UK Kung-Fu Federation

Frequently Asked Questions

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Frequently Asked Questions

 How much will my training cost?

This depends on your training method (General Classes or Private Tuition) how you pay (per-lesson, per-month or per-term) and what you are studying (Kung-Fu, Escrima, Health & Fitness or any combination). We offer all new students a free trial period of 4 weeks in our general classes, which allows you plenty of evaluation time before you join. Like anything you can eventually spend as much or as little as you like, but we don't do contracts and we don't do hidden costs. All prices are shown on this website or in our literature at all times.

 What do I get for my General Class tuition fees?

Your per-month or per-term fees let you train at all of our General Classes in your chosen art(s) each week, so go as many times as you can. Any seminars or private tuition are at additional cost.

 Can I pay per-lesson?

You can pay per-lesson for Private Tuition in any of our arts, including Health & Fitness Personal Training. Per-lesson payments are NOT available for General Classes. We would waste a lot of time at the start/end of each class collecting fees & doing administration. Plus it would be impossible to predict monthly cash-flow and thus conduct proper business with our instructors, suppliers & hired venues. As a non-profit organisation this is doubly important of course.

 Do I have to pay General Class tuition fees if I can't attend for a while?

Not if you inform us that you need to suspend your payments. It works like this; once you join our classes a tuition fee is payable from that point on, because of course we have to hire a venue & pay an instructor to teach you. However if something unexpected happens you are welcome to suspend your payment for any number of complete months, even if you are paying by monthly Standing Order which many of our members do. We understand that little problems can happen, so don't worry.

If you become unable to commit to at least one month's training at a time, perhaps due to changing work or family commitments, we suggest that private tuition will probably become your best option.

 Can I train at the Federation Headquarters?

Yes. We are open during the day Monday-Saturday for private tuition or small-groups, however our evening General Classes are held at our various local schools, as we require a lot more space. Our HQ is open to all members for private lessons, administration, merchandise or just a coffee & a chat. All members are also welcome to use practice rooms during the day free of charge, and of course any prospective student may call in if they would like more information about what we offer.

 What are the minimum & maximum ages for new students?

Generally the minimum age for a new student is 15. It is essential to understand concepts & principles right from the start, and we have found that most younger students completely miss the point of their training, making it difficult for older students to train with them effectively. For under-15's we offer various short courses for local schools & colleges, which have been very popular since we began offering them in 2002. There is no upper age limit to your training, and indeed we welcome many students later in their lives.

 When can I start?

You may start Private Tuition any time assuming we can find a mutually convenient time-slot. Our General Classes enrol new students at the start of each term, and we progress each new group together. Add your name to a school waiting list by contacting us, or by completing our application form online. While you are waiting for the next enrolment you are welcome to have private lessons or visit a class to watch.

 How long does it take to learn Kung-Fu or Escrima?

A person who trains with a serious attitude perhaps twice a week will usually take around 4-5 years to complete the Apprentice Level in either Kung-Fu or Escrima. Journeyman & then Master levels will take as long as they take. Think what you really mean by this question? How long before you can defend yourself? (Against whom?) How long before you get a Black Belt? (Why not buy one?) How long before you get the first idea & can move a bit? (Maybe a few weeks!) Although our martial arts are based on simple principles, you'll find that actually applying them at will takes practice - quality skills take time. The UK Kung-Fu Federation is a non-profit organisation, which means that your ability means more to us than how much you are prepared to pay. We don't sell our grades.

Your ability will depend on your natural attributes, how often you attend lessons and how often you practice. However everything improves with good instruction and perseverence. It's up to you, but we'll be there to help you every step of the way and you'll have great fun during the journey.

 What style or type of Kung-Fu do you teach?

We teach the Federation Wing Tsun System which is our own unique interpretation of the traditional Chinese system developed from the teachings of Great-Grandmaster Yip Man.

