Frequently Asked Questions

On this page, we attempt to answer all the common questions we get so please take the time to browse through before firing emails at our president. If your question is not answered here, then by all means, fire away!

Am I too old to join?

No, it is never too late for you to join. Ultimately, there is something for everyone.

I'm female and worried that i'm going to be all alone?

Worry no longer! We have a large female membership which continues to grow steadily. Same goes for the lads

It's not the start of the term, can I still join?

Yes. We have new people beginning regularly throughout the year and you'll never be left behind. Everyone is given equal attention regardless of grade. We have several qualified instructors attending sessions who kindly lend their time specifically in order to help people progress.

I think I might be a little too tubby for this!

Whatever size or build you are it doesn't matter, you can still train and will never feel embarrassed or uncomfortable. If you've been looking to lose some weight and failed in the past this could well be the answer for you.

I'm not as fit as I used to be!

Everyone has their limitations, but the more you train the more you'll be able to move the boundaries.

When and where do you train?

Take a look at the Schedules page. It's got our training, seminar and social diary all in one place!

Help, I'm lost! How do I find your training locations?

Check out our Location page for information and maps.

So can I just turn up to any one of your sessions to try it out?

Yes, you certainly can! What's more, your first session with us is free!

Okay, so you've convinced me to come along to a free taster session; what do I need to bring/wear?

- Water - it's very important to keep hydrated. Self Defence may be considered the exception to this because the classes involve slightly less energy expenditure.

Eventually, if you're doing Kung Fu, you will wish to purchase what is effectively our uniform. This consists of black trousers (either striped or with elasticised ankles), which are specially cut to allow free movement, and our Hung Leng Kuen Kung Fu t-shirt, displaying our logo (or you can just wear any plain white t-shirt or vest). To purchase all kit, refer to the Kit page

How many sessions should I join each week?

As with anything, the more you attend the more quickly you'll improve. That said, it's not the end of the world if you can't make a session here and there. We appreciate that people have other commitments and just ask them to be equally committed to their progression in whatever they're pursuing within our club.

Can I just come to Tai Chi and/or Self Defence?

Yes. If you'd rather not participate in the Traditional Kung Fu aspect there's no problem in you just coming to Tai Chi or Self Defence. Learn what you're interested in! If you then decide to come along to our other classes then great, but it's not necessary if you're sure you're only interested in certain elements. Kung Fu, Tai Chi and Self Defence are all interrelated and things you learn from one variant are frequently applicable to the others. However, given the amount of attacks on students and people around the university and Southampton in general, we strongly recommend you at least come to Self Defence - it has been proven to get people home safely, girls included, on several occasions!

Do you train with weapons?

Yes, but only doing form work. There are regular seminars to which you may bring a weapon, regardless of your grade, and learn how to use it. We don't spar with weapons. You may buy weapons to train with through our club - see the Kit page for more information.

Do I need some sort of martial arts experience to join?

No. We get people who have never done a martial art before in their lives and others who have spent years training in other styles. Whichever category you fall into you'll be learning something new from the beginning and neither will have the upper hand. Later on this may change as you learn the applications to the things that you already learnt, but that depends on how open-mindedly you approach Hung Leng Kuen Kung Fu.

Is this a competitive sport?

We do participate in competitions within our style but it is important to recognise that Hung Leng Kuen Kung Fu is a Martial Art in the traditional sense - our focus is not on learning how to win medals.

This is going to be really expensive, isn't it?

Well, no actually. Our club is one of high value, offering some of the best instructorship. For actual figures, please take a look at the fees page.

Do you have socials?

We certainly do! They're great opportunities to get to know each other and have fun! Socials vary in size and type but are always guaranteed to bring a smile to people's faces. If you're not the social going type, however, don't panic! It's not obligatory as part of the club. After training sessions we invariably go down to the local pub for a drink, which will give you plenty of time to become acquainted or to ask any of the instructors any questions that you may have (about anything, not just Kung Fu!).

Do I have any university requirements to fulfil before I am able to join the Kung Fu club as a member?

Sadly, yes - an AU Membership Card, which allows access to buildings such as Boldrewood. (If it's your first lesson, don't worry. As long as you turn up a few minutes early, you'll be let in by one of the other members.) Some students may have already purchased this previously, in which case this won't apply to them. It is worth mentioning that, despite having to pay for these memberships, as with all clubs at the university, we are still competitively priced.

The method for getting them varies slightly depending on whether you are a student or not...

Current Students:

You need to go to the Student Services Centre, over the road from the Jubilee Sports Centre (the place with the swimming pool and gym). Ask for what to do at the reception first (the desk on the right as you walk in) rather than joining that huge queue or you'll be waiting for at least an hour, possibly without reason. The charge for you will be £15 for lifetime membership. They'll fiddle with your ID card and... hey presto!

Non-Students & Staff:

You will need to fill in two forms, available during our training session by speaking to one of the committee members. Additionally, you'll need to bring two passport photographs (with your name written on the back please) and the fee money to training. The fee is £15 for the AU membership for the duration of which you are at our club and £11.75 for an ID card which allows building access etc. Therefore, the total fee for non-students/staff comes to £26.75 . We will then take care of the rest, getting the forms processed and the cards given out at training.

What's this about a holiday?

This is the biggest event of the year, during the Easter break, when we find ourselves nice beachside accommodation for 10 days of training and socialising! Be sure to check out the reviews of past holidays on the federation website. The Annual Holiday 2007, to a currently unconfirmed location, is bound to be a fantastic time for all. Every year the holiday is open to everyone & so feel free to bring along friends, boyfriends, girlfriends and family members! For the past few years the price of the holiday has been £100 per person and we are aiming to keep it at this price. You will need to get your £30 deposit to the social secretary by the start of January - so get saving now! This year's sign-up form will be up once the location has been confirmed.

I want to know more about Hung Leng Kuen Kung Fu!

If you want further insight into our style, have a gander at the federation website. Also, be sure to look at the history section, telling the life story of Hung Leng Kuen Kung Fu's founder, Sijo J. R. Dutton.

Can't find the answer to your question in the FAQ? Feel free to e-mail your query to the Club President, who will try his best to help you out.