Tag: Highlands

Posted on by

1st March News & Updates

Yee's Hung Ga Kung fu Academy, Qigong classes

We have a busy week ahead of us at YHGInverness. Our public Qigong classes are due to be reinstated to our timetable. We have students undergoing pre-tests on Saturday morning and we also have our exciting seminar, available to anyone, on Saturday afternoon.

Highland School of Qigong

Highland School of Qigong

Our public Qigong classes make a welcome return this week. Our syllabus has been developed further to add extra sensitivity for our students. Springtime is traditionally a time of year for cleansing, renewal, creativity and inspiration. We have developed our Spring Qigong Routine especially for the Spring months to help balance and encourage growth in these areas. We will also harmonise energy in the physical body to boost health and productivity.

Qigong Classes

Yee's Hung Ga Kung fu Academy, Qigong classes
Qigong Classes

Our public Qigong classes are due to return to our Inverness Academy this week. On Thursday the 5th of March we will hold regular public Qigong classes. These will continue every Thursday evening at 6.15pm. The classes are open to anyone, of any age, who are interested in learning the art of Qigong.

Classes will be priced at £5 per class. There is also the option to buy a loyalty card for £30. This will grant you a 7th class for free. They will follow a similar format to our previous Qigong classes where we will practice a set routine. A Qigong exercise will then be taught to individual students to practice throughout the week. Comfortable, loose clothing should be worn with flat trainers or plimsoles. If you would like to enquire further about these classes, you can email us directly to ask any questions. We will also post updates on our Facebook page:

If you prefer to learn privately, we still have 1-1 tuition available. These sessions can easily be booked with our online booking system. Just select a day and available timeslot that is suitable for you on our calendar below. Fill out your details and you will then be taken to PayPal. You can securely pay for your session with any debit or credit card at this stage. We currently have availability all day on Monday this week.

[CPABC_APPOINTMENT_CALENDAR]

Spring Qigong Routine

Spring Qigong Routine

Continuing from our previous Autumn and Winter Qigong routines, our Spring Routine is due to be released this month. This will follow a similar format, with everything that you need sent out to you, completely FREE, in an email. This will include a warm up, main practice and cool down. Each exercise will have a video of it being performed. It will also contain brief instructions, an explanation of any theory and a list of the main benefits. A workshop will also be held a few weeks after the release of the routine. This will aid you in your practice and help to clarify any questions that might arise after practicing it for a short time. Any notes from the workshop and general feedback will then be compiled and sent out to everyone, which should aid further practice and development.

All this information will be completely FREE of charge to anyone who is interested in learning the art of Qigong. To receive this information, you only need to complete the form below. Once compiled, we’ll send it all out to you at the email address that you provide.

Rent Out Our School

Our Inverness school

If you have thought about running your own martial arts, yoga, meditation or exercise class but you’re put off by the high charges for renting space out, we have a great solution. Our Academy has a fantastic central location in Inverness. It is available throughout the day Sunday to Saturday. We also have Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights available for you to run your classes. If you wish, we can even designate space for your marketing and help get the word out on our social media platforms. It only costs £12 to rent out our school for an hour. If you need more time, speak to us about what you need and we can come up with a fair arrangement. As always, you can email us directly or read more about what we can offer you in this article: Space Available

Classes

Updated timetable

Our classes this week see the return of our public Qigong classes on Thursday evenings at 6.15pm. We also have our Forres classes on Friday evenings at 7-8pm for kids & 8-9pm for adults. New students who wish to start are more than welcome at either of these classes. If you wish to begin in Inverness, the best class to start with is Tuesday evenings at 7pm. See the following page for further information: How Do I Join?

Private 1-1 Tuition

Many students prefer to learn in private, with 1-1 tuition from Sifu Hepple. Perhaps you feel anxious about learning in front of other students or just want to learn at a faster pace. These classes are an invaluable tool for any students who wish to perfect their art. Whatever your reasons might be for learning solo, they’re easy to arrange. Simply select a date and available time slot, fill out your info and then pay securely by PayPal with any credit or debit card.

[CPABC_APPOINTMENT_CALENDAR]

An Interview With Sifu Frank Yee

Sifu Hepple being taught by Grandmaster Frank Yee. 28 May 2005. Aberdeen

If you would like some insight into what Hung Ga training is like, or want to weigh up the options of contemporary vs traditional, perhaps you’ve been training for some time but need a little direction, then this interview with Grandmaster Frank Yee is extremely insightful. It was published almost 20 years ago, in 2001, for Kung Fu Magazine. It discusses the history of the Hung Ga style, Grandmaster Yee’s own background, how he started in Hung Ga, training requirements and some really good, solid advice. You can read the full interview here: An Interview With Sifu Frank Yee

Inverness Pre-Tests

Pre-testing in Inverness

This coming Saturday (7th March) we have scheduled pre-tests for our students. These help our students prepare for the rigorous grading procedure, which we are quite proud of at Yee’s Hung Ga. We ensure that our students are fully capable for the level that they are testing. Simply attending a grading does not guarantee a pass in the Yee’s Hung Ga system. A student must undergo a number of tests to pass each grading. This ensures that the art of Hung Ga is passed on fully for future generations. It also means that our students are under no disillusions about their strengths and capabilities. The pre-testing stage also helps to settle any anxious feelings that our students might have about the main grading.

Hung Ga Techniques For Combat Sports

Hung Ga for combat sports

On the same day at 1pm, Yee’s Inverness will host a seminar, suitable for anyone, students and non-students, to attend. This seminar will be delivered by Sifu Michael Rose, instructor from Yee’s Hung Ga Peterhead and Vice President of Yee’s Hung Ga Europe. The seminar is all about the Hung Ga fighting system and how it can be used for various combat sports including; MMA, Sanda & Kickboxing. Sifu Rose can also advise on correct stance, positioning, stretching, diet & nutrition in preparation for competing. Boxing or MMA gloves are suitable for this workshop. A limited supply is available at the school but we recomend that you take your own.

Fight like a tiger!

