Sifu Kai Taylor (third right)
Sifu (Master) Kai Taylor teaches Wing Chun, a Cantonese self-defence martial art that uses minimum effort to create maximum power and is suitable for all levels of physical fitness
According to legend, Wing Chun was devised 300 years ago by Ng Mui, a Buddhist nun and master of Shaolin kung fu. The new form was based on close-quarters combat and enabled those with smaller frames to overcome larger, stronger opponents: Wing Chun was subsequently taught by Grandmaster Ip Man, now the subject of a hit movie franchise, and spread worldwide by his students, notably the late film star Bruce Lee.
Sifu (Master) Kai Taylor is London’s only Chu Shong Tin-style Wing Chun teacher. Having already established a thriving studio in Mayfair, the Chiswick resident has launched new Monday and Thursday evening classes (6.30-8.30pm) closer to home at the Catholic Centre on Duke’s Avenue.
‘Kung Fu is an umbrella term for all Chinese martial arts, and Wing Chun is a southern Cantonese style,’ explains Kai. ‘Like any athletic endeavour, the rewards come through hard work – in English kung fu literally translates as “skill acquired through hard work”.
Born in Perth, Australia, Kai was passionate about martial arts from a young age. Courtesy of a government-funded tertiary course, he studied full-time at Sydney’s International Wing Chun Academy for three years. After becoming an Instructor, he moved to Hong Kong to pursue what he calls ‘my PhD in Wing Chun’, learning full time under the late, great Master Chu Shong Tin, who himself learned directly from the famous Ip Man. Kai now has 23 years of experience as a student and teacher.
‘Wing Chun can be practised by men and women of all ages and standards of physical ability,’ says Kai. ‘It has similarities with Tai Chi, and there’s a strong focus on growing the mind-body connection. Hence, it is popular with people who have an interest in Pilates, Yoga and Meditation – and the importance of strengthening the mind-body link is why my school’s slogan is “Kung Fu Your Mind”. Wing Chun will teach students how to relax reflexively in response to stressors rather than go into flight-or-fight mode, improve their posture and bio-mechanics and allow them to tap into the inherent power of the body.
‘During classes, my senior students help me to instruct and we create a safe, controlled environment. Students receive bespoke instruction and progress at their own speed; there are no grades or belts in Wing Chun and the atmosphere is one of experimentation and play. The structure is varied: sometimes everyone will be doing the same activity, but according to their level of expertise, and at other times we break into groups and concentrate on different movements.’
For a limited period, Sifu Kai is offering a free trial for a month. ‘That’s long enough to find out if the school and the student are a good fit for each other,’ he says. ‘People often tell me, I’ll come to your class after I get in shape; I always reply, you don’t need to be super-fit to learn kung fu.
‘Wing Chun is the perfect discipline for anyone who has always wanted to try a martial art: the learning process is fast and you will become proficient within a few years. But, as my Grandmaster Chu Shong Tin used to say: it would take one and a half lifetimes to fully master.’
Kai Wing Chun
The Catholic Centre,
8 Dukes Avenue
Chiswick W4 2AE
sifu@kaiwingchun.com
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