Wing Chun Warriors Programme
Kung Fu Education in schools for the promotion of:
Aims of project
To engage young people within under privileged areas. Wing Chun as a martial art promotes self discipline, respect and self confidence in the student. It is part of the ethos of Akwesi Akan Sifu to run classes in community projects, therefore outreaching to young people and engaging them in meaningful occupation. The principles of Wing Chun extend beyond the classroom, encouraging discipline and respect within the school and home environment and the wider community.
The instructors provide a positive role model to students. The classes also provide teachings from the Wing Chun philosophy about control and restraint, consequences of actions and personal responsibility.
Wing Chun Warriors in Other Community Projects
Anti social behaviour is increasing, especially within low income communities. Feijau Wing Chun has addressed this by working to include children who otherwise would be excluded from leisure opportunities due to both behaviour and low income.
We have successfully established a class in the South Acton Estate Oak Tree Community Project, engaging children from all cultural backgrounds.
The class views the child holistically, supporting them to develop a positive mental attitude whilst promoting physical health and reducing obesity levels. The class also supports children to address issues such as bullying and peer pressure. Membership of Wing Chun warriors succeeded to give the young people a positive group identity, diverting them from joining other groups with a negative behaviours e.g. knives, gun, alcohol, crime. One of the biggest successes of the class was to teach the skills to negotiate conflict and to use force only as a defence and in a controlled manner.
A recent pilot class for female teenagers has been established in Copley Close Base Project. It is working to teach the young girls self defence, discipline and respect through the use of a fun activity. It is hoped to secure long term funding for this class to develop this outreach work.
Akwesi Akan Sifu has also run community projects in:
Westcott Park in Acton from 2007-2008
Tech Close in Isleworth from 2007- 2008
Fulham Primary School ongoing
Outcomes
• Engaging in a meaningful occupation
• Self respect
• Self discipline, extending to home and school
• Positive group identity
Schools
The ‘Wing Chun Warriors’ programme is a course designed to be taught in schools for children between the ages of 7 – 16. The basic premise of the programme is that the discipline, skill and control needed to practice Wing Chun will translate into the practitioner’s daily life.
The programme has been written by Akwesi Akan Sifu who has taught children within the Feijau Academy Of Wing Chun for over 10 years. Sifu was advised by parents of many of the children, that they had noted a heightened sense of discipline after beginning training in Wing Chun. As a result Akwesi Akan Sifu set about designing a programme that could be applied in a short space of time and aimed specifically to enhance the aspects of the discipline which worked to increase behaviour, awareness, discipline and confidence, the end result being the Wing Chun Warriors programme.
Being rewarded for attending a 3 month course
