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UK Wing Chun Kung Fu Assoc Instructors |
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Welcome
to the UK Wing Chun Association instructors page. Here you will find short
profiles on some our teachers, past and present. The UKWCKFA has produced
many of the leading teachers in the country. We have not listed all as
some would prefer it to be kept private about their considerable training
with us. The
UKWCKFA introduced a formal instructor 'code of conduct' and three stage
training programme back in 1985. It has proved a great success with the
candidates all receiving training in First Aid, Health and Safety, Club
Administration, correct Syllabus Instruction and many, many other skills
including voice coaching! The
candidates are all working toward the tiltle of 'Sifu' or Teacher Father.
In the past candidates only had to pass the third level (Intermediate)
grading, and be on the teaching programme. However, it was realised that
this was still a 'self' based attainment and not reflecting the teaching
skill of the candidate. In recent years the introduction of the requirement
that a candidate must prove their abilty to earn the title SiFu by getting
their own students to a level able to pass the Siu Nim Tao gradings, and
pass the third level themselves. It is now harder to earn the title Sifu
but does reflect true teaching ability. Unlike
many organisations none of our gradings, beyond grading two, are compulsory.
In fact none of our gradings are compulory. However, we use the basic
gradings to filter students to appropriate level classes. The gradings
are a great challenge to students and mark their progress in clearly understandable
stages and give them clear goals. It is a simple fact that the students
who have passed the higher level grades have more functional skill. However,
as this is the instructor page, it must be remembered that teaching is
more than just that. Please
note our grading names do not fully reflect the knowledge that students
have. As the gradings are a matter of personal challenge, students take
them when they feel the desire and motivation. There are students who
have been with us for many years and completed the art art right through
to the Butterfly Knives but do not wish to teach and have not passed beyond
our intermediate level grading. Master
James Sinclair: Founder
& Chief Instructor
Teaches
in: Wood Green North London Sifu
Mark Phillips is quite simply the most talented student in the Association.
He has been known for many years as 'Mr T' as every technique he uses
is so well timed. His control at speed is remarkable which is just as
well as he is 6'2" and is very powerful. He has passed 5 gradings
and is looking forward to his multiple fight challenge as part of his
6th level grading. Sifu
Phillips is now teaching at his full time school in Southgate. It is a
great opportunity for people in North London to train regularly with an
exceptional teacher. In Feb
2005 Sifu Phillips won the prestigious 'Instructor of the Year' for 2004
award. In November
2005 Mark travelled to Hong Kong where he demonstrated his chi sau skills
in front of many Masters at the 2nd Ving Tsun Atheletic Association World
Conference. He has since been accepted as a lifetime member and recognised
as a Sifu by the VTAA. In November
2006 Mark travelled back to Hong Kong where he demonstrated and taught
to a very impressed group of Wing Chun students. February
2007 Sifu Mark won the coveted '2006 Student of the Year' award for the
first time. His contribution to all the students within the UKWCKFA and
to his own teacher is undeniable. In Spet
2008 the London HQ moved to the new prestigious premises in Wood Green.
The school is world class from the expert tuition to the decor and facilities. In January
2009 Sifu Mark was awarded his Purple Belt in Brazillian Jiu Jitsu. Read
more about Sifu Phillips by clicking his photo below or visit his website. Visit
Sifu Phillips' Photo Gallery Here. Mobile:
Sifu
Wilson is a very well respected martial artist and individual. He has
been training consistently for many, many years. Sifu Wilson has produced
some fine students and instructors. Along with Sifu Phillips he takes
control of the Association in Master Sinclair's absence. He is well known
for his physical conditioning and is known for his sheer precision of
technique. Sifu Wilson was the first student to pass the prestigious Wooden
Dummy grading and is still only one of four persons to have done so to
date In November
2005 Eric travelled to Hong Kong where he demonstrated his skills in front
of many Masters at the 2nd Ving Tsun Atheletic Associiation World Conference.
