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Advertiser January 18th 2006

Teenage martial arts expert launches own self defence classes for females

Help women get fighting fit

A 17-YEAR-OLD is giving females a fighting chance by launching women-only self-defence classes.

Kirsty Drake, who holds a 1^st degree black sash, was due to launch the classes tonight (Wednesday) in Anlaby.

The A-level student, from Anlaby Road , Hull , has been training in Shaolin Chuan Fa Kung Fu, an ancient art involving Self defence, fitness,  

and health skills, since she was nine years old.

She has had a life-long ambition to teach women’s classes.

Kirsty said: “I’m launching these classes because I strongly believe women should have some experience in self defence in case they find themselves in a threatening situation.”

“It’s also about keeping fit and self-confidence. The classes are Suitable for adults of all abilities.”

Kirsty’s sessions will be run under the Hull Kung Fu

Club, which is a member of the East Riding Voluntary Youth Organisation and the East Riding Sports Coaching Association.

Mike Mitchell, from Hull Kung Fu Club, said: “I’m really proud of Kirsty for coming this far and

setting her own classes.”

“It’s so rare to get a

female instructor because not many women get the  

qualification because they have to learn in male-dominated sessions.” “Kirsty’s classes will give women the chance to be taught by and learn with other women.”

The classes will be held every Wednesday from January 18, from 7:30pm until 9:30pm .

For more information call the club on: 0781 6458977, or email womensdefence@hullkungfu.co.uk

East Riding Advertiser

February 23^rd 2006

We’re fighting fit and that’s official

A MARTIAL arts club has become the first in the city to earn official accreditation.

The Hull Shaolin Chuan Fa Kung Fu club, which runs classes at Hull Collegiate School , Anlaby, and Beverley High School , is a member of the East Riding Voluntary Youth Organisation, which helps youngsters use a sport to benefit their future.

The club is also a member of the East Riding Sports Coaching Association and has just achieved Level Three of the East riding Coaches Accreditation Scheme, which ensures that the welfare and safety of young people at the club is a high priority.

Instructor Mike Mitchell said: “We owe a lot of thanks to Sarah Johnson who works for the scheme within the council for helping us out with this”.

“We teach the art to all age groups, which includes fitness, self-defence, confidence building and general toning and flexibility of the body”.

“We have seen some amazing improvements in children that we teach, including dealing with bullying and increases in confidence when dealing with tricky situations”.

The club also runs sister clubs Hull T’ai Chi and Hull Women’s Defence.

All senior instructors in the club are CRB checked and trained in child protection, working with disabled performers, equity and first aid.

Mike added: “As a non-profit  club we aim to build the membership within the club to encourage people with all abilities to join us and achieve their personal goals in life”.

Hull Kung Fu and Hull Women’s Defence club runs at Hull Collegiate School Wednesdays, 7pm to 9:30pm, and Hull T’ai Chi club runs at Beverley High School, Mondays, 7pm to 8pm.

Call 0781 6458977, email info@hullkungfu.co.uk or visit www.hullkungfu.co.uk

Martial art: Members of the Hull Shaolin Chuan Fa Kung Fu Club Practice

Mike Gooch is 29 years old, he suffers from a rare disorder called Anderson ’s syndrome. Anderson ’s syndrome is a muscle degenerative disorder which has led mike to spend most of his adult life in a wheel chair. He is not able to do things that you and I take for granted and his everyday is a struggle, but mike does not let his condition get in the way of his love of martial arts, particularly kung fu.

DO YOU THIN K THERE IS IGNORANCE AND PRED JUDICE TOWARDS PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IN THE MARTIAL ARTS?

“I was a bit worried at first when I started, was I going to be able to learn all of this, but once I began to learn the basics I found I could practice at home doing the basic self defence techniques, hull kung fu has helped by creating a specific syllabus for people in wheelchairs where they can defend themselves against attackers. It’s been a great help it now means that people of all abilities can learn together kung fu.”

www.hullkungfu.co.uk or www.hulltaichi.co.uk

“It has given me my confidence back and made me believe in myself again. I now feel anything is possible if only I try, I now feel stronger and I want to push myself physically further, even though I am unable to do all the physical

Aspects I can become mentally stronger in my life because of kung fu. I now have a self assurance that I can defend myself from people who may wish to take advantage of my position.”