Will Fox
I’m 33 and grew up in Ealing, West London. I work as an Account Director in my current job and have a background in media, previously working for Sky TV and EMAP.

WING CHUN
I went to my first Wing Chun Class on Friday September 17th 1999 – I was 25. When I say ‘Wing Chun Class’ it was more of a lecture really, going through the theory and focusing as much on what Wing Chun was not, more than anything else.

I sat and listened carefully at the Academy in South Kensington and several things struck me about the Wing Chun style. It quickly became apparent that I was not going to be learning a sport, or starting classes to keep fit, or indeed entering competitions for medals and trophies. I would be starting Wing Chun for self defence only – or in the words of my previous teacher ‘to protect myself from violent attack’. After a few months learning the basics of Wing Chun I also began studying Qi Gong – a meditation class, which helped me with stress management and concentration.

The academy in South Kensington was where I met Sifu ‘B’, who was the most senior instructor at the school. Aside from mentioning Sifu’s consummate skill as a martial artist I would like to start by talking about two of the most important values I have learned with his help, which are rarely mentioned in most martial art schools – kindness and compassion.

It may seem strange to some people, reading a testimony on Wing Chun and B Flanders Sifu, to discuss kindness and compassion first, in the context of learning an aggressive fighting style. However, I feel that gaining a greater understanding of kindness and compassion was a paramount part of my personal development together with the responsibility that went with learning practical combat techniques. B Flanders Sifu guided me in my progress, and I soon understood where my misplaced aggression was coming from – fear. I was simply worried about being attacked, and having nothing to offer if attacked. I went out to clubs / bars in Ealing and the West End witnessing many fights, assaults and muggings over the years. I would consciously be on the look out for potential troublemakers, outwardly seeming hostile and unapproachable – in the simplest form I was telling potential assailants to keep away – trying to create the impression I wasn’t worth the trouble.

As I trained and my confidence increased, my fear subsided and my perspective completely changed. I soon learnt that rather than establishing what I could do in terms of my skill – i.e. showing off, it was far more constructive to find out what I couldn’t do, and explore my limitations. I soon put fighting out of my mind, suddenly I had a window to look through beyond my own anxiety and stress. As my fear reduced, my interaction with people transformed and I could start to see that I had been studying my own human nature – a great experience of discovery.

WHY I LIKE SIFU’S SCHOOL
There is no bullying or intimidation in Sifu’s school. The atmosphere is relaxed and the focus on learning and guidance – the students are not egotistical and are welcoming. The lessons are a sanctuary from the outside world, where one can forget about everything else and concentrate on personal development. I also like the fact that everything on the Wing Chun syllabus is included in the standard lesson fees – for example, you are not charged extra for learning fundamental techniques such as the wooden dummy.

The emphasis on practical self-defence and combat is excellent, learning from someone with experience in real life confrontations is invaluable. With an awful lot to learn, the smaller classes and private tuition provided are a must for someone like me who likes to progress at their own pace.

Having known B Flanders Sifu for nearly a decade I would recommend his classes to anyone. Sifu is extremely patient, kind and has a great ability to bring out the best in people.

Sanj

WING CHUN
I first heard about wing chun by searching for martial arts, and found this school to be the nearest one to me. I had my first wing chun class in Summer 2007 when I was 25, and was interested by the style that Sifu taught, and to see the combinations that the advanced students were doing. This looked interested for me, and encouraged me to stay more.

I have been doing it for about just under 2 years now, and am getting better each lesson. I encourage people to participating in this, as I feel self defence is important for every individual.

Sifu Flanders is an excellent teacher; patient, kind, and is always available to answer any questions you have about wing chun. The other students are great too and encouraging.
His teaching style is good, and he is more like a friend to all of his students, rather than a teacher.

The class atmosphere
The class students are very friendly, and encouraging towards my progression of wing chun. They help and correct you on your mistakes in a friendly way, which is great as it helps me to improve. In private lessons you can also learn extra wing chun techniques such as using a wooden dummy, which also helps you with your progression. The experience in each lesson is valuable, and is definitely great value for money.
Wing chun also keeps you fit and healthy at the same time, so you also benefit from that.

You don’t feel intimidated by the experienced students who have been practicing wing chun for long, as they are really friendly, helpful and encouraging to new comers.

I would definitely recommend wing chun to anybody interested in learning martial arts, or even recommend it to somebody to learning a new sport or hobby. It is good for your health and fitness.

Tips for learning wing chun
-Be patient, you will learn things slowly, so don’t rush it
- Practice as much as you can, even in the days you have no lessons. Practice makes perfect.
-If you ain't sure, ask questions, on anything related to wing chun
- Overall, enjoy practicing wing chun. It is very important you enjoy what you do.