He has since been accepted as a lifetime member and recognised as a Sifu
by the VTAA. In
January2009 Sifu Wilson was named UKWCKFA student of the year for 2008. Sifu
Wilson continues to inspire every new generation in the Association with
his solid training approach, personal discipline and humble nature. Abid
Mahmood Sifu: Midlands Region
Senior Instructor
Sifu
Abid is the longest standing student in the UKWCKFA. Sifu Abid is the
link that holds the Midlands region together. He has trained steadfastly
since 1982 despite being over 150 miles from the base of the UKWCKFA in
Essex. He has sacrificed more than most students dedicating much time
and energy to develop a good solid core of students and teachers. He has
passed 4 levels and is working toward the 5th. He is one of the most humble
men in the Association and his resolute attitude to keep his Wing Chun
training going has led to a well deserved respect and admiration from
all within the association. He
runs branches in Birmingham W. Mids: Coalville Leics, Erdington &
Birmingham University. In
2005 Sifu Abid was awarded 2nd place in the 'Instructor of the Year' awards.
This is voted by his peers and is a testament to the pride his own students
and fellow instructors feel. November
2006 saw Sifu Abid awarded his Hong Kong registration with the VTAA.
Visit
Sifu Mahmood's Photo Gallery Here. Tel:
SIFU'S Ryan
is a martial artist through and through. He strives at all times for
artistic perfection and the ideals that create the consummate artist.
He has made the right decision in placing his faith in Sifu Mark Phillips.
He has had to work hard to gain the confidence of Sifu Phillip's students
who have such a high role model before them, and he has managed it well.
He is a deserving teacher as well as being a reliable and respectful
individual. In
December 2008 Ryan Bartram earned Sifu status as he sucessfully got
his own students through the Siu Nim Tao level grading and has passed
the Intermediatelevel level himself. Martin
is a gentle giant, with arms as big as most mens legs. But don't let
that fool you, after years of boxing training his is still very quick
and accurate. Originally a student of Sifu Eric Wilson, he later trained
with Sifu Mark Phillips and now travels from Portsmouth to Essex to
train under Master Sinclair. Martin Burton is an incredibly polite and
mannerable man, he has very good wing chun skills and can certainly
fight! Martin has passed his 3rd level grading. Martin
started to teach formally in October 2004, after 11 years training with
the UKWCKFA On
20th November 2008 Martin Burton qualified as a Sifu within the UKWCKFA
when one of his Portsmouth students passed the Siu Nim Tao grading. Tel: Gary
has been a long standing student of the UK Wing Chun Assoc. He trained
for a number of years in the early 1990's and returned after a few year
break. He passed his third level grading in December 2005. Gary
is a keen grappler entering a number of Brazillian Jiu Jitsu and Sombo
competitions. Gary
is a popular member and takes the classes on Wednesday evenings at the
National HQ. In November 2005
Gary travelled to Hong Kong where he demonstrated his skills in front
of many Masters at the 2nd Ving Tsun Atheletic Association World Conference.
He has since been accepted as a lifetime member and recognised as a
Sifu by the VTAA. In February 2007
Gary Cooper won 2nd Place in the prestigious '2006 Instructor of the
Year' awards. Zubbir
Khan is one of the most unassuming teachers we have. He is humble and
hard working with total support to his teacher, Sifu Abid Mahmood. He
has passed level three and is working hard towards level 4. His personal
ability has improved in recents years in leaps and bounds, as both he
and Sifu Abid have been travelling to Master Sinclair's Cambridgeshire
home for one on one guidance. Tel: Sifu
Nick has his own page on our site here. He
is a bright star and is very respected and liked within the Association.
He has inspired many students and simply leads by example. Nick has passed
three gradings to date and will certainly go on to pass the entire syllabus
if things progress as they have so far.
He was made 'Student of the Year' in 2001. He
made his 'bones' by training and teaching at our HQ and is a training
partner for none other than Sifu Mark Phillips. He has now moved on to
run three of his own successful branches. Nick is training and teaching
full time now and his fitness classes on Sunday morning have completely
changed those attending. Possibly the fittest individual in the Association,
he is like a Duracell battery! Nick
now trains very hard in Grappling too. He is making very good progess.
