Tribute to Ng Wah Sum

Ng Wah Sum, AKA lightning hands, was one of the last of the Wing Chun fighting Champions from Grandmaster Yip Mans School.
Retired from work, he would teach Wing Chun at the association. When in Hong Kong with my students I would often meet him after morning training sessions, as he taught after Master Ip Chun’s class.
In the late 1960's Ng was one of the Wing Chun fighters that brought credit and fame to Wing Chun fighting. Grandmaster Ip Man was very proud of his student.
Ng Wah Sum was a classmate and friend of Bruce Lee. He told me once that Bruce Lee's main assault move was Bil Jee into chain punches, groin kick and low side kick. I was fortunate to learn a little Chi Gerk from him. We would often talk fight science when I visited Hong Kong.
It’s really sad that he has gone - a great loss to the Yip Man Wing Chun family and Wing Chun Kung Fu. One Behalf of East Anglia Wing Chun Members we send our condolences to all his family close friend and students. Now at rest with many other great kung fu brothers .
Rest in Peace Si Sock (Kung Fu Uncle)


Sifu Brian Desir and Master Ng Wah Sum at the Ving Tsun head quarters in Prince Edward Hong Kong September 2009

Sifu Brian Desir

A profile of the instructor; Sifu Brian Desir

Sifu Brian Desir started out in the martial arts in the summer of 1978. Coming from a boxing background Brian was introduced to the art of fighting by his father. Fighting ability, combined with a love of technique rather than straightforward violence, led him into the martial arts.

Brian, being a great fan of the Ring King Mohammed Ali, always thought that boxing was the ideal fighting method. He had cousins that taught Karate and used to visit their clubs. During sparring sessions with his cousins a kick would occasionally catch him, but once in close he would open up with his fists and his opponent would be helpless. Although Brian had always had a respect for the martial arts it wasn't until he saw his first Chinese martial arts movie, Secret Rivals II, that he decided martial arts were for him. "It was like being in Rome at the Coliseum and watching the gladiators for the first time. It was like nothing I had ever seen before"

Brian continued with training in boxing, but started searching out local martial arts clubs. His first teacher in Luton taught him Warr Gar and although he enjoyed the style, he decided it wasn't really him. He continued training in the style for a while and maintained his boxing until October 1981, when he met Master Austin Goh for the first time.

Brian trained for some time under Master Goh in China Town, London, before becoming an instructor and opening his own school in his home town Luton in spring, 1985. As well as teaching martial arts, Brian involved the school in performing for the public and raising money for charities.

In 1989, Brian met Master Samuel Kwok and Grandmaster Yip Chun. The system taught by Master Kwok was somewhat different from that of Master Goh and Brian began learning the entire system again. From Master Goh, Brian had gained his strength and fighting ability as well as learning how to use many weapons. Sifu Kwok taught Brian the finer points of the system in its traditional form as taught by the late Great Grandmaster Yip Man, (teacher of Bruce Lee).

Since then Brian has travelled all over the Far East studying many other martial arts styles to increase his knowledge of the martial arts. The arts Sifu Brian has studied include Chinese Boxing, Iaido (Japanese way of the sword), Mogendo Boxing and Thai Boxing, which he studied in Bangkok.

Sifu Brian has always had good relationships with his instructors and holds the utmost respect for them. He feels that the best way to respect these instructors is to pass on the knowledge gained in the most accurate and effective way possible. Sifu Brian has seen the results of bad teachers, and it is for that reason that Sifu Brian Desir set up East Anglia Wing Chun Athletic; so that authentic Wing Chun could be taught to those who wished to learn its true form.

Over the years Sifu Brian Desir has achieved Instructor qualification under Masters Austin Goh and Samuel Kwok and Grandmaster Yip Chun. He is a member of the Ving Tsun Athletic Association of Hong Kong, as well as a member of the Yip Chun Academy, Hong Kong.

His competition credentials include: British Kung Fu Championship (heavy middle) 1985 - 1986, B.O.M.A.T Silver medallist 1993, British Championship (light heavy) 1995 - 1996.

Sifu Brian qualified as a bodyguard in 1987, and was in active in this profession from 1991 to 1993.

Sifu Brian is currently teaching in the South of England, passing on his knowledge and experiences.

Classes

Monday, 8pm - 9.30pm	Cambridge Kelsey Kerridge Sports Centre
Tuesday, 8.30pm - 10pm	Luton Hightown Sports and Community Centre
Thursday, 8.30pm - 10pm	Hitchin - *NEW SESSION* North Herts Combat Centre
Friday, 7.30pm - 9pm	Luton Hightown Sports and Community Centre

We have four public training session per week (click venues for directions, contact details, etc). New comers with any level of experience and fitness are welcome at these sessions.

If you would like to join us for the first time, please just drop us a line beforehand to check that you won't be walking in on a grading etc. You should wear suitable clothing (tracksuit trousers, a t-shirt and trainers are fine) and it's a good idea to bring a bottle of water.

A typical training session consists of a warm up, some technical and application training, pad work, Chi Sao, and sparring.

Classes are £8 per session, or just £20 for a monthly block of four.

Intro

Wing Chun is a traditional martial art, and an effective form of self defence in the modern world.

Here you will find information about our club, as well as history of the origins of Wing Chun, and updates of recent news and events.

We have classes in Luton, Hitchin and Cambridge, and look forward to seeing you at one of them soon. Please take the time to read around the site, and if you have any questions or comments, feel free to contact us.

Kung Fu is a broad term for the martial arts that have emerged from China. There are many forms of Kung Fu, some very popular and some very secretive, only being practised behind closed doors. The most popular of these Chinese arts is Tai Chi, which appeals to many practitioners as it aids health and tranquillity of mind and body.

Wing Chun is a relatively young martial art, being only around 250 years old. Wing Chun was developed by taking the most effective parts from many other traditional styles of Kung Fu. Our classes focus very much on studying traditional techniques and developing modern, practical applications.

Although Wing Chun is a devastatingly effective martial art, it is also a very relevant form of self defence for today; dealing with not just hand to hand combat, but also defences against weaponry and multiple attackers.

The Wing Chun training method of Chi Sau (sticking hands - see news pages for videos) is integral to our training, and slowly becoming a sport of its own. Sifu Brian Desir has been playing a major role in its development over the years.