold YauKungfu Student, aged 26, postgraduate research student

Kungfu is cool. No doubt about it. Perhaps it’s the kick-ass factor. Perhaps it’s the mysticism. Perhaps it’s the philosophical aspects. Perhaps it’s The Matrix. For me it’s all of that, and more.

Being a research student, a typical day in life involves not many more physical movements than typing on the computer keyboard and clicking on the mouse, apart from a short walk to lunch or the occasional excursion to the printer.

Kungfu provides the much needed antidote to my static lifestyle. I feel fantastic after a hard session of working up a good sweat, and somewhat paradoxically it gives you more energy in your daily routines. Before you know it, your body becomes a lot stronger, fitter and, I’d like to believe, sexier!

The relevance of the self-defence side of Kungfu is obvious. I particularly enjoy the pragmatic approach taught by this club, where using your head is more important than your fists, and when push comes to shove, how to handle - or get out of - any situation.

Regularly attending classes has allowed me to meet people of all ages, from all walks of life. The students are encouraged to help one another and the ‘no egos’ doctrine maintained in class is especially helpful when practising moves in pairs. And it’s always nice to have the occasional social get-together.

I was born and raised in Hong Kong, a self-contained, vibrant city in the south of China. Despite its British colonial past, the people are still unequivocally Chinese. Kungfu, or Wushu, is rife in this culture, where terms such as “Qi (氣)”, “Ying-Yang (陰陽)” or “pressure points (穴位)”, albeit often only superficially understood, get intermixed with the everyday language.

In Hong Kong, kids are brought up with Kungfu romance dramas from various periods that seem always to occupy at least one prime time slot on one TV channel or another. Not to mention the many popular novels, comics and, of course, a whole movie industry based on Kungfu films.

Yet, for whatever reason, few people I know from Hong Kong actually practise Kungfu. I feel it’s a terrible waste of more than a millennium’s worth of my ancestors’ development in the martial arts, just to spend my evenings in karaoke bars or button-mashing on the PlayStation (fun though they are!).

I’m rather pleasantly surprised at this club’s teaching of a traditional Chinese-style Kungfu, with good connections to real Chinese masters. For me, it doesn’t come any better than this.

If you don’t believe me, just give it a go.

Eileen Laidman Taichi Student, aged 74, Lady of leisure and socialite

It was many moons ago that I first encountered TaiChi, in Hong Kong. Seeing so many people doing these very slow, calm movements made a profound impression on me, this ‘can’t keep still’ person.

Many more moons later, when I thought it would be a good time to slow down, I became one of Darren’s students. His patience amazes me and has had a great effect on me. The number of times he tries to make us – me – do movements correctly to get the most benefit from Suang yang, and then I go and do it wrong the next time!

Even when I don’t really feel like attending a session, I always feel better for doing so. Long may it continue.

Matthew Pettis Kungfu Student, aged 19, Warehouse operative

I only started studying kungfu a year ago but I have already learned so much. I see it as a way of always improving myself, not just in the martial arts circle but in other aspects of my life too, as it makes me reflect on myself.

My perception of kungfu has changed significantly since I began my training. At first I thought it was all about fighting. However, I soon found out it goes a lot deeper than mere movements. This came when I started Suang Yang.

Since the beginning, I feel safer in myself, knowing that if a situation did arise and I could not diffuse it with compromise, I would be able to defend myself and others against attack.

Overall, I see kungfu as being very personal. My training is limitless because there is always, in one way or another, self improvement to be done.

Dave Johnson Kungfu and Taichi Student, aged 36, Black taxi driver

Assistant Children’s Instructor

I have been studying the White Crane style of kungfu for four years. What I love most about our system of kungfu is the way it incorporates many different fighting styles. These range from the Tiger stance, to fighting on the floor in Dog style, to the complexities of the Crane blocking and entering techniques, to the tried and tested kicking and punching combinations.

Also, I study Suang Yang. When I first started to study Suang Yang, it did not take me long to realise that the although the movements are slow, graceful and free-flowing, they are all precision strikes to various pressure points on an opponent’s body.

I find this just as rewarding as the hard style, both mentally and physically. Studying Suang Yang has greatly improved my stance, posture and balance, which in turn has improved my overall kungfu performance.

Recently I became an Assistant Children’s Instructor, a fact I’m very proud of. I could talk for hours about kungfu and Suang Yang, but as the old adage goes, the proof of the pudding is in the eating; give it a try!

WillKungfu Student, Aged 14, Student

I’ve been into martial arts since I was much younger. I would sit and watch films by Bruce Lee and Sonny Chiba for hours and then I would try to be like them in the way they moved.

In my quest to be able to move like my hero’s in films, I joined a karate club. I found it to be really boring; it had no feeling to it. Then I decided to try Southern Crane Kungfu.

Finding this martial art style was the best thing I have ever done! At first I started kungfu because my dream was to be like Bruce Lee, but now I do it for confidence and to become fitter. The lessons were much tougher than what I was used to, but I soon felt much stronger and healthier than I had before.

I was a bit worried when I started training because I didn’t know anyone, but I have met loads of great people. The atmosphere is brilliant as the people in the club are really nice.

Training at Southern Crane Kungfu has been so good, learning the crane blocks and different styles of punches and kicks. I actually look forward to Monday’s because I know I am going to my kungfu class in the evening!

NickKungfu Student, Aged 29, Fleet Manager

I have only been doing Kung Fu for a short while, but I am already feeling the benefits. Even though I am a confident person, I have found that in the short while I have been studying Tiger Crane style kungfu, my confidence has grown even more. I feel more relaxed and in tune with my surroundings.

I decided to take up Kungfu because I felt that I needed to do something after work, rather than just go home. I wanted to learn an art form that would further my knowledge and experience while exercising my mind, body and spirit. I also wanted to learn something that I could use practically if necessary. I thought that Kungfu would be the answer. I was right.

I currently do two classes per week. Southern Crane Kung Fu has a very friendly environment; everyone is so helpful. The lessons are excellent, enjoyable and totally addictive. I leave on a high, wishing the class had not ended and thinking about the next lesson I can go to.

I will not lie, the training is tough. I have never sweated or ached as much as I do now! But I know that the aches and sweats are doing me good, helping me to get fit and condition my body for further training.

Everything I am taught in class makes total sense, and even more sense when put into practice. Head Instructor, Darren Trottman, uses inspiring teaching methods that make me want to learn and push myself even more. Most if not all of the things I am taught make my jaw hit the ground in awe. This is truly a beautiful art to watch and learn.

Remembering what I learnt in class is extremely important, following the old saying, ‘practice makes perfect’. I find myself walking down the road on my way to work practising blocks and hand movements. When I get home from class I always make notes about what I have learnt, so that I can go back and refer to certain points.

Joining Southern Crane Kung Fu is the best thing I ever did.