Being in my 25^th year of Kung Fu It is beautiful to reflect back to see how far everything has developed and changed – and yet see what has still remained the same. The world is very different from when I first started. Everything from the fashions and cycles that happened, in life and martial arts, to the true entering of the digital era, with unimaginable resources at our fingertips. Indeed, perhaps that what bought you here…

For me, the passion inside for teaching, sharing and exploring the beauty of Wing Tsun, humanity and nature has only strengthened over the years.  Of course, I’ve been through the inevitable trials and tribulations that you have in life – particularly those faced by people who are passionate, determined and aspirational. Also, when you’re in the people business it’s bound to be rewarding, interesting and challenging in equal measure. But to still be as passionate about the art, sharing it’s profound gifts with...

It’s now 16 years since I wrote my first blog, back in the summer of 2007 (and nearly 25 years since I started Wing Tsun Kung Fu). The topic was that of the 3 Star Poles (called Saam Sing Chong in Cantonese) – specially designed wooden stakes that are used for developing your kicking prowess. Whilst the blog no longer exists – having disappeared into the ether when my server inexplicably lost my whole website in 2015 – this memory remains etched inside of me as if it was yesterday.

One reason I remember writing that blog post so vividly is that it was pretty emotive for me. There was none of this training in the country and, having only ever seen them in Grandmaster Leung Ting’s book Wing Tsun Kuen, it seemed an impossible, mystical dream that I would ever even try them. So to have not only learnt them, but have poles of my own was quite a poignant moment.

However, another reason that this stayed so close to my heart is that it was my father’s old...