If you’ve ever thought about competing or would like to know more about the training involved, this is your chance to gain the knowledge you need to take it to the next level. The seminar lasts for about 3 hours. It is suitable for both men and women, basically anyone interested in learning. For students of Yee’s Hung Ga it is priced at £30 and non-students £35. Tickets can be pre-booked, to avoid disappointment, here:

Hung Ga Fighting System for Combat Sports Tickets

Facebook event page for seminar

Coming Soon

We’re working on it….

The notes for our Winter Qigong Routine have now been compiled and will be ready to send out shortly. You can find out how our students got on in our Qigong classes, pre-tests and combat sport workshop next week.

Posted on by

8th Dec. News & Updates

We continue our preparations for the Chinese New Year, Spring Festival. Our sale continues on our Fu-kit online store. Our latest article is still available for you to read. There are updates to our private tuition and class schedule for this week. We also have more info on our future articles and workshops coming soon.

2020 Spring Festival, Chinese New Year.

Our 2018 Display Team.

We are busy preparing and practicing for the Inverness Chinese New Year Celebrations next month on the 25th of January. You can see our Facebook Event here. This year we have the continued support from The Eastgate Centre and The Victorian Market as well as independent retailers across the city centre.

YHGInverness will be 8!

The Spring Festival coincides, roughly, with our birthday at Yee’s, Inverness. This will be the 8th year that YHGInverness has been open on Inverness High Street. In Chinese culture, the number 8 is regarded as the luckiest number. It’s pronunced ‘Ba’ in Chinese, similar to the word ‘Fa’, which means to be prosperous. It signifies prosperity, success and high social status. We hope that this means it will be a good year for us at Yee’s. 2020 is also the year of the rat. The rat is also particularly auspicious for businesses starting new ventures.

We celebrate our birthday and the Spring Festival together by performing displays to the public. We perform lion dance, dragon dance and kung fu displays. The lions and dragons are often confused with each other. Both dance traditions date back well over a thousand years. Although neither creature existed in ancient China, both are celebrated as mythical, powerful, and auspicious, especially during Chinese New Year and other important events. The main difference between the two is the number of performers. A lion only has two, a head and a tail performer. A dragon is very long and can have 10 performers operating it. Some of the larger dragon parades can have many many more performers. It also looks like a dragon flying in the air. It is raised up on poles and the performers move the dragon around in spirals, usually above the heads of the audience. The lion performers move around on the ground, using stances based around their style of kung fu.

You can keep up to date and find out more information about our Spring Festival display on our Facebook event page. Please feel free to like and share the event.

Hung Sale

‘Hung’ sale continues

Our sale continues in the Fu-kit section of our website. Everything is on sale including dresses, skirts, leggings, shorts, t-shirts, polo shirts, hats, caps, teaware, beanbags, mugs, hoodies and much more! (Excludes uniforms) If you are thinking of buying a gift for your training buddies or loved ones who have a passion for Hung Ga, now is the time! We can only keep prices this low for a short time, so get in there quick. Visit our Fu-kit shop for all sale items.

Classes

Our classes run right through December but we take a short break over the festive period. Our last class will be on Thursday 19th December 2019 we will then open our doors to a new decade on Monday the 6th of January.

Current class timetable

With a new year and start of a new decade on the horizon, many people start to look at what they would like to achieve. Physical health and fitness is usually high up on the agenda. Mental wellbeing is often not as high on the list but it is becoming more of a priority. At Yee’s you can combine training both your mind and your body together. Take a look at our Horse Stance article to see just one method that we use which incorporates your mind, body and spirit. Starting at Yee’s is really easy. Take a look at our “How Do I Start?” Page. In short, just come along to a Monday or Tuesday evening class at 7pm, it is that simple. No money needed. Just a bottle of water and some comfortable clothes to exercise in. If you need some inspiration to help you take that first step, read our “Motivation, Hints & Tips” article. Nobody can make that first move for you but once you do it, you’ll wonder why you didn’t do it years ago.

If you prefer a more personal touch, you can arrange for a 1-1 training session with Sifu Hepple. An hours session will cover the basic warm-up and stance training exercises. It includes a section of your first form and basic principles of our training methods. For this coming week there are a few private 1-1 tuition slots left. Use the timetable below to book an available slot. You can even pay for it all online, that way there’s no backing out. Just turn up at the right time and we’ll take it from there.

[CPABC_APPOINTMENT_CALENDAR]

Coming Soon

Coming soon…

We have a few plans that we are working on at the moment. As mentioned earlier, we are preparing for the Spring Festival next year on 25th of January. We also have some exciting workshops and a brand new Winter Qigong Routine that we are also preparing for. To avoid missing out on details of these exciting opportunities, make sure you enter your email below. If you would like to register your interest in any of these workshops, please email us directly.

By clicking submit, you agree to share your email address with the site owner and Mailchimp to receive marketing, updates, and other emails from the site owner. Use the unsubscribe link in those emails to opt out at any time.

Processing…
Success! You're on the list.
Posted on by

24th Nov News & Updates

This week we’re preparing for a few future articles and events. We have some exciting workshops, Chinese new year and a Winter Qigong Routine all in the pipeline for students and the general public to take part in. We have extended our sale on the Fu-kit section of our website to include all t-shirts and now all accessories, including tea paraphernalia, beanies & hat, mugs, beanbag chairs and our famous dit da jow is now almost half price. There are also updates to our private tuition & class schedule for the week ahead.

Hung Sale Extended Further

Our Hung sale is extended to include all accessories

Our t-shirt sale has been extended even further. We’ve added all our accessories, including all beanies, hats, mugs & beanbag chairs. Even all our tea paraphernalia and famous dit da jow is included. You can browse all sale items on the Fu-kit section of our website. We can ship worldwide, making ideal gift ideas for kung fu martial artists, wherever they might be, at amazing prices!

