I haven't done kung fu (功夫) for several years now. It was one of those things I picked up, got a great deal of enjoyment out of, but ultimately wasn't for me. However, I shall always be grateful for some of the things I was taught there; think I can sum it up accurately by saying, very glad to study martial arts, very glad to give it up.

It's not a bad way of keeping fit, though. With martial arts you have a built-in incentive to stay in shape, and it's usually to avoid getting pasted in sparring sessions.

Nam Yang is a very traditional club that practises Tiger Crane Combination, which as a southern Shaolin style emphasizes strong stances and fewer, lower kicks. There are branches in Farnham, London, Portsmouth and Kingston. The club teaches the whole gamut of services from the soft Shaung Yang Pei Ho (similar to Tai Chi), to the San Da (full contact Chinese boxing). You can also train in Shaolin weapons -- they teach a whole range of esoteric fighting tools, most of which look like props from a Jackie Chan flick. Daggers, swords, axes and staffs are all covered. The club also hosts extensive weekend training sessions, which are an excellent opportunity to concentrate dilligently on your skills.

Check out the Nam Yang website, and find out about the nearest club to you.

Now that I speak a little of the language, I should point out that the logo on the side is nan yang in common Chinese, not nam yang, and it means Southern Ocean.