Wing Tsun Kung Fu Camp

[Big Boy]

As I have said several times on this board in the past, my son trains with the England Wado Ryu Karate Squad, and won the Bronze medal when he made his England debut earlier in the year.

Normally when we visit Hua Hin for a month he maintains his own training schedule, working alone on the beach. Having read the Wing Tsun publicity on the HHAD forum, we though it might be useful this year if he formalised his training schedule at the Wing Tsun Kung Fu Camp. I contacted the chief instructor, Klaus Lippert with help of the HHAD team (Buksida and Dr Dave) asking if he thought he could do anything to help my son's development - continued training this year was very important because the National Championships were scheduled 3 weeks after our return from Thailand.

We initially arranged for my son to undertake 2 Wing Tsun group sessions per week at 0830hrs on Tuesdays and Fridays.

Having only arrived in Thailand the previous evening, I went with my jet lagged son to Klaus' open air Dojo at Khao Takiab using the convenience of the 10 Baht Songtaews that run along Petchkasem Road from the Airport to Khao Takiab every 10 minutes.

Upon arrival in Khao Takiab, Klaus met us and walked us to the Dojo. Before the lesson started, Klaus briefly discussed with us what he thought he could do to help. This turned out to be a lot more than I had anticipated ie:

• Wing Tsun lessons - this was what we had signed up for.
• Fitness - Klaus briefly went through the fitness routines that he teaches (I felt knackered just watching). My son is quite fit, but I was wondering if he could handle everything that Klaus was suggesting.
• Private (one on one) sessions - Klaus thought that he could watch my son, evaluate his movements and advise how he could improve.

The lesson started, and it was a fairly routine martial arts lesson, although Klaus did seem to offer more practical advice than I'd seen at other martial arts classes ie most classes I'd seen in the past had concentrated on theory, without much practical demonstration. The highlight of the lesson was Dr Dave kicking Buksida and immediately collapsing in considerable pain. This is obviously a reflection of my warped sense of humour, but I'd studied Klaus' publicity photos before making first contact, and there is a photo on there that perfectly reflected the pain on Dr Dave's face. Unfortunately for Dr Dave, he did not make it to any further training during our stay through injury (although I did notice that his right arm was working fine on several occasions during my jaunts down Soi Binthabaht).

After the lesson, Klaus sat down with us, and we put together a plan for my son's training during the month of August ie:

• Wing Tsun lessons - these would remain unchanged.
• Fitness - my son would undertake fitness training one morning per week for 4 weeks.
• Private - we signed up for 7 private sessions.

Klaus' fees were comparable with my son's training fees in the UK, but the more that we signed up for the more generous Klaus became with his discounts. I believe that when Klaus had applied his discounts, the actual cost was definitely more akin to Thai rather than UK prices - it was a deal that suited all.

So, what did my son and I get out of it? …………………..

• Wing Tsun - a few extra (very effective) weapons in his personal armoury. I am not sure how many of these new techniques he will be able to use in competition karate, but for his own personal self defence he learnt a hell of a lot.
• Fitness - this was very important to my son's Thai lifestyle whilst on holiday (drinking and enjoying the food - we won't mention the women). With the nationals coming up just 3 weeks after our return, a pot belly was the last thing he needed to return to the UK with. He was able to handle most of what Klaus threw at him. His nemesis was the ability to be able to do pull ups - this became a bit of a standing joke ie in one month, I only saw my son complete one pull up unaided. His challenge now is to keep practising so that next year he will be able to do it on his own. At the end of the course Klaus gave my son an exercise routine sheet so that he will be able to continue the good work at home.
• Private - I watched every private session, and was very impressed with Klaus' ability. After all, you have to remember that he had no previous knowledge of the Wado Ryu style of karate. These lessons were split evenly between Klaus' Dojo, and the Grand Sports. They started with my son sparring in the Thai Boxing ring with Klaus to show him how Wado Ryu works. Without making any notes, Klaus then spent the rest of that lesson and the next 2 lessons breaking down each of my son's main moves, showing him where he thought he was going wrong, how to improve and finally did some 'heavy' sparring to let my son try out his improved moves. The last 30 minutes of the 2nd lesson actually saw quite an audience of Thai Boxers gather around, totally gob smacked at the stamina and power of both fighters - I've never seen my son sweat so much, but after each private session he was walking around in a pool of sweat. The final 4 sessions saw my son sparring for almost the entire lesson with Klaus (Hua Hin Mike was enlisted by Klaus so that he could stand back and observe the sparring for part of the last 2 sessions) - this was quite funny because both of them whilst trying to hold back on their punches and kicks, they couldn't hold back all of them for such a long period - both fighters seemed to enjoy the pain. I honestly believe that with this additional training, my son has to be a leading contender for the National Championship later this month - I will post his results (good or bad) afterwards.