Chinese New Year

Our dragon makes an appearance at Belladrum

One of the biggest events in the Chinese calendar is the Spring Festival, commonly known as Chinese new year. It is the longest holiday of the year. The national holiday begins on the first of the Lunar Calendar and lasts until the 15th of the first month. In 2020, the Spring Festival begins on January 25th and ends February 8th. All stores are closed during the first five days, with some not opening until the very end. Throughout the festival there are specific activities and traditions for each day which vary between regions. We’ll update you on some of these traditions as we get closer to the dates. The main day is on January 25th, which is the 1st day of the lunar calendar. It is a day for greetings and blessings. A day spent celebrating. There is an ancient Chinese practice where the weather, stars and moon are analyzed to predict the fortunes of the year. It is called zhàn suì (占岁). On this day it is forbidden to sweep or clean. It is symbolic of sweeping away the good fortune that the new year has brought in. Similarly, when the lion dancers ‘eat the green’, the leaves of the lettuce are strewn by the lion’s mouth, spreading good fortune. It is seen to be especially auspicious if the leaves land on you. Sweeping the leaves away, is seen to be sweeping away the good luck, so one must pick the leaves up carefully to dispose of them. To find out more about our plans for the 2020 Spring Festival or to book a lion dance for yourself or place of work, you can follow our special Facebook page: Yee’s North of Scotland Lion & Dragon Dance Team. Or you can email us directly for information.

Autumn Qigong Routine

Autumn Qigong Routine

Our Autumn Qigong Routine is still available for you to try out and practice. Just follow the link and give it a go. Don’t forget to let us know what you thought. We are in the process of developing a Winter routine for you to practice too. This will further develop the theory from our Autumn Qigong Routine. If there is anything specific that you would like us to cover, just let us know, send us an email or message us on our social media channels.

Classes

Current timetable for public classes

Private 1-1 tuition this week is available all day on Monday the 25th. We also have some evening slots available too. Just check the following calendar for available times on specific days.

[CPABC_APPOINTMENT_CALENDAR]

Our public classes will be running regularly, right up until Christmas. If you are looking to join our classes, or just want to see what it’s like to train at Yee’s, you don’t need to be super fit or have loads of energy and stamina. These are some of the benefits that you gain from training. If you fancy joining us, it’s really easy and your first class won’t cost you a penny! Have a read of our How Do I Join? article. If you are thinking of joining but still not sure and would like to motivate yourself to make it off the couch, have a look at our Motivation Hints and Tips article. Whatever your reason for training, whether it’s to learn how to defend yourself; gain confidence; get fit and healthy; to get out of the house more and meet new people or you would like to learn something new, anytime is a good time to start. Right now is a great time to start though. The sooner you start, the sooner you receive the benefits.

Coming Soon….

In the pipe 555!

We have a few plans that we are working on at the moment. As mentioned earlier, we have over 2 weeks of preparations for Chinese new year to get ready. We also have some exciting workshops and a brand new Winter Qigong Routine that we are also preparing for. To avoid missing out on details of these exciting opportunities, make sure you enter your email below. If you would like to register your interest in any of these workshops, please email us directly.

By clicking submit, you agree to share your email address with the site owner and Mailchimp to receive marketing, updates, and other emails from the site owner. Use the unsubscribe link in those emails to opt out at any time.

Processing…
Success! You're on the list.
Posted on by

Ceremonies in Edinburgh

On Sunday 9th June 2019, the World Headquarters of Yee’s Hung Ga International Kung Fu Association appointed new governing positions to the UK & European Headquarters. These new positions will help in overseeing the numerous branches that have descended from the expansion of our disciples in the UK and across Europe. They are charged with maintaining the quality, philosophy and direction of our Association. In a ceremony in Edinburgh, UK, Grandmaster Yee Chee Wai (Frank Yee) presented certificates, the appointees took oaths of office for their positions in the organization.

Grandmaster Yee Chee Wai is seated in the middle, on his left is Sifu Ian Rose, President, and on his right is Sifu Conrad Barrett-Freeman, Chairman.From Sifu Ian Rose’s left to the end: Sifu Michael Rose (Vice-President), Sifu Simon Hepple (2nd Vice-President), Sifu Paul Leslie (3rd Vice-President). From Sifu Conrad Barrett-Freeman’s right to the end: Sifu Philip Horey (Vice-Chairman), Sifu Hannah Dawson (2nd Vice-Chairman), absent from photo is Sifu Simon Finlayson (3rd Vice-Chairman).
Grandmaster Yee, lighting incense to pay respects to the ancestors and invite them to witness proceedings.
Grandmaster Yee handing out incese and giving instruction on the traditional Shaolin bow so we can pay respects to the ancestors and forefathers of Hung Ga.

Another important ceremony which took place on Sunday the 9th June was the Bai Si. The Bai Si ceremony is often referred to as the “discipleship ceremony” or “tea ceremony.” It is not often seen in many western martial arts schools. At Yee’s Hung Ga, we feel that it is important to preserve our art in all its forms, this includes official ceremonies such as these, so that we can pass on the complete art to future generations. It is perhaps the most important ceremony a martial artist, in kung fu, could ever be invited to participate in.

In China, many of the kung fu systems were passed down through the generations to family members only. The higher levels were considered private and secret. Traditionally a Sifu would agree to teach students out-with the family, but with caution. General classes, available to everyone, were often held in public areas, parks or inside the courtyard of the Sifu’s own home. When a student first began their training, and were not well known to the Sifu, they weren’t trusted enough to actually be taught inside the Sifu’s house. These were known as, “outside students.” Once the student earned the trust of their Sifu, a Bai Si ceremony took place. This made the student an “indoor student.” It meant that the student had gained the complete trust of their Sifu and would be taught the whole martial arts system. The Bai Si ceremony also confirmed the relationship between a Sifu and the student. If you completed a Bai Si ceremony the student was given a name in the Sifu’s family and they were treated like a son or daughter.

After almost 19 years of diligent practice and loyal conduct, the great honour of performing this ceremony was bestowed upon Sifu Hepple by his Sifu, Bruce Clark. Other highly trusted martial artists were also given the privilege at the same time. It was witnessed by Sifu Ian Rose, in front of a small group of people. After the ceremony, speeches were given. It was a great chance to celebrate together by sharing some food and drinking a toast after the proceedings.

