Somerset Wing Chun Kung Fu 

After boxing at school I trained in Tang Soo Do, Aikido and Ju Jitsu before attending Bristol Shaolin Wu-Shu. My daughter was a very timid 14 year-old, struggling with confidence and finding school and socialising hard, so I took her to classes with me hoping that it would help.

Deteriorating health made it increasingly difficult to travel to Bristol so my Wu-Shu teacher recommended a closer option, Wing Chun class in WSM.

We joined Bill’s class over ten years ago and although my girl was initially reluctant, Bill’s relaxed manner, knowledge and attention to detail made the training fun and the simple effectiveness of the style left us both wanting more.

My girl began to look forward to classes and began to look up not gaze at the floor. To overcome her shyness Bill encouraged her to demonstrate forms at the front of the class, explaining that regular careful controlled exposure to things that she was fearful of would desensitise her fear reactions, an old military technique.

She learned to hit hard and take a dig from her dad without it worrying her. Her confidence continued to grow as did her skill level and Bill certified her to teach when she reached the standard required.

With her increased confidence she went off to university, something I thought I’d never see and is now completing her degree in engineering.

She teaches Wing Chun whilst at uni and keeps up her training with Bill via video conferencing. She regularly kicks her dad around when she gets home.

Because of my health, Bill has helped me adapt my fighting to cater for my lack of fitness and my rapid gassing out. He has helped me over frustration when I couldn’t train the way I wanted or was previously used to.

During lockdown Bill has kept the class going via Zoom, even starting new students and has kept me challenged while confined, setting challenges to integrate new skills and training.

Wing Chun is simple to learn and use but challenging to master. I love to train when I can and still enjoy the benefits of Bill’s teaching. Far and above what I get from it is what the class has given my daughter.

Malcolm D .... I have practised many martial arts down the years and for effective self-defence Wing Chun comes out on top, by far.

Not all of us are born with an aggressive gene. Forget press ups on your knuckles, deep bruises and constant injuries.

Wing Chun teaches you how to develop techniques that use relaxation, speed and acceleration to overcome a larger opponent.

Not only does Bill have a deep understanding of his art, his friendly, open approach, makes being a student, a real pleasure.

The Taunton branch, which I attend, has a particularly warm, friendly and helpful atmosphere. We are also blessed with no less than three excellent instructors willing to share their knowledge of kung fu.

Not all are young either.  I'm 62 this year and Wing Chun has allowed me to continue to develop my martial skills alongside my younger compatriots, without fear of injury. I'm looking forward to many more years with the club developing self-defence skills.

Philippa A ....'What I like about Sifu Bill's teaching style is that he genuinely enjoys taking questions from his students, be it during training or by e-mail afterwards.  He takes them seriously and his replies are always detailed and good-humoured'.

Colin W .... I started training with Somerset Wing Chun just 9 weeks after a total hip replacement . The club was very welcoming with a relaxed atmosphere and everyone very open and helpful.

Within a short time the strength had returned to my hip, which the physio and doctors attributed to the Wing Chun training.

Wing Chun is readily adaptable to someone with injuries and because it is designed for a weaker person to handle a larger opponent it is ideal for anyone that wants to learn a practical martial art.

I have been training for a little over 3 years now and would highly recommend Somerset Wing Chun to anyone looking to get into martial arts.

Michael H .... After looking for somewhere to learn a martial art last year, I decided to try Somerset Wing Chun and I am glad I did.

Having known very little before I started I have found it an effective martial art which keeps things simple.

With so much to learn every class is different and enjoyable and everyone there is friendly and helpful.