In 2004 he entered a grappling competition and won the Middleweight Gold
Medal. In March 2004 Nick travelled to Los Angeles and trained under former
World Brazillian Jui Jitsu Champion, Fernando Vasconcelos. And in September
2004 he travelled to LA once again and trained under the BJJ Superstar,
Rickson Gracie. In
November 2004 Nick and a few of the Wing Chun students, who train hard
with Progressive Combat at the HQ, entered the South East of England Sombo
Championships. Nick won a silver medal with only one lesson training by
Sombo rules. The team won 3 silver and one bronze medal, a result to be
proud of. In November
2005 Nick travelled to Hong Kong where he demonstrated his Chi Sau and
Form skills in front of many masters at the 2nd Ving Tsun Athletic Association
World Conference. He has since been accepted as a lifetime member and
recognised as a Sifu by the VTAA. In November
2006 Nick travelled back to Hong Kong where he had a better opportunity
to demonstrate his chi sau skills, rolling with many people. Nick even
taught whilst in Hong Kong to some very impressed Wing Chun students. Nick
teaches private and small group lessons at our HQ and also teaches the
blind and disabled. In February
2007 Nick was awarded the prestigious '2006 Instructor of the Year'. His teaching
ability is superb his inroads into teaching within mainstream schools,
his Womens Self Protection scheme are all testaments to his maturity as
a senour teacher within the UKWCKFA. His womens self protection site can
be seen here Tel: Ashley
is a steadfast reliable teacher and student of the Association. He has
passed 4 gradings and remains a quiet man with good ability. He has
produced a number of good students and was originally a student of Sifu
Kerry Green. He has that unique ability of remaining unflustered even
in the most difficult sparring sessions. Ashley
now trains very hard in Grappling too. Working with former UK Wing Chun
Assoc teacher, Lee Catling,
he is making very good progess. In 2004 he entered a grappling competition
and won the Middleweight Silver Medal, only losing to our own Nick Martin
in the final. In
November 2004 Ashley and a few of the Wing Chun students, who train
hard with Progressive Combat at the HQ, entered the South East of England
Sombo Championships. Ashley won a bronze medal with only one lesson
training by Sombo rules. The team won 3 silver and one bronze medal,
a result to be proud of. In
November 2005 Ashley travelled to Hong Kong where he demonstrated his
skills in front of many Masters at the 2nd Ving Tsun Atheletic Association
World Conference. He has since been accepted as a lifetime member and
recognised as a Sifu by the VTAA February
2007 Ashley Phillips wons 3rd place in the '2006 Instructor of the Year
awards. Tel: Roy has been a long
standing loyal student of the Assoc. He is a consistently hard worker
and has taught on and off for many years. Unfortunately his work and
family commitment's do not allow him to teach beyond assistant level,
which is a loss to everyone. Roy trained particularly hard in 2001 and
passed his 3rd level grading. Roy now teaches
children's classes in the Brentwood area. Roy received his
Sifu status in January 2007, a most deserved recipient. He is still
one of the most consistent students of Madter Sinclair training a few
times a week year in year out. Tel:
Mark
began his training in Wing Chun under Master Wai Po Tang in Barking
in the 1980's. He later moved out to Chelmsford where he continued his
training under Master Sinclair. He trained extremely hard and successfully
passed his third level grading in June 2002. He
taught in Ingatestone and took over the Chlemsford branch as Master
Sinclair moved to teach at the HQ. In
December 2003 Sifu Mark Solomons was awarded the first of the re-instated
'Instructor of the Year tropy's. He was voted by the instructors themselves,
and with a number of students making their voices heard. Mark won for
his teaching skill, his motivation of others, his complete dedication
to his students even through serious illness and for his unwavering
support of the UKWCKFA generally.
Paul Spencer has
been training for many years and teaches at our Grays branch in Essex.
He is steadfast worker and has produced a few good students, and has
one student now undertaking Instructor training. Paul narrowly missed
passing his 3rd level grading in June after he sustained a broken rib. With typical tenacity
Paul recovered and trained harder and passed his third level grading
in June 2006 and as he had already taught students to pass the Siu Nim
Tao grading he was awarded his 'red' tracksuit and officially registered
as a Sifu within the UK Wing Chun Assoc. In January 2009
Paul received the prestigious 'Instructor of the Year' for 2008. Tel: INSTRUCTORS
Nick
is a long term student and instructor within the UKWCKFA. He was studying
in Austin, TX where he earnt his Phd in Sport Science. He worked closely
with the Texas Longhorns and the Track team, with many notable Olympians
amongst its athletes. Nick
regularly came back to Britain where he got as much training in as he
could. He is using the skills Master Sinclair shows him to help develop
hand skills and reaction drills for more general sports. Nick has passed
his 3rd level grading. In
January 2007 Nick took up a position in Arizona treaching at one of
the most elite training centres in the world and then rapidly moved
on to train the elite athletes at the Home Depot Centre in Los Angleles.