Sifi Hepple receiving his discipleship certificate from Grandmaster Yee.

If you enjoy our posts and wish to be notified of further posts, notices, discounts and events, pop your email address in the box below and we’ll give you a shout when new posts are added. You can also like and share on Instagram, twitter & Facebook

By clicking submit, you agree to share your email address with the site owner and Mailchimp to receive marketing, updates, and other emails from the site owner. Use the unsubscribe link in those emails to opt out at any time.

Processing…
Success! You're on the list.
Posted on by

Student Spotlight

Sifu Hepple & John Weaver

 

This is a picture of Sifu Hepple and John Weaver. John has been practicing for 3-4 years now and is currently training towards his Yee Cup Jr (1st test of the 2nd level) Grading. Here John tells, in his own words, of his experience training at Yee’s Hung Ga Academy in Inverness.

What made you want to train in martial arts?

I previously trained in Jujitsu when I was about eight years old. When I reached twenty four, I became very interested in practising meditation, healing arts and focusing (balancing) my mental/physical energies. I read books, became Reiki attuned and watched videos to increase my knowledge on the subject. This led me to learn versions of qi gong, from some new age teachers and other kung fu personalities. I think I was the ripe old age of thirty one before I attempted to do kung fu work out drills; I was completely exhausted and realised I knew nothing of the hard work and discipline that was required to achieve what I wanted. It was then I started looking for a teacher.

How did you hear about this school and why did you want to train there? What were your expectations before you started?

Kung Fu was the obvious choice for me based on my interests. I did a little research on the different styles, and thought about what may suit my body type. I knew already I would prefer something that would be powerful and balanced, but more hand based rather than the flippy-flappy leg kicks. I saw some videos of the Hung style online after finding out that a new had school opened up in Inverness. I contacted Sifu to see if he would accept me as a student, and the rest is history. My expectations were realistic; having tried to keep up with drills on dvds and failed, I was open to whatever lessons Sifu had for me in order to progress.

What was your first class like?

I was slightly nervous and wondered what the other students would be like. At that very first class, I mentioned some of the things I had been doing and Sifu responded “this may be a little different to what you’re used to!” He proceeded to show us Tiger techniques, specifically how to break an opponents arm. After that class, I was aching all over. My legs felt like jelly, and I thought it would be very hard to build up my fitness to an acceptable level to continue. However, I stuck with it and after a further four or five lessons I got used to doing the warm up exercises! It is quite invigorating once you have built up the stamina and I am glad I have continued with my training. My life has changed considerably in the last two years and I now have a young family and a home to maintain. I haven’t had as much time as I would have liked to train recently but as my understanding of Hung Ga grows, so does my desire to push myself further.

What do you think of your training so far? Is there anything that you would change?

So far I have learnt the full Gung Gi Fuk Fu form and am now learning Fu Hok. I have also learnt about the theory of Hung Ga and some of the additional exercises that can be done to unlock potential skills; fighting and some softer skills like balance, conditioning and strengthening. I have attended seminars in Aberdeen with Grandmaster Yee Chi Wai and our Sifu’s teacher, Si Gung Bruce Clark – both are very well respected Martial Artists. It is hard to start with, but if you try and push through it is very much worth your while. Our Kwoon (school) is very friendly, and Sifu obviously loves Hung Ga; showing us how it becomes a solid foundation in life. I would change nothing about the training given but if I could give advice to other beginners it would be to put three times as much effort in to practising at home, as you do in class. Basic drills, form and practising stances – but also looking at the ways in which Qi Gong and breath exercises can improve your general well-being.

What are your hopes for your future in martial arts?

My hopes for the future are to continue training, and to push myself further. My aim at the moment is to improve my stances, transitions between movements and get more sparring practice to apply what I have learned. I enjoy the traditional Lion Dance practice and would like to do more of that for the school in the coming years.

Anything else that you wish to add?

While studying for the Fuk Fu test, I wrote this down. ‘Kung Fu is something that cannot be bought or stolen; you cannot cheat or make it easier as it is what it is. You get out what you put into it via training – body and mind with a strong spirit.’ I am beginning to understand more on the concept of ‘martial virtue’ and can say that with Kung Fu, actions speak louder than words – so come join us.

If you enjoy our posts and wish to be notified of further posts, notices, discounts and events, pop your email address in the box below and we’ll give you a shout when new posts are added. You can also like and share on Instagram, twitter & Facebook

By clicking submit, you agree to share your email address with the site owner and Mailchimp to receive marketing, updates, and other emails from the site owner. Use the unsubscribe link in those emails to opt out at any time.

Processing…
Success! You're on the list.
Posted on by

Motivation: Hints, Tips & Good Practice

Whether you’re just starting out or you’re a seasoned warrior, it can sometimes feel difficult to keep yourself motivated, especially with the cold weather, dark nights, the hectic partying over the festive period taking its toll on the body. It can be a bit of a slog getting yourself back into a routine and keeping that routine going. If one of your New Years Resolutions is to get fit and healthy, like many other people, you might be thinking about attending one of our classes. If you are serious about taking it past the thinking stage and really want to attend, (obviously we would highly recommend that you do and you would be most welcome.) what steps can you take to ensure that your first class isn’t also your last? What if even your best intentions aren’t good enough and you run out of steam before you even get up and running? Well we’re not going to lie to you, there’s no magic wand. You still have to actually make it to class (on time!) and you still have to do the work but here’s our top 10 hints & tips on keeping yourself keeping going.

  • #1. Patience is a virtue.

It takes time, don’t be put off if you don’t see results straight away. Looks can be deceiving. You may not see results for a while, especially if you are just starting out. It takes time to learn and to build muscle memory. You may hear claims that you can be a master in a short time, “Learn Kung Fu in 3 Months,” “Become a master in only 2 weeks.” There are some things that you can learn and use straight away but to be a master you first need to learn and that can take time, patience and lots of practice.

