About London Shaolin Weng Chun Kung Fu Academy

The Weng Chun Kung Fu Academy in London was founded in 2005 by Bruce Valentine. The London Academy is part of the International Weng Chun Kung Fu Association. Our aim is to elevate Weng Chun Kung Fu to its next evolutionary level.

Students of the London Weng Chun Kung Fu Academy are all very different, ranging from people who have no previous martial art training to the discerning martial artist, coming from martial arts backgrounds like Karate, Taekwondo, Boxing, Hung Gar, MMA, Jiujitsu and other Wing Chun styles. Our students do share similarities, most notably a dedication to learning an effective self defence system in a no ego and friendly environment.

Weng Chun “Eternal Spring” is not to be confused with the popular Yip Man Wing Chun "Beautiful Spring", though some techniques look similar on the surface, but the concepts are very different.

Weng Chun Kung Fu emphasis on simplicity and directness was in sharp contrast to the acrobatic styles taught outside the Shaolin hall. Weng Chun Kung Fu was developed to counter all different types of Kung Fu that were used by the many different armies at the time. Common soldiers had to be trained quickly to counter specific threats by using specific modules of the system rather than the complete system itself. The creation of this new system focused on optimising human physiological and bio-mechanical expression in combat. It is a truly sophisticated Chinese martial Arts which appeals to men and women of all ages.

In traditional Weng Chun Kung Fu teaching, weapons were taught first and empty hands teaching were then followed. In modern days teaching, the empty hands and weapons are taught side by side. Weng Chun Kung Fu practitioners called the pole their teacher and the butterfly knives their parents.

Weng Chun Kung Fu is a complete system that based its training system on Chan teachings and training methods on Chan philosophy. It trains the students to fight in all phases of combat (kicks, strike, locks, clinch, throws and ground fighting) in addition to long and short weapons within a complete set of strategies and tactics. It uses the center line concept and the concept of heaven, man and earth (time, space, energetic) orientation to map out the ranges of attack and defence. The aim is to win in the shortest possible time when a physical confrontation becomes inevitable. Weng Chun doesn't fight force with force, but it uses an opponent's force to its advantage, so size, build, gender and aggression will not determine the outcome.

Weng Chun Kung Fu represents the culmination of Shaolin Chan learned through combat arts. All paths of Shaolin knowledge accumulated in the previous 12 centuries of Shaolin martial arts came together in Shaolin “Chi Sim” Weng Chun Kung Fu.

Based on Ten Shaolin wisdoms, Seven Shaolin principles, Eighteen Shaolin bridge hands, heaven-man-earth structures and energetics, five hand forms, wooden dummy forms, and weapon forms, Weng Chun Kung Fu is well equipped to challenge the practitioner to a lifetime of continued development and self improvement. It is thought that the Weng Chun Kung Fu system is the roots of many Southern Chinese martial arts today.