www.internalmartialarts.co.uk

Kung Fu Classes in London.
Internal and External training principles of Shaolin and Tai Chi.

Welcome to www.internalmartialarts.co.uk
The website of Seven Step Kung Fu

Kung Fu
Internal and External
About our Style
Substance over Style
Gradings and Levels
Syllabus
Classes
The Warrior Code

Kung Fu
Kung Fu is thought of as being the “grandfather of martial arts” starting in the Shaolin Temple around 527 AD when Bodhidharma - an Indian Monk came to Shaolin and began teaching the monks internal exercises. This evolved into fighting styles as the monks needed to protect the temple from time to time. Thus “good” Kung Fu is a “complete” system of martial arts that includes both internal and external methods of training and utilises body, mind and spirit.

Kung Fu developed within the Temples (Primarily in two ways - Shaolin – Buddhist Temples and Tai Chi – Taoist Temples) and evolved still further when the monks began to teach laypeople that then developed their own unique Family styles. This continues to this day as Kung Fu continues to change and grow into many thousands of styles and variations.
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Internal and External
The internal training focuses on correct skeletal alignment, developing "Chi" and using the core postural muscles to develop martial power - sometimes known as the "one-inch punch". The external training consists of learning forms and various combat techniques from striking, locking, grappling, pressure points, self-defence and many more as methods to express this power.
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About our Style
Our style of Kung Fu was developed by Toby Jacobs after many years of training in various styles and its main influences have been Shaolin Kung Fu and Taoist Tai Chi as well as the Taoist concepts of Chi and Spiritual development.

Like the original Temple styles, Seven Step Kung Fu also links into a deeper philosophy of energy and spirit training. For example The Seven Steps are the seven grades that student progress through and these can also represent an evolution of spirit through the seven human energy centres from the base to the crown.
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Substance over Style

The most important thing about practising the martial arts is ones own personal development. There has always been much debate about which style is the best, and perhaps because of this nowadays a lot of the substance has been lost - the internal power. In other words the style is only a vehicle used to develop this power. True internal power is independent of style and crosses all boundaries! This was true in ancient times and is still true today.

In Seven Step Kung Fu the internal power methods are learnt hand in hand with the forms. Both are important. You need a form in which to express power. But a form without power is known as "empty kung fu".
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Gradings and Levels
Each of the Seven Steps has a form that is learnt that develops a particular style, skill and spirit in the player. These then offer a well-rounded, practical and exciting method of gaining a basis in the martial arts and help to prepare the players for whatever life may bring!
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The Seven Steps are:

1. The Wooden Palm - Black Sash
2. The Iron Fist - Brown Sash
3. The Praying Mantis - Yellow Sash
4. The White Tiger - White Sash
5. The Flying Crane - Blue Sash
6. The Fighting Monkey - Green Sash
7. The Coiling Snake - Red Sash

The Gradings take place on a personal basis when the player is ready.

After the Seven Steps have been taken the players can learn weapons beginning with the Staff, Sabre and Sword as well as exploring deeper aspects and learning new styles and exploring the nature of the Warrior.
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Syllabus
To see the syllabus in more detail download pdf
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Classes
Seven Step Kung Fu classes are run in a traditional way with juniors and seniors practising together and helping each other to encourage humility, respect and to try to reinvent the original spirit of Kung Fu for today's society.

The class always varies in its content but generally includes warming-up, stretching, exercises, practise of basic techniques, paired work, mat work, practise of forms, pushing hands (adults) meditations, chi work and explanations.

Classes are on Wednesday evenings during school term time at:
5.00 to 6.00 pm Children's Class
6.15 to 7.15 pm Adult's Class (teenagers welcome!)
At:
The Special Yoga Centre, The Tay Building
2a Wrentham Avenue, NW10 3HA
Tel: 020 8968 1900
www.specialyoga.org.uk
tube: Kensal Green
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