Just because you’re not seeing results it doesn’t mean that you are not getting any. You are better today than you were yesterday, try to remember that. Your brain will get better at sending messages to your body and your body will get better at receiving and understanding them. You will actually be able to activate a higher percentage of your muscle fibers, commonly referred to as neuromuscular efficiency. Your coordination will improve, reflexes start to become faster, your breathing and focus will increase. It is a slow process because you are bound by your body’s limitations, just be patient. Don’t look in the mirror after two weeks and wonder why you’re not looking like Bruce Lee or why you’re not managing to quite get the results that you are looking for. Be patient and put in the work, the results will come.

  • #2. Enjoy the journey.

Try not to think of your goals as the soul purpose for training, that’s just a destination. Enjoy the process and get excited about what you are learning. If you enjoy what you are doing you are more likely to keep it up. Get excited. You have to want to do it. If you force yourself, it could have negative results. Instead of looking negatively at things that you are not so good at or find difficult, try and turn your thinking around. Be positive about it and see if you can work at those things, bit by bit, to get better at them. Chip away a little bit every day and they will soon become less of a problem.

  • #3. Don’t rush!

Arrive early, give yourself time. If you leave things to the last minute it gives your mind one more excuse to back out of it. If you have plenty time and are well prepared then you are less likely to change your mind at the last minute. Make sure you have your kit ready the day before. Write a list of all the things that you need to take with you and make sure you check your list every time you get yourself ready. Plan your trip, where you’re going to park the car, how long will it take you to get there? Allow extra time in case of slow traffic or for events beyond your control. If you think ahead and plan in advance you will put yourself in the right frame of mind and it will give you less excuses to not go through with it.

  • #4. Are you keeping track?

Keeping records can help you to remember what you have learned. What did you get out of class today? Did you just go through the motions or did you pick something up? Were there any “light-bulb moments?” Keeping a training diary can help you to remember information and focus on learning. It can also help you to look back and see how far you have come in your training. You can also see what went wrong, should you get injured, and learn from any mistakes.

If you can only make it to the occasional class, it is down to you to make the effort to practice between those classes. Your Sifu will give you advice on what and how to practice. If you just practice bits of what you remember, it may be that you are not paying attention to the right things or worse, practicing them the wrong way. You should know it inside out and back to front.

  • #5. Stick to a plan

Remove the randomness from your training. This is the best way to improve your speed, strength, focus, body weight…. any of your goals in fact. For a beginner it can be tempting to try out all the different classes that are available to you at Yee’s but it is better to pick one or two which you can definitely, regularly make, every week. Stick to them and make them part of your routine. When you feel more confident in what you have learned and you have time available to try out the other classes, then give them a go. Too much, too soon is a recipe for failure.

  • #6. Do it for yourself.

Do it for yourself, not because of anyone else. Come with friends but don’t stay at home just because they decided that they couldn’t be bothered. Their excuses will turn into your excuses. You must do it because you want to do it for yourself. Similarly, try not to compare yourself to others. Everyone has strengths and weaknesses so whilst you might not be as good as the one you are comparing yourself to, they might not be as good as you at other things. They may also be further ahead in their training or have practiced more or many other reasons. If you practice, you will become better. If you practice a lot, you will become a lot better. Sometimes it takes longer for some people so just relax and enjoy the ride.

  • #7. Prevention is better than cure.

Be sensible about how you train. An injury can set you back months, perhaps even years. It may stop you training altogether. It is important in the beginning to take things slowly until your body gets used to it. If you push too hard, you can injure yourself. Ensure that your body is warmed up gently and muscles are stretched before you do your main practice. You will have to do this every time and you will have to factor the time it takes into your practice. Similarly, a cool down routine can help to bring your body back to normal. Again gentle stretching can be useful. After your training your muscle fibers will be warmed up and loose. The sudden shock from the cold outside, especially in the North of Scotland, can cause them to constrict. Problems may result from over tension such as muscular cramps and pain, twisting and knotting of the muscle fibers. Be sensible and have an extra layer of clothing to put on before you head out into the cold. Our training hoodies are perfect for this purpose.

  • #8. If you don’t make time, you’ll never have time.

You need to factor time into your daily routine or weekly schedule. If you don’t have one, make one! Fit it into your lifestyle. It is difficult juggling everything in your life but the bottom line is that if you don’t do it, then you won’t do it. Spare time can seem to be a rarity in modern life and if you really want to do something, you will have to make the effort to make it happen. With kung fu this means making time to practice. In the same way though, if you do nothing but practice then you will not have time for anything or anyone else so you need to find a balance. Make it happen!!

  • #9. Rise to the challenge!

Treat it like a test. Everything that you find hard is an obstacle to you becoming better and achieving your goals. If you clear the obstacle then you are one step closer. If you don’t quite make it then it’s no big deal, just try again. It may take you many attempts. Many, many, many attempts in fact. This is the challenge that you face. Give up, find an easier way or just keep chipping away until you get it. The nature of kung fu means that you kind of do all 3. You try until you get it, you understand the movement. You then find an economy in the movement, simplify it, make it easy. Then, when you get it, you leave it. It’s there now until you need it. You just need to maintain it. Great skill obtained through hard practice.

  • #10. Don’t beat yourself up

You’ve all seen the motivational memes on social media, “Failure is not an option!” “Winners never quit!” ” You haven’t failed until you quit trying!”

Jeezzz….. Give yourself a break, we are only human. Circumstances might mean that you have to put things aside for a while. You might have to give yourself some time to focus on other areas of your life. Family, work, friends, commitments. You know what that is? That’s life! (That’s what people say, You’re riding high in April, Shot down in May) It doesn’t mean that you’ve failed. If you falter or can’t remember or didn’t practice or took the day off, it doesn’t matter. Everyone needs a break. In fact it is advisable to take a break every once in a while. “All work and no play makes Jack a very dull boy!” Have you never seen ‘The Shining’ before?!? It only becomes a problem if you let it. You gave it a shot, you turned up for class and you trained really hard. That’s more than a lot of people ever do. A lot of people never get further than giving it a whimsical thought. “Wouldn’t it be amazing to be able to move like that?” “I wish I was as strong or graceful as that?” But you actually made the effort. That is amazing in itself. (a round of applause please!) If you need a breather, that’s not failing, that’s being realistic. Just don’t let it get to you. Get back in the saddle again and own it!! Take your training to the next level and achieve what you set out to do.