Our instructors have studied many different interpretations of Wing Chun over the years & are highly ranked in many systems, including those of Leung Ting & Wong Shun Leung. Feeling that these well-developed systems still lacked a certain something, we subsequently spent nearly a decade developing our own approach by incorporating five-element theory, strategy & correct weapons concepts right from the first lesson. This process was greatly facilitated by the many varied Masters of the World Martial Arts Alliance, whom we joined in late 2005. Now the Federation Wing Tsun System is rapidly gaining support in the martial arts world as more & more students find their way to us, especially those who have previously studied other versions of Wing Chun.

 What style or type of Escrima do you teach?

We teach the Escrima Concepts Weapon System developed by Master Steve Tappin. Traditional Escrima (or Eskrima) is an indigenous Filipino martial art with close stylistic links to Kali and Arnis, however western influences have enriched & enhanced the system to the extent that the word Escrima is now used more out of respect & tradition than to describe a classical art. Master Steve Tappin's Escrima Concepts is a modern, honest, no-nonsense fighting system that is especially practical in todays weapon-based society.

 Were you ever part of the EWTO or IWTA?

Our head instructor Sifu Lee Paul Heron represented the EWTO in South-West London for 8 years until late 2005, and subsequently resigned due to moral & ethical differences with the organisations aims, and a desire to offer his students access to proper weapons training. We are now a non-profit organisation and do not represent Sifu Leung Ting or Sifu Keith Kernspecht and are full members of the World Martial Arts Alliance. Due to the very slow update of many websites around the world we are still sometimes listed as official EWTO schools, which of course we have no control over.

 How big are the classes, and how many Instructors are there?

There are usually between 15-30 students depending on the time of year. Every class has a main instructor and an assistant, and the classes are split into training stages, meaning a maximum of 4 groups. The instructors introduce material to each group in turn, then assist each student individually with their techniques. We pride ourselves on giving as much individual attention as possible, as the whole point of each class is that you improve.

 Will I get hurt during training?

Good training is not about harming your partners, holding grudges or starting fights through insecurity or a bad attitude. Our classes are closely supervised, all movements are demonstrated & explained in great detail and then practiced with control. However please remember that you are learning a proper fighting art, and this involves contact, pressure, adrenalin and the occasional impact. This is martial arts, not a dance wearing martial arts clothing.

Your training partners are there to help you improve, and in turn it is your role to help them improve. Aggressive, bad-tempered, ego-fuelled bullies are not welcome in our schools and we will remove ANY student who displays such tendencies. Come along, have fun, learn & be part of the family - or don't come at all.

 Am I insured for accidents whilst in class?

Yes you are. We are a professional organisation who considers the safety of students to be paramount. All Federation members and our instructors are insured for both Professional Indemnity and Public Liability for up to 2 million pounds, however to date we have had zero claims. New students are covered by a temporary policy until the end of their free trial period, after which time they need to become full members to remain covered. In addition our instructors and hired venues have first-aid certification, though once again we have never had reason to use their skills.

 Are the Martial Arts just for men?

Happily not, although whilst more men than women currently train with us, we do have a good proportion of female students who are becoming better & better. Wing Tsun Kung-Fu was originally invented by a woman specifically to overcome the greater size & strength of most men, so it is an especially suitable martial art for ladies to learn. Strangely, many men enjoy the more intelligent experience of giving up their strength and winning through skill & subtle technique, whilst many women seem to enjoy the more traditionally masculine power associated with Karate, TKD or Kickboxing. Those women who do invest time & effort in Kung-Fu discover enormous benefits, so hopefully you'll be one of them.

 Will I have to 'condition' my limbs and body?

If by conditioning you mean attempting to toughen or harden areas of your body to resist impacts, then no you don't. Our style of Kung-Fu has absolutely no need of this, and it's just pointless when weapons are involved in Escrima. We do not break boards or bricks, bend metal bars, or attempt to gain the so-called Iron Shirt of traditional Shaolin Kung-Fu styles. No amount of training can make your eyeballs, throat, genitals or organs more resistant to impacts, and it is to these areas we strike when unarmed. During weapons fighting anything is a viable target, and a machete will slice your arm off no matter how many hours of iron-shirt training you've done.

