FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Here is a list of answers to common questions.
If you have a query, please check that it is not already answered here first. If you cannot find an answer here, contact the club.
How do I join?
Where and when do you train?
What are the club Fees?
Is there a student discount (or other concessions)?
Do you teach children?
Is there an age limit to train in Hung Leng Kuen?
What should I wear?
I am an absolute beginner:
Do I need to be fit?
I have studied a different martial art before
Is Hung Leng Kuen suitable for women?
How quickly will I be able to defend myself?
Will my training be wasted if I am not attacked?
Are there term times?
Do you train for tournament?
Do you have to go through the grading system?
Do you teach specific Kung Fu styles within Hung Leng Kuen?
How can I be taught more than once a week?
Private Lessons
Membership and Insurance
Uniforms & Padding
There are no specially designated induction lessons. Simply arrive on time, ready to begin training promptly at 7.30pm on Wednesday evening. See class times for details.
You are also welcome to turn up and watch your first class before deciding whether to commit to taking part. If just watching, there will be nothing to pay, of course.
Before your first lesson, you will need to sign an insurance form. You should also ensure that you inform instructors of any injuries or physical problems you may have.
Visit the Classes / Seminars page of this web site.
£10 per person per lesson, for everyone. In contrast to some other clubs, we do not give you the first session free; however, you are welcome to turn up and watch a lesson without paying.
Weekend seminars (4 hours total) cost £20.
The annual membership and insurance fee is £30.
Training kit (clothing, pads etc) you will purchase yourself, so by all means shop around!
Is there a student discount (or other concessions)?
No. There are no concessions on fees, but if you are keen but cannot attend class every week, you can nevertheless make good progress through home practice. Lessons will then become a very efficient means of learning new material and getting corrections.
We do not have classes especially for children. Generally, teenage upwards are welcome to attend, although an exceptional 12 year old was also taught several years ago. His ability was such that he could practice continuously for long periods without being distracted; in this respect he was much more skilled than most adults!
That being said, generally the younger you start the better, although if you are still growing then certain exercises or techniques will practiced differently, in a manner that is safe for you.
Under 16s must be accompanied by a responsible adult - parent or guardian - for their first lesson.
Child Protection
In order to comply with the law, it is our policy that all instructors teaching under 18's are subject to an Enhanced CRB Check. However, on occasions it is necessary for an instructor who has not been CRB checked to cover a class. At these times, the class would be restricted to adults only.
Therefore, if you are under 18 and wish to begin training, then please contact us in advance with the date you wish to start, so that we can confirm that a CRB-checked instructor will be teaching the class.
Is there an age limit to train in Hung Leng Kuen?
You can start at any age (13 or older), although if you do not feel physically robust, we might recommend spending longer that usual on solo (stance and form) practice in the early stages, until your strength has been restored before tackling some of the more physically demanding aspects of training.
Initially you can attend lessons in a plain t-shirt, training/tracksuit bottoms/joggers and trainers / sports footwear that allow your feet to flex. After a month of training, you should be on the way to having black kung fu bottoms and a plain white or club t-shirt.
Protective Equipment
The majority of partner and self-defence practice is done with open hands, to reflect every day life. This training is to develop sensitivity and skills, rather than to hit and score points of the other person. However, contact sparring is also practiced from time to time, and for this you will need protection.
To participate in any kind of contact free sparring you will require at least a gumshield, gloves, and groin protector. For a student to get the full benefit from sparring they should look at kitting themselves out with full sparring gear as listed below. When purchasing gear, a local seller we recommend is Legend Martial Ars or Blitz (for mail order).
A full compliment of padding for all students allows intructors to teach you some very valuable lessons. You will need full padding in order to spar and progress past your first grading. For a list of pads required, see the bottom of this page.
That is no problem, and there are even some advantage to having no martial arts experience, as you will be fresh to learn without preconceived ideas or techniques.
Most classes are mixed level, therefore there are no beginners classes as such, but you are taught at a level suited to you.
You are welcome to attend a couple of classes to decided if this art is for you, before committing for the year by paying the annual membership fee.
Do not worry about your level of athletic fitness; you will not be tested with running, circuits or star jumps! With just regular training in Kung Fu you will become as fit as you need to be.
More important than physical fitness is that you become more efficient, by learning to relax as you train. This is of significance for all of your life, not just Kung Fu classes.
I have studied a different martial art before
We welcome students with alternative martial arts backgrounds. Your experience might help you progress in Hung Leng Kuen, depending which art it is, and your level of skill in that art. As you progress through the Hung Leng Kuen curriculum, you should look to grasp the same material at a higher level than a complete beginner would.
Is Hung Leng Kuen suitable for women?
Yes. In terms of self defence, it's ideal as what we teach relies on technique more than strength and so does not require you to be big or strong. You Kung Fu will gradually develop around you as an individual.