See you in class…

If you enjoy our posts and wish to be notified of further posts, notices, discounts and events, pop your email address in the box below and we’ll give you a shout when new posts are added. You can also like and share on Instagram, twitter & Facebook

By clicking submit, you agree to share your email address with the site owner and Mailchimp to receive marketing, updates, and other emails from the site owner. Use the unsubscribe link in those emails to opt out at any time.

Processing…
Success! You're on the list.
Posted on by

Who’s the guy with the big sword thingy?

Guan Yu with his kwan do

The guy with the big sword thingy goes by a few names, Guan Yu, Guan Gong, Guan Di, General Gwan, amongst many others. In the ancient times of the East, there was a great war between Three Kingdoms. Guan Yu, and his friends, Liu Bei and  Zheng Fei, swore an oath of brotherhood in the mystical Peach Garden, vowing to create a new, righteous world. Together they fought countless battles against the warlords Cao Cao and Sun Quan. Guan Yu grew famous for his combat prowess and unwavering honor.

Cao Cao captured Guan Yu and at the time, Liu Bei’s fate was uncertain. He agreed to fight for Cao Cao under specific terms, chiefly that he would abandon Cao Cao if ever he learned the whereabouts of his sworn brother. Despite Cao Cao’s gifts and promises of wealth, when Liu Bei resurfaced, Guan Yu immediately went to his side. Years later, Guan Yu again faced Cao Cao on the battlefield as the warlord fled from his defeat at Red Cliffs. Guan Yu cut off Cao Cao’s retreat and obliterated his forces. He spared Cao Cao, however, and released him, as an act of honor.

Guan Yu is one of the best known historical figures in ancient history. Part of the reason for this is that he appears in popular comics and movies, even modern video games. He is also a major character in The Romance of the Three Kingdoms, a semi-historical novel said to be written by Luo Guan Zhong at the end of the Yuan Dynasty period (1279-1368). This novel is one of China’s four greatest classic novels. Partly because of fictional portrayals in The Romance of the Three Kingdoms, his reputation has only increased over the years. A famous tale about Guan Yu is that he was once injured in the left arm by a stray arrow, which pierced through his arm. Although the wound had healed, he would experience pain in the bone whenever there was a heavy downpour. A physician told him, “The arrowhead had poison on it and the poison had seeped into the bone. The only way to get rid of this problem is to cut open your arm and scrape away the poison in your bone.” Guan Yu then stretched out his arm and asked the physician to heal him. He then invited his subordinates to dine with him while the surgery was being performed. Blood flowed from his arm into a container below. Throughout the operation, Guan Yu feasted and drank wine and chatted with his men as though nothing had happened. In some accounts of the tale he sits calmly and plays a game of weiqi (Chinese chess)

Guan Yu being opperated on.
Guan Yu being operated on.
A comic book of Guan Yu
Guan Yu Comic Book
first volume of The Romance of the Three Kingdoms
The Romance of the Three Kingdoms book
Giant under construction

In the Western world, Guan Yu is sometimes called the God of War, probably because he is one of the most well-known military generals revered by the Chinese people. This is a misconception of his role, as, unlike the Greco-Roman deity Mars or the Norse god Týr, Guan Yu, as a god, does not necessarily bless those who go to battle, but rather people who observe the code of brotherhood and righteousness.

A giant statue of Guan Yu
Giant Guan Yu Statue, 190ft tall

The big sword thingy that he can be seen with is the Spring/Autumn Great Knife. It is often named after him, some legends say that he invented it. The Guan dao, or kwan dao, is a large halberd which was used by the general during combat on horse-back. It is a heavy weapon with a sharp edge on one side for cutting and slicing. On the other side is a jagged edge with a hooked point which is used to maim and stab as well as for catching the opponent’s weapon to disarm them. The weapon is balanced with a pointed counterweight at the other end of the central shaft. Guan Yu’s “guan dao” was called “Green Dragon Crescent Blade” which weighed 82 Chinese jin (estimated 18.263kg or around 40lbs, there are tales of it being over 300lbs) and that he was extremely proficient with it on the battlefield.

Guan Do
Green dragon Guan Dao

If you enjoy our posts and wish to be notified of further posts, notices, discounts and events, pop your email address in the box below and we’ll give you a shout when new posts are added. You can also like and share on Instagram, twitter & Facebook

By clicking submit, you agree to share your email address with the site owner and Mailchimp to receive marketing, updates, and other emails from the site owner. Use the unsubscribe link in those emails to opt out at any time.

Processing…
Success! You're on the list.
Posted on by

World Tai Chi & Qigong Day 25.4.15

The last Saturday in April every year plays host to World Tai Chi & Qigong Day. It is part of a global effort to promote the healing aspects of Tai Chi and Qigong within our society. For the second year running YHGInverness participated in this global celebration by hosting a free Qigong seminar/workshop. Sifu Hepple, Chief Instructor at YHGInverness, conducted the seminar on the Yi Jin Jing, (Muscle/Tendon Changing Classic) which is a Qigong set or ‘form’ thought to have been developed by the Indian Buddhist Monk Bodhidharma, the legendary monk who began the physical training of the monks at the Shaolin Temple and thus credited as the originator of Shaolin Kung Fu.

The set was taught step by step until complete. Once the whole set had been learned, the key points of each exercise and how they work with the meridian channel system of the body was discussed. During Qigong exercises Qi, or internal energy, within the body is manipulated for specific health purposes. This can be achieved by moving your body in a certain way to stimulate specific organs of the body or using your mind’s eye, will or intention to lead Qi around your body or through certain meridians of the body. Using your mind and body together with coordinated breathing increases the function of many systems of the body. It also reduces stress and fatigue, calms the mind, improves circulation and many other documented health benefits. Qigong can be practiced by anyone and although it originated in China over 2000 years ago, it is still practiced today by people all over the world, from all walks of life.

