Wing Chun Kuen, which translates as ‘beautiful/eternal springtime boxing’, is a style of Chinese kung fu which was created by a nun at the famous Shaolin Temple. It is a direct, aggressive self-defence style that uses short, straight strikes right to the centreline of an opponent’s body.

A regular twice-weekly class has been running in the Borders for the past 14 years, including a spell in Selkirk. However, for the last few years students have been training at nearby Bowden Village Hall.

It was founded back in 1996 as part of Master Samuel Kwok’s organisation. Three years later, the club switched allegiance to Hong Kong-trained Master Paul O’Neal and his Advanced Fighting Systems gym in Newcastle.

However, at the start of 2009, the club was reconstituted as the Borders branch of Master Lee yeung’s Wing Chun Self Protection organisation. Master Yeung was one of Master O’Neal’s top instructors and continues to pass on the purest form of Wing Chun as transmitted from the late legendary grandmaster Yip Man – teacher of Bruce Lee.

But while the high standard of kung fu may remain the same, Master Yeung has introduced stricter selection criteria for potential members of the club, seeking only those prepared to devote a certain amount of time and effort to learning what he considers to be one of the great treasures of Chinese culture.

Speaking at a special seminar in the Borders at the weekend, he told The Wee Paper he wanted to see the Borders club grow in size.

“I am here as a sifu (teacher) thanks to a long line of genuine kung fu martial artists. In the time I have been fortunate enough to both study and teach Wing Chun, I have come to believe that, not only is it good for your health, but when practised properly it works effectively.

“My aim for the training class in the Borders is to help it develop and grow and give more people in the Borders the opportunity to learn what I believe to be one of the purest and most effective of all martial arts.”

For more details on Wing Chun Kung Fu, telephone Master Yeung on 07521 726433 or his Borders-based assistant instructor on 07788 192080.