What did I get out of it? ………………………….

I had the satisfaction of seeing my son being trained by somebody dedicated to his game, who took a lot of pleasure out of helping people.

Regrets? …………………….

I didn't read Klaus' publicity poster sat beside his computer until 28 Aug. On it is stated that one of the services offered was fitness for unfit people. Yes, I am unfit - I'm sure that most of you who met me will testify to that. However, I do have diabetes. One of the requirements of my treatment is that I should attend an aerobics class twice a week. Until now, whenever I go to Thailand, this part of my treatment goes out of the window. I am sure that having read the poster, and having seen how Klaus adapted his skills to my son's needs that he would have worked out a training session suitable for me for the duration of my stay. I will be speaking to Klaus about sessions for me the next time I visit.

I am sure that there are a lot of unfit expats living in the Hua Hin area who also don't realise that Klaus also offers this service. Most of you will surely be able to spare an hour or two each week. I know how much my twice weekly aerobics classes help me, and I'm sure that 2 hours per week with Klaus would help you as well. It may hurt the next morning, but I can assure you that this type of exercise really makes you feel a lot better in the longer term.

Don't be afraid by what I have written about my son's fitness sessions - Klaus would adapt.

Finally, I would like to say that in all of the sessions I watched (about half of them), they were carried out in a friendly, light hearted manner. Klaus is firm but fair with his students.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH KLAUS.

[Big Boy]

Just had an afterthought. Anybody who wants more information can look here: http://www.huahinafterdark.com/hua-hin-martial-arts.htm

or here: http://www.wt-thailand.com/

[Big Boy]

In the OP, I wrote:

I honestly believe that with this additional training, my son has to be a leading contender for the National Championship later this month - I will post his results (good or bad) afterwards.

Well, today was the day of the National Championships. My son got through to the Quarter Finals, coming back from 3 - 0 down to beat the top seed on the way.

Here is a video link to him beating the top seed:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nIvPC6okAAo

Unfortunately, in the Quarter Final my son executed two illegal punches to the throat and lost the contest as a result. Had he been a little more accurate, and struck either the chin or uppper torso, he would have made it in to the Semi Final, and who knows where?

To end on a bright note, my son's England coach went up to him afterwards and congratulated him on his vastly improved fighting style - he said that he didn't know what had happened, but he was now fighting the way they had been trying to get him to fight for the last 18 months ....... again, well done Klaus.

[JD]

Here is a video link to him beating the top seed:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nIvPC6okAAo

Your Boy is certainly not shy in coming forward Big Boy.

Well done that man.

[Big Boy]

I didn't post the fight that he lost. As I said, he lost it through his own stupidity - hitting his opponent in the throat, which isn't very pretty.

However, if attacked down a dark alley, what a wonderful way to disable your attacker:twisted:

[elem]

Thanks for the info -I would probably have to go for "fitness for the unfit" these days, but it's great to know the service exists

[Big Boy]

Maybe I'll see you there when I visit next.