JUNE 2009

Welcome to the Ealing Nam Pai Chuan Website. Nam Pai Chuan, or "North South Fist", is a traditional and pragmatic martial art based primarily on Northern and Southern styles of Shaolin derived Kung Fu. This site has been set up to promote classes taught in Ealing, West London. It also provides a basic resource of current and historical information about the system, both locally and internationally.

The next free introductory classes for new students will take place on Tuesday 7th July. If interested in attending please contact the instructor for further details.

SI GUNG ON TOUR 2009

Last year a senior group of teachers and students representing the system returned to Malaysia to visit and train with our Grandmaster, Quek Hen Choon. In his mid 80s, his strength, finesse and charisma has to be seen and felt to be believed, a truly inspiring teacher. Training was intense as expected and carried out in a traditional manner twice every day. We were privileged to be taught several old Shaolin sets and some rare Chi Kung exercises. The trip proved a great success and memorable experience for all involved. This summer Si Gung will travel from Kuala Lumpur with some of his senior students to teach a week long course in London.

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS 2008

In November 2008 the Shaolin System Nam Pai Chuan held it's national competition at the Welsh Institute of Sport in Cardiff. It was an unforgettable event for hundreds of participants and spectators attending from all over the UK and overseas. Students of all ages, from all walks of life, had the opportunity to compete passionately against each other in empty hand solo and paired forms, classical weapons, and full contact sparring. The spirit shown by competitors and effort put in by everyone who helped organise the day made it a memorable experience. The scale of the championships attracted the attention of Martial Arts Illustrated, the February issue in which it featured.

Team West London made up of students from Ealing, Chiswick and Hodford clubs did very well. The hard work was rewarded with lots of silverware at the end of the day! Video highlights can be downloaded from the gallery. Remember, it's not how we fall, but how we rise that counts!

DISCUSSION FORUM

A private forum has been set up for students to discuss anything to do with Nam Pai Chuan or martial arts in general. The latest information regarding Ealing classes, seminars and workshops will be posted here. Its a useful tool to ask specific questions relating to training or simply learn more about the martial arts community you're part of.

If you would like access email the instructor for a username and password. To view the Nam Pai Chuan forums you must be a registered user, guests cannot view or post. Visit the website here.

QUALITY NOT QUANTITY

Too often people get set in the mindset of "if some is good, more is better". This is especially true in Chinese Martial Arts. People are wrapped up in a "pain based paradigm" rather than a "performance based paradigm". In short they follow the old adage, no pain, no gain. They're just convinced that if they're "suffering" in some way, they must be moving in the right direction.

Instead people should be focusing on performance, and progress, and not the level of discomfort they're experiencing. Working "hard" and working "long" are not the same. And neither one means working effectively.