About LING-WOOD KUNG FU

The Kung Fu School’s name became Ling-Wood (Fast Accurate translated from Chinese) in the early eighties (18th November 1981), up to then the name of the school was Hung Gar after the style. This is where the roots and origin of the present-day school came from. However, it is now much more than this alone. Hung Gar – Hung was the family name and Gar – means way or group i.e. family. It is believed that the Hung Gar style came from China to England when the Chinese started to migrate to this country.

All styles of Kung Fu were kept a secret, normally only Chinese were allowed to learn and practice. Mixed marriages and English/Chinese children possibly helped the expansion of the art being taught to non-Chinese, but only to a small minority and even this was kept a secret.

A story is told, with reference to Steve’s teacher’s teachers’ teacher, possibly dating back to the early nineteen fifties. National conscription was in place and all young men had to do two years in the services. With all new recruits there is always a loud-mouthed bully and a very quiet bookworm character. For the purpose of this story we will refer to Steve’s teacher’s teachers’ teacher as Frank.

Frank was not the bully or the quiet bookworm; he just wanted to get through the service without any trouble. Right from the start the bully picked on the bookworm always taunting and threatening, calling him names and asking, “what are you doing here?” No one, not even Frank said or did anything to help or stop the bullying. All the others, including Frank, where glad it was not them.

The bully was six feet four inches tall and weighed sixteen stone, with quite a muscular physic, the son of a farmer. The bookworm was five feet five inches tall and weighed less than ten stone, the son of a grocer and always reading a book. The bookworms farther had married a Chinese girl-his mother while in the Far East; this was enough for the bully to pick on someone a little different.

The bully was loud and abusive every chance he got, never actually getting hold of or touching the bookworm. Just constant abuse, name calling, moving the bookworm’s equipment and possessions. However, there was little or no reaction from the bookworm.

Then one day, at mealtime in the mess hall, the bully went to punch the bookworm. The bully giving abuse shouted out "are you ignoring me" and throws a fast, powerful punch.

The bookworm seemed to move to the side, his hand shot out, one finger stabbed the bully up the nose.

The bully dropped to the floor there was blood everywhere. Military police appeared the bookworm went with them without any resistance. Medics came into the mess hall, with a stretcher, and removed the bully to the hospital.

The bully was never seen or heard of again, by Frank or any of the others in their detachment. The bookworm returned a few days later. Everyone, including Frank, gathered around the bookworm all eager to know how had he dropped the bully? The bookworm said "Kung Fu, my uncle - mothers brother taught me".