Our training will increase your balance, speed, movement, flexibility, your level of relaxation and your ability to yield to pressure. A good amount of regular training will also increase your overall fitness level and tones all your muscles. or you can look at our Health & Fitness area for more information on overall fitness conditioning.

 How fit do you have to be?

If you can walk up a flight of stairs with no major problems, you should be fine to start training with us. Our training is progressive and very structured, which means that the complex things are built on the simple things. You will learn how to stand in balance, how to move your arms & legs, how to move your body through steps & turns, and how to put all these things together in the context of fighting. The vast majority of people are surprised to discover that they are not as co-ordinated as they first thought - your body already knows how to move, we simply train the mind & nervous system to move it in the right way at the right time! View the galleries of our classes & seminars - there are people of all ages and all levels of fitness learning the art.

 Do you hold tournaments or competitions?

The Federation doesn't hold it's own competitions at present, however we do have full access to tournaments within our parent organisation, the World Martial Arts Alliance. Many Alliance members run their own regular tournaments in Escrima, NHB, Grappling, BJJ and many other arts. If you are someone who wishes to compete then we can help you train and enter if you wish.

Generally speaking, putting an art designed for real combat into the sporting arena means applying rules and regulations for the safety of the participants. This can sometimes mean that the most effective (most dangerous) techniques are disallowed, therefore not trained, and over time they are lost completely. Instructors may begin training students to win competitions, rather than to develop complete martial artists. This is NOT to say that the martial sports are a bad thing, however there are plenty of clubs around who cater for this type of training. Their focus is very different from ours.

 Is there any sparring involved?

Sparring is one of those things that often divides opinions. Our attitude is that progressive sparring is essential to the progression of a student, but only when a reasonable level of knowledge & ability has been reached. To engage in sparring before certain reactions are understood & sufficiently mastered simply forces old habits back. Remember - practice does not make perfect, only perfect practice makes perfect.

Controlled sparring & intensive physical training can be very enjoyable though, so we offer regular training sessions called Pressure Testing Seminars which cater for this. Our exercises & drills are designed to complement your current level and put you under more pressure. Not everyone wants to spar, so it would be unfair to force everyone down this path each week in our General Classes.

 How often can I train?

Now this is totally up to you! We offer an unrivalled amount of training opportunites, including evening classes 4 nights a week, daily daytime drop-in practice, daily private lessons, varied seminars almost every weekend of the year, training holidays and even social events. If you have the time and the desire, we can provide the opportunity and the expertise. Plus we do everything we can to keep our fees down - we believe the benefits of training should be shared with as many people as possible.

 What should I wear?

For your first lesson just wear trainers, loose trousers and a short-sleeved T-Shirt. Please also remove watches and jewellery. After your free trial period you'll hopefully discover that the UK Kung-Fu Federation is for you - only then should you purchase our uniform!

 Can I come and watch a class?

Yes of course. Prospective students are welcome to come and watch our General Classes at any time. Simply contact us in advance and we'll make sure we have some relevent information for you when you arrive.

 More About Standing Orders

If you choose to pay your tuition fees on a per-month basis, we prefer that you set up a Standing Order rather than use cash or cheques. Standing orders are easy; You choose a regular monthly date, and your bank pays us each month. Unlike a Direct Debit we have no control over how much or how often, and you can cancel at any time.

Standing orders ensure you have always paid for your training, so you can turn up to any class without hassle. They also means we don't spend your valuable training time collecting, chasing fees. To thank you for this, we make payment by standing order cheaper than paying by cash or cheque.

Standing orders leave you in full control and cut down paperwork for us. We do not force our students into long-term contracts. If you like what we do then stay & learn - hundreds do, and we are confident in our ability to provide continually excellent classes. If you discover it's not your thing then thanks for your time and we're glad you gave us a try.

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