The seminar ran over the scheduled time by quite a bit, so thank you to everyone who attended and managed to focus for the whole seminar. Also thank you to everyone who helped make this a successful event, including anyone who shared our Facebook posts and helped to spread the word. Hopefully YHGInverness will continue to make this a regular event every year and continue to preserve the art for future generations. Special thanks to the organisers of World Tai Chi & Qigong Day who help to promote this art worldwide. Without their efforts we would never have all come together at the same time for their common vision of health and healing on a global scale.

If you are interested in finding out more about Qigong or would like to attend one of our Qigong classes, please visit our Qigong page: https://www.yhginverness.com/qi-gong-classes/

 

Participants of World Tai Chi & Qigong Day (25.4.15)
Participants of World Tai Chi & Qigong Day (25.4.15)

Posted on by

FREE Qigong Seminar/Workshop for World Tai Chi & Qigong Day

In honour of the World Tai Chi & Qigong Day, Yee’s Hung Ga Kung Fu Academy, Inverness will be hosting a FREE seminar on the Yi Jin Jing or Muscle-Tendon Strengthening Qigong. Beginning at 10am on Saturday the 25th of April.

The Yi Jing Jing is a qigong set, thought to have been developed by the Indian Buddhist Monk Bodhidharma, the legendary monk who began the physical training of the monks at the Shaolin Temple and thus credited as the originator of Shaolin Kung Fu.

The exercises in the Yi Jin Jing set feature soft even movements which will invigorate the limbs and organs of the body. Practice of the set will improve your flexibility and balance, muscle tone and strength. It is particularly beneficial to your breathing and has many documented health benefits.

The Yi Jin Jing set is easy to learn and suitable for beginners as well as people of all ages and skill levels. The set will be taught step by step by Sifu Simon Hepple, the chief instructor at Yee’s Hung Ga Kung Fu Academy. Once the complete set has been learned, we will discuss the key points of each exercise and how they work with the meridian channel system of the body.

After the seminar, The Yi Jin Jing will be added to the comprehensive qigong curriculum at Yee’s Hung Ga, Inverness, so don’t miss this fantastic opportunity to learn this set absolutely FREE!

This seminar is open to all members of the public, you do not have to be a member of the school to join in. If you would like to attend, you only need to turn up on the day. The seminar begins at 10am so please arrive in good time for the beginning. Participation is mandatory so please do not turn up expecting to be able to sit and watch. If you would like to make your attendance known then here is a link to the Facebook Event page:

https://www.facebook.com/events/1593102387624817/

You should wear loose comfortable clothing and flat shoes or trainers. Bring a drink with you. If you wish to make notes, bring a notepad and pen with you too. There is no strict age limit to the event however please exercise common sense if you are thinking of bringing very young children. You can always contact Sifu Hepple beforehand, via the Contact Us page of this website, if you are at all in any doubt.

 

Posted on by — 1 Comment

Student Spotlight

Sifu & Jenny
Sifu Hepple & Jenny Thomas

This is a recent photo of Sifu Hepple with Jenny Thomas, one of the senior students of YHGInverness. Jenny has been training for almost 3 years now and is currently at Yee Cup Senior Level. Jenny occasionally helps teach some of the classes at the school and will also teach some Qigong classes in the new year. (Find out more details here: NEW CLASSES)

Here Jenny describes, in her own words, how she found out about the school and her training so far:

About 8 years ago, maybe more, I watched a documentary about a disillusioned priest…
On his journey through life he had lost his vision,lost his passion for life, lost his reason to be alive,even lost his faith and finally lost his family.
He had given up his secure,safe ,well paid yet now meaningless job in the clergy and was seeking. Seeking a refuge, seeking to fill the endless void, seeking a new life, seeking to end that dull painful ache inside, seeking a reason, seeking to find the answers to the questions he didn’t even know…
And all this he found in Martial Arts. He travelled extensively , visiting monastery’s, retreats, Martial establishments, government Martial groups and displays in the far east .He spent time in mist enshrouded mountains and beautiful lands…yet it was one day when he was sweeping a dirty floor that it suddenly clicked into place and his peace flowed from within. I can’t tell you how he found this peace, he didn’t know himself….but he found it inside himself through lengthy practice and meditation.
A true story and exactly what brought me to Yee’s Hung Ga! I felt exactly the same as that priest and I wanted exactly what he had found. And if he could do it so could I!
And so my journey began…I had done a bit of karate in my younger years but had moved away and never took it up again. I tried a few different styles which worked for a while but then I grew restless again. The self defence was good but the fitness was lacking…or the style was good but the egos were too big…or the fighting was great but the spirit was dead….I finally feel I have “come home”…in Hung Ga I am continually learning; it is a constant in my life amongst the ups and downs of every day life; I am strong, physically, mentally and spiritually ;I have met wonderful people and have lovely training brothers and sisters…the list goes on. I can truly say that walking up those stairs to meet my Sifu for the first time was the best thing I’ve done!
Speaking of those stairs…after my first lesson I could hardly get down them! My legs were shaking so much from using muscles I had never used before. But I knew straight away I had found what I was looking for …Lazy legs however soon learn the stances and you’d be surprised how soon your muscles get stronger and you can do things you never thought possible. Practice, perseverance and patience is what you need. And if you don’t have them you can learn them too! Anything is possible if you go for it. We train our minds with horse stance…you’ll just have to come to a class to find out how! We do patterns, techniques, applications and drills, sparring,body conditioning….and just when you think you’ve sussed it, then you develop on what you’ve already learned and it suddenly makes sense as to why you had to twist that hand in that direction in the first place!
And Qi gong, Hung Ga’ s gentle twin…or rather the yin of the two: the internal, the subtle, the gentle, the dark …Compared to yang: the external, the extrovert, the vivacious, the fire…..Hung Ga is a hard and soft style, without one you cannot balance the other and both should be trained. Qi gong trains the use of the internal energy, the bodies Qi. It also nourishes the spirit , trains the breathing, balances the bodies organs and helps the body remain in a healthful state. Regular practice can help increase your spiritual awareness, develop perception; you learn to use and lengthen that gap between stimulus and response, to act but not react…. It is slow, gentle and relaxing yet still powerful. (Qi Gong is trained during Hung Ga classes and as its own class. It is suitable for all ages, we currently have age 10 to age 75!)
Of course we also learn to fight, to defend ourselves and our families if the need arose, and to spar amongst ourselves and also in competitions. But if you only know how to fight then you are a fighter, not a Martial artist. Our Grandmaster Yee Chi Wai says: “To be a martial artist you must learn Martial virtue, Martial knowledge, Chinese medicine and Chinese philosophy.
And that you shall! All of this and more at Yee’s Hung Ga …like the priest, I too have found my peace, I don’t really know how either. It just happens!
Come and find out for yourselves! Enrich your life!

