This year is a special year, as it is the Academies 25th  Birthday the Silver Jubilee of wing chun training and teachings. I dedicate the year to the Sifu`s who have been consistent and loyal to SAS Martial Arts and me for many years.

Sifu Alex and Sifu Mark Green (Tai Chi) will be accompanied by Sifu`s Anthony, Marc & Rony, 5 sifu within one academy is a rare treat for all students. New Senior Instructors Kareem, Michael J, Lola, and Lucy have also been promoted, new promotions to instructors Kholil, Michael S and Suffiyah who have worked hard in improving the quality of juniors and children classes and our school contracts. So we start the year with a great sense of enthusiasm and optimism.

 In 25 years of teachings I have encountered two other recessions and survived, students tell me of their hardship and commitment to train with SAS, but find less time to train due to longer hours of work or no work at all. This is a testing time for all. But all martial artists perform better when their backs are against the wall, I believe with the warrior mind and attitude, one will prevail.

2010 witnessed SAS providing many exciting events, here are some

1. joint venture with Goshin Jujitsu to teach classes and provide a seminar in floor fighting and take-downs, and teach the early stage security courses.

2. Free revised seminars of wing chun were offered and we managed to improve the passing rate of grading examinations.

3. A new timetable concept to allow more training days for members for the same monthly price.

4. Yearly membership was slashed by 50% for adults, and prices were kept the same (in some cases cheaper)

5. Instructor training/meeting days with first aid and health and safety.

6. Our SAS awards day and volunteering recognition to over 45 persons involved in our teachings.

 7. A new website with social media access to our academy, improved customer services (we were awarded the certificate of minimal standards)

8. New holistic classes of Chi Kung and Yoga were added.

9. New improved children and junior timetable and prices now including street dance.

10. We enjoyed a weekend training trip to Wales with 32 young people, rock climbing, canoeing, orienteering, and river walking /swimming, and much fun, we plan an adult trip in 2011

This year promises so much with senior 8^th Rank grading in the spring, 5^th Rank close behind with 6^thRank in the summer. Summer also may be the opportunity to move the studio to a new location as 12 years in Gospel Oak may come to an end?

A new social enterprise company by SAS is been formed, so we can provide more community based learning via the martial arts, bring families together in sport and improve on life skills and life safety.

Our after school projects will have a new theme, our bids and applications for new contracts from local government, will now be commissioned by central government under the “Big society agenda” and we are planning to add a new branch at the Cypriot community centre Wood Green. Our Southgate branch after 10 years of service is the strongest it has ever been. A new branch of SAS in Wood Green starting on 22nd January 2011.

I want to use the power of the martial arts and their ethos to bestow respect, integrity and honor to the new generation of students. 2011 can only get better for many and also for SAS and i am already relishing the challenges ahead.

 May I thank you for your positive energy and look forward to your renewed enthusiasm and commitment.

Positive energy and good health to you all.

Happy New Year for 2011.

Please find below important dates for January & February 2011.

For more updated information go to www.saswingchun.com

January 2011

February

The ancient Martial Arts are grounded in a rich heritage of blood and honour, and have a great deal to offer a serious student of modern day life. Unfortunately, in most modern schools and academies round the world this has been lost. The modern world of martial arts is geared round sports competitions and commercial grading. As a result, students in today’s schools and academies are getting the surface of the true values and traditions of the Asian Martial Arts. These Martial arts have a deeply routed tradition that dates back to 3000 BC, they are all losing their historical significance in our modern world, and as another new generation of student walks into the Kwan more is lost.

I am a traditionalist and my teachers of wing chun were the same, to keep a perfect balance of “East and West” concepts and philosophies takes a lot of planning and management in keeping the interest of a student on going till the next decade.

The ancient warrior had to dedicate himself to his art if he was to become a master. A famous traditional master of modern times was Funakoshi the greatest Karate Master who took his art from complete obscure roots in Okinawa to public attention in Japan and eventually the world; as a result, more people are familiar with his name than any other in the history of Karate.