Nick
completed his Phd in September 2008 and has come back to the UK and
taken up a post as lecturer at East London University and is working
closely witht the British Olympic build up. Nick is planning to be back
to training regularly from January 2009 Instructor
Nigel Clark: Billericay & Maldon,
Essex Nigel
is a dedicated student of Sifu Mark Phillips and is proving to be
a reliable and strong member. He has a good open manner and is commanding
in control of a class. He trains iat the London HQ and starts his
very own class in Maldon Essex in July 2007.
Tel: Instructor:
Chris Cranie: London HQ, North
.London Branches:
Tel: Jeff Has been training
in Wing Chun since the early 80's and has a great attitude and genuine
love of Wing Chun. He is motivated solely by the pleasure of training
and teaching and will always go that exta mile to help people. Currently
Jeff is assisting Master Sinclair at the Huntingdon branch and has recently
opened a class in Milton Keynes. Tel: Steve Dhillon
began his Wing Chun under Master Sinclair at Maidstone and Lee Green.
He has passed two gradings and is working towards his 3rd. Steve also
runs a martial art supply company called 'Shen'. Tel: Alex
was training under the guidance of Sifu Kevin Oldman and has trained
well to become the Instructor at Norwich. He has good standard and spirit
and is motivating the students well to move on and accept the challenges
of gradings. He attends training at the HQ under Master Sinclair as
often as possible and has recently begun to attend classes under Master
Sinclair in Huntingdon, Cambridgshre. Tel: Instructor:
Barry Hawkes Northaw Hertfordshire
Tel: Instructor:
Guiseppe Melella Melbourne, AUSTRALIA
Guiseppe
'Joe' Melella is a long standing student of the Association, starting
off with Ross Mockeridge when he taught for us. He has achieved good
standard and is a good teacher, helping the beginners and intermediates
at Lee Green and Forest Hill. Despite work and family committments he
is steadily working towards his third level grading. In
July 2007 Guiseppe and hais family emigrated to Melbourne Australia.
After a settling in peiod we feel sure he will start teaching again
in the near future. Guiseppe
had to come back to the UK in 2008 for personal reasons and although
he will be going back to Australia it is good to have him back in the
UK. Arturo
Rutter was a student of Sifu Phil Jones and has trained to pass the
second grading. He is currently attending instructor training and
has moved to train under Master Sinclair in Huntingdon. He aslo trains
with Sifu ABid Mahmood at the Midlands HQ. In recent times he has
made remarkable progress and is producing good students at his class
in Loughborough. In
October 2008 Arturo wnt back to his homeland of Spain and is planning
to teach in the near future. Steve
is a a former British International gymnast and has recently qualified
as an Arnis de Mano instructor, having obtained his Black Belt under
a Filipino instructor in Doha who is aligned with the late Remy Presas.
Steve
began his Wing Chun training in 1992 under Sifu Mark Phillips and after
a good few years training had to relocatre to the UAE. Having taught
a small group of select students in Doha Quatar, his work has now taken
him to Perth in Australia where he is keen to continue his teaching
and training. ASSISTANT
INSTRUCTORS Steve
has been training for quite a few years. He is an assistant to Paul
Spencer and helps with supporting the class in Grays. He recently
prepared some of the Grays students to tale the prelim grading and
two of them passed with some of the highest marks ever attained. Tel: Neil
was student of Sifu Abid Mahmood's at Birmingham University. Neil
was active as a spokesperson and organiser for gradings for the university
club. He achieved good standard and is now working as an assistant
at the new HQ in North London Has
been training under Sifu Phillips for a number of years and is attending
instructor training sessions and assisting with the running of the
Billericay branch. He is working toward his third level gradng in
2003. Tel:
Peter has trained
consistently under Sifu Mark Phillips and now assists in the overall
development of the new London HQ. He has passed the fist two grading
and is working toward his third. Peter went to
Hong Kong in July 2005 and spent two weeks training daily under the
personal guidance of Grandmaster Ip Chun. With Sifu Phil Jones and
Mandy Lam they had a tremendous learning experience, one they will
never forget.
