Story: Saleema Imam
Local Lau Gar Kung Fu Sifu (teacher) Graham Abdulla recently visited Wong Fei Heung Temple at Foshan in China to train with the Chinese National Wu Shu Champion – Master Xia.
Nine instructors from around the UK recently spent 20 days with Chinese martial arts masters studying ‘double swords’ and the Dragon Fist form, and joining the local population who perform Qi Kong and Tai Chi exercises in their hundreds every morning at 6.00 am on green spaces around the town.
Former Grand champion Graham was amazed at the dedication of the people of Foshan to Tai chi and martial arts. They in turn were surprised to see that westerners, whom most had never met before, were interested enough in their culture to visit and share the training sessions.
Graham commented that he was like a baby in a sweet shop “I lived and breathed Kung Fu so this was a dream come true.”
Graham, who grew up in Abbeyfield Road, started teaching Kung Fu both in Buxton and at St James church on Scott Road as long ago as 1979 and several of Graham’s former students are themselves now teachers.
Over the years hundreds of children and adults from our area have attended the Tuesday and Thursday classes which are still as popular as ever. People of any age are always welcome to join the St James’ club.
Contact Graham on 07790 844 020 or graham_abdulla@hotmail.co.uk.
Information about Lau Gar Kung Fu in Sheffield can be found on the website http://www.sheffield-laugar.co.uk