Posted on by

Cubicles

Whilst YHGInverness was closed for the festivities, we were also busy doing some work inside the changing room. With the help of Graham, Kenny, Davis and Seamus, Sifu constructed three new changing cubicles for students to have a little more privacy whilst they are getting changed and psyching themselves up for their classes throughout the coming year ahead. Any new or interested students who would like to come along and see what Hung Ga is like should have a look at THIS PAGE

Here are a few photos taken during the process.

The side panels for the cubicles
The side panels for the cubicles

Checking the alignment of the first panel
Checking the alignment of the first panel

Strengthening the whole construction with a cross beam.
Strengthening the whole construction with a cross beam.

Here you can see that the cubicles are pretty spacious for getting changed in.
Here you can see that the cubicles are pretty spacious for getting changed in.

In the original design, three doors were going to be re-used, one for each cubicle.
In the original design, three doors were going to be re-used, one for each cubicle.

The original idea of re-using doors was shelved, for the time being, and curtains were put up instead for simplicity.
The original idea of re-using doors was shelved, for the time being, and curtains were put up instead for simplicity.

 

 

 

Posted on by

Let there be light…..

The hours of daylight are getting shorter and the weather is getting colder but at Yee’s in Inverness we can now make good use of the light that we do get with the new windows that Sifu has renovated in the stairwell.

From this…..

The old boarded up Stairwell window
The old boarded up Stairwell window

To this….

The renovated windows viewed from the alley.
The renovated windows viewed from the alley.

It’s just like ‘Changing Rooms’ 🙂

Special thanks to Seamus for your help installing them.

Posted on by

Gift Certificates

Know someone who wants to train but haven’t managed to get themselves off the sofa yet? Here is a great way to get them motivated and a perfect Christmas present for any budding Hung Ga enthusiast.

yhginverness gift certificates
yhginverness gift certificates

Certificates are available for:

  • Monthly class subscriptions at £30 (£25 Students)
  • Private one-one tuition classes at £20 for a one hour session (£15 for students)
  • Or even a mix of the two, all classes and a private one-one session every week for a whole month for £75 (£60 for students).

A fantastic way to get fit and healthy in 2014! 🙂

 

Posted on by

Sifu Pedro Cepero Yee Visits Aberdeen

Students of Yee’s Hung Ga Kung Fu Academy in Inverness have been invited to attend a very special test and training day in Aberdeen on the 19th May 2013.

Sifu Pedro Cepero Yee will be visiting from America to oversee tests

Sifu Pedro Yee was the first non-Asian ever on the cover of New Martial Hero Magazine
Sifu Pedro Yee was the first non-Asian ever on the cover of New Martial Hero Magazine

and to pass his extensive knowledge and skills on to further generations with a series of seminars.

Sifu Pedro Cepero Yee is a 7th Dan Sifu. He has demonstrated all over the world and is a well published author on Hung Ga Kung Fu. He is also an accomplished therapist, experienced in Tuina-Chinese Bodywork Therapy and Swedish massage therapy as well as Traditional Dit Da (Traumatology Medicine). He is the eighth Senior Yup Sut (In the Room) Disciple of Master Frank Yee (Yee Chi Wai), as well as one of the first Americans to be accepted into the Yee’s Family Lineage at the New York Chinatown’s Yee Fong Toy Association and their world headquarters.

The forthcoming tests and seminars will further enhance students skills and hopefully inspire them to continue to train hard in their chosen art. Keep an eye out for updates on their progress.

Posted on by

Chinese New Year Demonstration and Seminars

Yee’s Hung Ga Inverness students were invited to attend an insightful day of seminars and introductions to other martial arts, last weekend, by the Scottish Fighting Arts Society.

Birthday Seminar

The event was organised by Alan Mitchell from the Smithton Kempo School and seminars were hosted by instructors from Hapkido, Kempo, Ju-Jitsu and also from Yee’s Hung Ga Kung Fu Academy.

The seminars were very insightful, giving students and instructors a glimpse into the world of other styles and systems which they may not have been introduced to before. There were many similarities between the various arts which demonstrates the common bond that we share. It was refreshing to see the differences in similar techniques and the thought processes behind them. “We all have similar goals but go about it in different ways.” Sifu Hepple, from Yee’s Hung Ga, stated during his seminar. “We are all part of the same family, yet have different paths.”

Here are a few photos from the day:

Sifu Hepple has also been invited to host a free seminar and kung fu demonstration in his home-town of Forres, for the coming Chinese New Year celebrations.

Microsoft Word - Document1

Sifu Hepple will be performing the Chun Choy Dai Do (kwan do) on Friday the 15th of February, in the Forres Town Hall shortly before the martial arts film at 6.30pm.

Karate Kid low res

Sifu Hepple will also be hosting a free seminar on Saturday the 16th of February in Forres House at 2pm where you can find out about the legendary Chinese hero, Wong Fei Hung and try your hand at some Hung Ga Kung Fu fighting techniques.

Posted on by

Locker Hire

Never forget your training kit by hiring out a locker in the changing rooms at YHGInverness. We have large lockers for only £4 per month*, that’s less than £1 per week, and a few small lockers left for only £2 per month*.

For more information contact Sifu on: 07545460743 or email on: enquiries@yhginverness.com

* plus key deposit.

Yee's Hung Ga Kung Fu Academy, Inverness. Changing room lockers
Changing room lockers