Kung Fu also had a great teacher and master but is shroud in politics and mystery General Kwan one of the greatest general that lived in China, studied the Arts and the Martial Way of living which he installed in his troops, which led to victories on the battle fields. Master Dr Leung Jan of Wing Chun also revolutionised the art, Leung Jan was a Doctors son and apprentice, outside of his study's he gave all his spare time to practising Kung Fu. Leung Jan was very fortunate because his Sifu and SiPak's (Kung Fu father & Uncles) were close friends. Though between them their styles of fighting differed, still they often came together to consolidate and exchange views on Kung Fu. The young Leung Jan was to learn from all of them, and in time, he distilled all of what he learnt. After some years of development, he formed a simple yet devastating fighting art. He introduced the Pole, Knives and the 3 forms, he prepared the forms of Chi saus and worked to develop the Mook Yan Jong, he also as Funakoshi took his art from obscurity to National interest, but Yip Man took Wing Chun to international interest.

All masters had their qualities some were great warriors, others fighters, but they all had the Martial way of the ancient art they practiced. Their greatness was their unwavering devotion to the training principles, ethics and lifestyle that embody the Martial Way.

One understood the warrior code the warrior way of living, but this way of living, the warrior way is not just for the Martial Artist, the Masai warriors in Kenya, the Red Indian, the Incas the aboriginal warriors.

History teaches us that the Ancient Greeks had also a fighting system with a form of ethics and codes, which predates the Chinese, but not documented to prove their claim. The Romans also looked for greatness in their generals and troops. The samurai also live “the way of the sword” and their teachings and ethics are legendary.

“To seek perfection of the warrior spirit is the only task worthy of our manhood”

Warriors are special people. Since they understand the concept of Honour, they set their ethical standards above most of the rest of society. Since they pattern their lives round the pursuit of excellence, they tend to achieve in their chosen professions. Why would people in today’s society want to think themselves as warriors?

Because warrior ship is an extraordinary and powerful way to live

Start today by thinking of yourself as a warrior. Stop being the dentist, accountant, lawyer or panel beater, who does Wing Chun as a hobby and become a warrior who practices both his profession and his Martial Art to hone his spirit. You will discover that both your professional competence and your Wing Chun will improve rapidly.

However, true mastery in the Martial Way involves more than mere physical prowess and expertise. The master warrior is a man of character, a man of wisdom and insight, these goals are far more elusive than those regarding technical expertise are, elusive they may be, but you can begin the long road towards character development by learning to recognised and pursue your internal and external objectives

“He who stands on tiptoes does not stand firm. He who stretches his legs does not walk easily. Thus, he who displays himself does not shine. He who vaunts himself does not find merit acknowledged. He who is self-conceited has no superiority allowed him”

Sun Tzu

Many glossy magazines have interviews with modern masters who self praise their achievements and boast their accomplishments, the ones you see at the National tournaments with 3 Black belts and patches all over their uniforms, these people provide us a classic example of martial artist enslaved to ego gratification from external sources.

The martial way is a discipline devoted to the perfection of character. The student turns his attention inward in a personal journey. He evaluates the strength of his spirit and sets about polishing those qualities that need work. Outward displays of finery expose an individual who needs external reinforcement to reassure him of his self worth, even extreme public display of skill and prowess, when motivated by the desire to impress others, demonstrates and intensifies fundamental weaknesses within. In addition, there lies the pitfall of tournament competition.

Great Masters in the past (including Funakoshi - Karate) have introduced Kumite or sparring competitions to generate public enthusiasm for the Martial Way, another  was Jigaro Kano founder of Judo, both men had noble goals; the more people they could attract to their respective discipline, the more they could lead “to the Way”. Both arts are well known today, for their competitive sports in “Kumite”

However, one must wonder if more is always better.