Instructor Profile: Andrew King
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Andrew King is a qualified instructor in Federation Wing Tsun with the UK Kung-Fu Federation. Based in Surrey, he runs our martial arts school in Epsom & Ewell, assists at our Chessington school, and teaches private lessons at our New Malden Headquarters. Besides being a dedicated martial artist he is also an accomplished visual artist with an ever-growing portfolio, holding exhibitions in Surrey & across South-West London.
Andy writes...
1970: Born at the end of 1970. Lived in Battersea until the age of 3 then moved to the Kingston Upon Thames area where I still live today.
1977: My interest in martial arts began when at the age of 7. My dad introduced my brother & I to Judo which we attended at the local youth club for 2 years. At weekends my Dad would remove the cushions from the sofa, lay them on the floor, and with the aid of Judo books from the local library we would throw each other over our shoulders & practice new techniques. At 9 years of age I showed an ever-increasing enthusiasm for Judo, so moved to another school under the instruction of Sensei Peter Redman. Within 2 weeks of joining this club my brother and I entered a competition, competing at Crystal Palace in the 'Mini-Mon Competition'. I studied Judo for 7 years in total, gaining what I now know as valuable knowledge in discipline, self-control and balance using gravity to your advantage. I truly believe that the art of Judo is one of the best starting blocks for children.
1984: at 14 years of age I began to study Wu-Shu-Kwan (aka Chinese Boxing) under the instruction of Sifu Eddie Cheah, Deputy Director of the Wu-Shu-Kwan art. WSK is a full-contact martial art with many forms, quite similar to kick boxing in many ways. After training for 6 years, reaching my brown belt and watching many Bruce Lee movies I found myself wanting to discover the deeper meaning of the Chinese arts.
1994: Whilst watching 'Combat 94' on Eurosport I saw a demonstration by Sifu Shaun Rawcliffe in the art of Wing Chun. I was instantly intrigued by the direct approach in which the attackers were dealt with.
I subsequently found an advert in 'Combat' magazine for the Wing Chun style of Kung-Fu. I was eager to find out more, so after a bit of research I made a call to the teacher Sifu Anton Van Thomas. After chatting for some time I went to watch the class in Wimbledon. This is what I was looking for! I liked what I saw, as he appeared very, very fast with direct strikes. I began training the following week and after a couple of lessons I was hooked - I loved the directness of it and the explosive power! During my tuition I had the privilege of meeting the two sons of Sifu Ip Man (Ip Chun & Ip Ching). I also had the pleasure to meet with Sifu Samuel Kwok, Sifu Shaun Rawcliffe and many other Lineages of the Wing Chun System including Sifu Gary Mckenzie in Clapton Common and Sifu Clive Potter (student of Wong Shong Long). All of them were very skilful in their own right and have many years experience in the art of Wing Chun.
I trained under Anton for five years until the club moved to Croydon. Afterwards I continued to train with friends I had met during my time. We would meet & practice Chi-Sao for many hours.
1999: I began to miss the club environment, so sought out alternative training. During a conversation with a chef in a Chinese restaurant I was directed to Sifu Victor Kan (a direct student of Ip Man) and his Ving Tsun style of Kung-Fu in Lambeth road, London. Starting from a beginner again after 5 years of training was hard, but I was willing to do this as I loved the art so much. The training was very different. I found the Su-Nim-Tao much harder in terms of muscular tension and the discipline was very much like an old traditional Kung-Fu school. However despite travelling the hour-long journey each way for 3 years, I found the learning process to be rather slow as I had still not been introduced to the Chum-Kui (the second Ving Tsun unarmed form). It was becoming more costly in terms of both time & money for me to make the journey. I had to leave the organisation but my love of Wing Chun did not die.
2002: Whilst reading a local advertising leaflet at the Chessington Sports Centre Gym, I saw they offered Kung-Fu on a Thursday evening. I phoned the number & started training the Leung Ting WingTsun system (note the spelling - all one word) the following week under the instruction of Sifu Lee Paul Heron, starting once again from the beginning. I have been studying his interpretations & own developments of this system since 2002 and I have to say hand-on-heart I have learnt a wealth of deeper meaning and understanding.
My training felt much more complete in terms of body mechanics, the true ideas of softness, giving up strength in turn for structure & developing immense power from the ground through relaxed muscles which is just one element of Wing Tsun. It also contained what seemed to be a more complete idea of Wing Chun footwork. For me it's like somebody has just turned up the dimmer-switch and everything is now visible.
I know that under my teachers' instruction I will study in the correct way, achieving my ultimate & initial goal of understanding authentic Kung-Fu. I can honestly say I have learnt so much within the last 6 years studying Wing Tsun under the instruction of Lee although I would never regret my previous training as it has taught me many valuable lessons and - more importantly - planted the seed for this ever-growing springtime tree of beauty.
2005: I began to teach this wonderful fighting art and it's the most rewarding job ever! Watching people develop from Day 1, seeing the joy on peoples' faces as they suddenly understand the idea, when something clicks inside, that last jigsaw piece that completes the next beautiful picture, of which there are many.
2006: I started studying the Escrima Concepts System with world-class weapons teacher Master Steve Tappin, along with many of my UKKFF colleagues & instructors. This proves a very rewarding art indeed, teaching you the all-important armed defence concepts and for sure teaches you to MOVE! Highly recommended for all students.
2007: Has been a very busy year indeed. In January I opened my own school in Ewell which has steadily grown throughout the year. We have had more seminars than ever, including visits from our Alliance friends from Europe, Dai-Sifu Alan Jensen, Sifu Morten Ibsen, Robert Sundel all from Scandinavia. Master Paolo Bonucci & Master Marco Mattioni from Italy. Master Benno Westra from the Netherlands and of course monthly visits by Master Steve Tappin, Wayne Tappin, Shaun Bolwell and his guys from Bristol too.
On 1st December 2007 I was awarded my 1st Technician Grade after completing the Water Stage of the Federation Wing Tsun System, an achievement of which I am very proud.
2008: A brand-new year with many exciting seminars & developments ahead - can't wait! Wing Tsun is very much a personal journey for which there is no time limit and no pressure. The journey has to begin somewhere and as you progress along your path you will feel that your art becomes very much part of you.