Former
Teachers We
are sure they all have happy memories of their time training with
us and we wish them well. Pin Bhandal and
his brother Gurdip were keen Wing Chun students but Pin managed to
find time to continue his training and make good progress. A naturally
gifted fighter he had a great attitude and was always keen to train
hard and make it as real as possible. Pin began his
training in Maidstone and later Lee Green and the National HQ. He
remains one of only a handful of students to pass the 4th level grading.
Pin ran a small class in Aveley and Woolwich but was more interested
in his own training than teaching and soon stopped. Pin retired from
teaching and training in 2004 to focus on family life and his career. Bobby
Beach Sifu Stuart
has been with the UKWCKFA for a few years, but spent a number of years
prior training with another Wing Chun school. He has had to work hard
to build his standard up to a level where he could begin to teach
again. He started his Instructor training assisting Master Sinclair
at the HQ, Stuart is also working toward his third level test. As
well as training in Wing Chun, Stuart is a Sports Therapist. Stuart undertook
further instructor training sessions weekly with Sifu Nick Martin
and taught at the Romdord branch for some time before leaving to concentrate
on his music and family. Lee
trained with us for many years passing three grading levels. Lee taught
in Wickford Essex for some time. Lee achieved a good standard and
was also a good boxer. Generally he is a good all round martial artist. However,
Lee eventually left to pursue his first love of grappling, and it
really worked out. Now one of Europe's leading grapplers he is repected
for his stand up, no gi and BJJ. He has won many accolades and now
runs his own assocaiton. Lee introduced James Sinclair to grappling,
very gently we might add, and is responsible too for a great increase
in the understanding and awareness of ground skills in the UKWCKFA. John Cossentine
is a former British Taekwondo Champion and after many years of training
decided to try Wing Chun Kung Fu. John
eventually became an assistant instructor at Lee Green. John
retired from training in Oct '07 to focus on family life and complete
'The Knowledge'. He now works as a London Hackney Carriage Driver. Doug
trained with us for a few years and progessed well. A quiet, tenacious
and serious person he managed to pass three grading levels. He assisted
his friend Steve Hasell teaching and eventually taught a small group
in Strood as part of the UKWCKFA. Doug
left to run his own association with Steve Hasell where they focus on
mixing Wing Chun and other martial arts. Ian is a former
British Gymnastic Champion and after many years of training decided
to commit to Wing Chun Kung Fu. Ian trained with the same dedication
and vigour in his Wing Chun training andprogressed rapidly through
the system. He trained under the guidance of Mark Phillips Sifu and
progressed to instructor level. He went on to teach a very successfil
school in Goffs Oak and alsoto train under Master Sinclair at the
National HQ. Always a very
supportive student Ian arranged gymnastic seminars and was very active
in the build of the UKWCKFA HQ. Ian is still only one a handful of
students who have passed the 4th level grading. Ian retired from
teaching in 2004 to focus on family life and his caree but keeps on
stating he intends to return, watch this space! Steve's ambitions
as a professional martial art teacher eventually led him to pursue other
directions and he now runs his own association where he mixes different
arts.
Tony Jaywant Sifu: HQ & Leigh-on-
Sea
Tony
is the UKWCKFA specialist in teaching children.(6-10yrs & 10-14yrs).
He teaches at the HQ and Leigh on Sea, Essex. His
children's classes have produced some of the most talented students
in the association. With a patience and talent for motivating children
he keeps the classes busy and creates an atmosphere conducive to learning.
