ABOUT US
Welcome to the school of chinese martial arts.
We are a unique full-time club based in Kilkenny city, Ireland.
We at the school of Chinese martial arts are dedicated to the practice and teaching of the Traditional Chinese Martial Arts, as passed on to us by the many great masters we have trained with over the last 20+ years.
Classes are run 6 days per week at our full time, fully equiped club. We provide tuition to men and women and children in Yiliquan kung-fu, Shaolin Seven Star Praying Mantis kung-fu, Wing Chun kung-fu, Tai Chi Chuan, Qi gong and Self-defence.
Offering new students a range of styles and a choice of training programs. We are a truly unique full time professional club.
We believe the standards within the school of Chinese martial arts are unmatched anywhere in Ireland.
This is one of the first things you will see when entering our school.
It is calligraphy by master Xing An-ping.
this means: DISCIPLINE/TRAINING/TEMPERING CHARACTER
this is a form of discipline which suggests training of the mind and character aimed at producing self-control,obedience.ect..
this can even be translated as termpering oneself or turning yourself into harden steel.
Our training includes all ranges of combat from punching and kicking to throwing, locking and vital point striking. Breathing exercises (qi gong) and meditation are all an integral parts of our training. Weapons’ training is heavily emphasised, learning how to wield a weapon against another armed attacker and how to defend it empty handed.
Without the training of weapons your martial art studies are incomplete and your barehanded skill's will always lack there full potential.
The real fact is that in the street you’re most likely to encounter an attacker wielding a weapon or multiple attackers. And so the abilty to defend and weild a weapon (even it is is just a make shift object you have picked up) is extremely important.
Kung-fu is not only useful for developing self-defense skills; regular practice of our special qigong and neigong exercises promotes good health, releases stress, and fosters a wonderful sense of well-being. In our modern, fast-paced world, health maintenance is extremely important.
This is a picture of sifu mark in USA. from left - right: sensei Alanda Foster,sifu Mark Stapleton,sifu Jeremy Thompson,Master Phillip Starr, sensei John Kerker
Real Traditional martial arts are not for sport or contests. For the traditional martial arts practitioner, trophies, medals, fancy titles are not our goals. To stray from the ORIGINAL purpose of martial arts training is a gross misuse of the arts, and only takes us further away from their true meaning.
A traditional training program includes much more than just kicking and punching. The traditional martial arts effect every aspect of your life and can truly help you make the changes you need to become more successful, focused, productive member of society.One of the major differences between modern martial arts and that of the old ways, is that the old ways give you a path or way (dao) for living your life.
Very few people today understand the true benifits and true meaning of real martial arts.
OTHER BENIFITS OF KUNG-FU TRAINING
Promotes self-confidence and concentration.
Enhances fitness through aerobic and anaerobic exercises as well as gentle stretching exercises and special Chinese fitness routines.
Students progress at their own pace while enjoying their accomplishments and reaping the benefits of this ancient training regimen!
Teaches students how to meet and accept new challenges!
"I do not want to follow in the footsteps of men of old, I seek the things they sought"
We have a fully equipped school with a 40mm matted training area. An iron palm training area, traditional striking posts (makiwara,dazhuang) and a wing chun wooden dummy (muk yan jong),we have a full range of traditional chinese weaponary,and strenght training equipment.
At the school of Chinese martial arts our training is strictly based and geared to real life combat.
WE DO NOT TEACH SPORT MARTIAL ARTS.
You will not find tit for tat sparring, and sport style sparring/fighting at our school – training is conducted in a safe and progressive manner. And with our specially designed training program's you will find your skill will increase very quickly.
Learning to react and respond appropriately must be learned and done initially in a controlled enviroment, this is exactly why we do not do sports martial arts. The reactions and skill's needed for these games are not what is needed for real life threatning confrontations.
Just as in modern military training, everything is done in stages to prepare the soldier for combat. They are not shipped out into a war zone with only 1 weeks training!!
Like all traditional training programs you will have to learn talou/kata, these are combinations of movements. We at the school of Chinese martial arts believe that your form (taolu/kata) is only as good as its application.
Therefore Application of your talou/kata must be studied with timing, distance, rhythm and how to actually apply it in a real fight. This type of training is heavily emphasised in our school. Unlike most traditional Chinese martial arts today, especially in china where they just teach talou/kata and some 2-man exercises that impart only a small portion of what is needed to be actually able to apply the traditional martial arts in combat.
We at the school of Chinese martial arts still teach the old ways, most of which has been lost. We have the tools and methods to teach students how to actually make the traditional martial arts work.
A very important maxim in our club is
“It’s not just what you train, but how you train it”
We cater for all ages and sexes, the beauty of traditional martial arts is that it enable's a smaller person to defend and defeat a larger person. This of course takes LOTS of training. Our classes have a mix of males and females, and ages vary.
WE DO NOT MIX CHILDREN AND ADULTS
Our classes are kept small and each student receives personal attention and tuition. This is the only true way of teaching the traditional martial arts correctly. It is our job not only to teach each student correctly, but to get to know each one personally.
We feel this is the reason so many traditional martial arts today are empty in skill and essence. the classes are run more like shops, "get as many people in as you can and give them what they want"
You cannot buy kung-fu and real skill, it can only be paid with time, sweat, blood and tears.
THIS IS THE TRUE MEANING OF KUNG-FU, SOMETHING THAT TAKES A LOT OF TIME AND EFFORT IN ORDER TO GAIN SKILL.