There are already a number dedicated female students in this system, and it is definitely a good idea to talk to them.
How quickly will I be able to defend myself?
There is no hard and fast answer to this, as depends on your level of committment to your training, your psychological makeup, and your ability to grasp the essense of the teachings.
Several years ago, one of our students in Southampton successfully used a self-defence method that she had learned in class that same evening! So there are no obstacles in terms of what you are taught, only your ability to digest and use them.
A better question might be 'How quickly will I know or feel that I can defend myself?'... This is real knowledge of the body and mind that for most people takes much longer to develop, and is part of the internal art. Of course you will not become invicible, but this, along with years of successful experience in practicing attack and defence methods, will certainly give you that knowledge.
Will my training be wasted if I am not attacked?
On the contrary, if you don't have to use you Kung Fu to defend yourself, then that is good, as you can enjoy the hidden fruits of the training in your daily life.
What if you had to kill another human being in self-defence, perhaps in a confrontation that could have been avoided?... A large part of self-defence training is in avoiding of a confrontation. A physical fight should be always a last resort.
We do not train in order to fight, rather to understand how not to... In time, our training should help give us knowledge that increases our respect for life.
Not at such, but expect a one or two week break over Xmas, and no weekly classes in August.
Please ensure that you are on the Fareham Club mailing list for details of when classes may be closed.
No. As students of "Martial Arts" in it's truest sense, we train for real-life self-defence situations and reactions that may become diminished if focussing on training for competition or sport.
However, some of our students have chosen to enter competitions in order to experience what it is like. This is purely a personal choice, and, in UK tournaments at least, is a relatively safe choice due to the rules they operate under.
Do you have to go through the grading system?
We of course do not force you to progress through the grading syllabus, but do strongly advise it as it is the basis for the system we teach. You are able to pick up self defence techniques without grading, but the syllabus is designed to enhance and compliment everything you are taught.
It is essential for everyone to have goals and the stepping stones that take you to them. The Hung Leng Kuen syllabus will give you these goals. The grading syllablus also forms a 'common currency' so that you can attend classes at any of the Hung Leng Kuen clubs and maintain continuity in your training.
Do you teach specific Kung Fu styles within Hung Leng Kuen?
(eg. Monkey / Mantis / Ba Gua Chang / Choy Lee Fut etc.)
No. The Hung Leng Kuen Kung Fu system is a distinct style which has many different influences. These influences have been listed to give an idea of the breadth of this system.
Throughout the syllabus you will find grades that focus on areas that have a particular influence, although in training we focus on the core of Hung Leng Kuen. We do not claim to be experts in every other style of Kung Fu!
How can I be taught more than once a week?
Yes. If you can travel, see the links at the bottom of each page for the other Hung Leng Kuen clubs.
There are also several weekend seminars per year (extended lessons with a particular focus). You will be informed of these in class or via the mailing list - please make sure you are on it.
You may also choose to supplement your training with private lessons (see below).
Private lessons are the most efficient way of learning, for the dedicated student. You can get all your instruction in this way, or take private lessons as a supplement to class training. See Private instruction for more details.
Private lessons for groups are also available. Please email for enquiries.
After your first couple of lessons, you will be expected to pay an annual membership fee of £30. This will cover you federation membership and insurance. It is at this point that you will receive your licence.
The following uniform and protective gear will be suitable.
When purchasing gear, sellers we recommend are Legend Martial Ars (locally) or Blitz (mail order).
T-Shirts:
Either plain white or club T-Shirt
Bottoms:
Cotton
- durable - buy a size larger than you otherwise would as they do shrink slightly after washing. Elasticated or open ankles.
or Satin
- lighter, often more manouvreable.
Footwear
- should allow your foot to flex - avoid chunky-soles. They should also not have overly long laces or harsh protruding parts that may harm your training partners.
The online martial arts stores now have a large variety of training shoes with padded tops (no laces, buckles or straps).
Puma generally have a selection of slip-on trainers with a good grip, which are ideal.
If you are on a lower budget, try the cheap light-weight trainers of the type that are typically sold in baskets outide shoe shops.
They probably won't last very long, but they will be fine for training.
Sash
- at Hung Leng Kuen we wear satin kung fu sashes, not cotton belts.
To spar, the minimum you will need is a gumshield and gloves.
Gumshield
- it is essential that you purchase one that you can mould to your teeth.
Gloves
- should be well-padded for the protection of your partner during training.
Bag mitts are NOT suitable for sparring.
Groin Protection
- available for men and women.
Chest Guard
- more necessary for women than for men, however, men are welcome to wear them also.
Shin Pads
- foam, not plastic. Foot protection is not essential as we do not spar barefoot.
Head Guard
- with fixed face grille.
Whichever supplier you use for clothing and protection, it is obviously advisable to make sure that the gear is comfortable for you before purchase.