The parents are happy with the changes in their children, with more
interest in their health and a growing confidence. He
trained hard in 2002 and successfully passed his 3rd level grading. Tony
now manages the martial art shop 'Crouching
Tiger' in Westcliff Essex, where he has proved a very popular character,
with no political bias, giving honest advice to those who enquire. In
February 2006 Tony won the prestigious '2005 Instructor of the Year'
for all of his efforts in maintaining the National HQ, his uncompromising
abililty to find time to make every student feel special and his running
of the childrens classes. It was one of te most popular votes in recent
years and, as may be expected by such a humble man, came completely
unexpected to him. After
more than 20 years Tony had to stop teaching for personal reasons. We
will still take the occassional lesson, and has many good friends here
at the UKWCKFA Phil has been training for many years and had gone on
to pass three gradings under his Sifu, Abid Mahmood. He has helped motivate
our Midlands branches with his enthusiasm and energy and develop a good
club spirit in that region.Phil spent two weeks in July 2005 training
under the personal guidance of Grandmaster Ip Chun in Hong Kong. Unfortunately, Phil has had to retire from teaching and
training due to a serious shoulder injury sustained during a car accident. Kerry Green is one
of the most long-standing students in the Association. He is also one
of the most 'loved'. His energy is infectious and he teaches simply
to help others. Kerry was affectionately
known as 'The Laap Sau King' as it was like training with an octopus
when he trains chi sau. He has passed the first three gradings, and
helped many others to achieve that level. Temporarily out
of action to look after his twin sons, he says he will be back to train
and assist in teaching our new students. Kevin
Oldman inspired a whole generation of our students with his remarkable
skills and affable character. Kevin is still one of only 4 people
to to pass up to the Mook Yan Jong grading. You may well have seen
his kicking and hand combination skills on our video section, or on
YouTube.
Kevin taught in Norwich until early 2002 when he retired from teaching
to concentrate on his business life and new family.
Salim
is a quiet unassuming character. He 'fell in love' with Wing Chun and
trained under Master Sinclair in Westcliff, before moving to the HQ.
He then moved to Birmingham University and continued his training under
Sifu Abid Mahmood. Salim
spent the Summer of 2002 training full time the at HQ with Sifu Nick
Martin. He improved dramatically and in October 2002 moved up to a level
where he could teach at the HQ. In
October 2007 Salim relocated to Birmingham and is no longer teaching
due to work committments. Galahad
has been training for a few years and had a slow start to his Wing Chun.
He is not one to quit and has worked tenaciously to come to grips with
the 'fighting side' of wing chun as he is a naturally placid and easy
going person. He has assisted for some time now and has earned the respect
of the Romford students. In the last year he has made considerable in
roads and is working with determination toward his third grading. In
late 2007 Galahad moved to Lincolnshire. Having
nearly lost his hand as a result of defending a woman the street, Matt
adapted his training to deal with the difficulties he faced. Matt
managed to pass two grading levels with good grades, and had potential
to move on. In
2004 Matt visted Los Angeles where he trained intensively in the Filipino
Martial Arts. Matt began to concentrate more on his knife and stick
work. In
2006 Matt received 'Dog Brothers' instrucor level status under Mark
Denny better known by his title 'Crafy Dog' in knife and stick. Matt
retired from teaching and training in Wing Chun in June 2008 to focus
on his stick fighting. We wish him well. Chris has been with
the UKWCKFA for a couple of years, but spent a number of years prior
training with another Wing Chun school. He has worked very hard to build
his standard up to a level where he could begin to teach. Chris is also
working toward his third level test. Chris is working
with Sifu Tony Jaywant at Leigh-on-Sea and ran the Colchester branch.
He is also taught the children's classes at the National HQ for some
time. In August 2008 Chris
stopped teaching to move to Gozo near Malta Assistant
Instructor Mandy Lam Mandy
is only our third ever lady teacher. She began her training in Chelmsford
under Master Sinclair. Mandy regularly travels to Hong Kong where
she has had the privilege of training under Grandmaster Ip Chun. She
is an enthusiastic student and her ability is good considering her
experience. She is teaching at University in order to pass on the
art she loves. She passed the 2nd level grading with over 90% and
is working hard toward the 3rd level. She has had to stop training
to focus on her final year training as an acupuncturist. James
has been training under Sifu Mark Phillips for a number of years and
is now an ssistant instructor at the London HQ in Southgate as well
as helping to run the branch in Billericay. James Has stopped teaching
due to family committments.
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