/ Reviews / Martial Arts
Defensive Moves
by Ruth Waldron
on Friday, December 17, 2010 12:00 AM
When people talk about training in martial arts, it's mostly images of popular action movies that spring to mind; starting with the dynamo that was Bruce Lee, to the more modern-day, glamorous interpretations in Crouching Dragon, Hidden Tiger, to femme fatale Uma Thurman in Kill Bill. All in all, it comes across as a bit intimidating, and really only something the daring or super fit should try. But, according to Barry Goldberg, owner of Jun Yong Tang Wing Chun Club, the ancient art of wing chun is a less-intense introduction for the timid beginner.
Wing chun is an ancient martial art, developed in Fujian Province with defense rather than offense in mind. The graceful movements are designed to repel the aggressor by reflecting their own strength and force against them; so, the wing chun practitioner need not have any great physical strength or bulk, and the instructors at the club welcome anyone from the age of five to those over sixty years of age, both male and female alike. Each two-hour class is made up of students of mixed ability, where the emphasis is not on the level attained, but more on the development of confidence and self-esteem: that said, the practice of the fluid transitions will certainly build stamina and strengthen muscle for those looking to tone up.
Open and friendly, Jun Yong Tang's members are encouraged to spend time relaxing in the communal space, drinking tea, chatting or using the free Wi-Fi service. To make everything more accessible to members from both the expatriate and Chinese community, the instructors speak a wide range of languages, including Chinese, English, Russian, Italian and Hebrew. Shifu (meaning "master") Wu JunHui and his team have many years of experience behind them, and are fully qualified to teach wing chun and tai chi at all levels.
Courses are available throughout the week, both in the evening and at other times during weekdays, including sessions for children at the weekends. There are even free trials held weekly - just give them a call and book a place. Pricing is very flexible, starting from RMB600 per month for up to three classes a week, and special discounts and benefits are available on block bookings. If you prefer to have a one-on-one lesson, private instruction starts at RMB200 per hour and home call outs are also possible on request.
The Bottom Line: Fun, philosophy and exercise all rolled into one.