Loughborough Hung Kuen Kung Fu

This FAQ section aims to anticipate and answer some of the questions new members usually have. Of course, if you have a question that’s not on this list please email us at lufbrakungfu@googlemail.com, or leave a comment at the bottom of the page.

Q. I’ve never done anything like this before. Can I still join?
A.  Yes, absolutely.  Our first few weeks are tailored to suit beginners, so you won’t feel in over your head.  You’ll probably ache in the mornings though!

Q.  I’ve done Karate/Kickboxing/Taekwondo/etc before. Can I still join?
A.  Yes, we welcome anyone regardless of their previous martial arts experience.  As you progress in Kung Fu, it’s quite likely that you’ll notice some big differences between this and your previous style, but as a martial artist you can only benefit from widening your training.

Q.  You train 3 times a week. Do members have to come to all sessions?
A.  No, you can train whenever you like.  However, it’s best to come as often as possible, or you won’t get the most out of your membership.

Q.  When can we start training with weapons?
A.  The first weapon you can learn is the 6’ staff, but we don’t start learning weapons until after attaining a green belt, which you can get to within one year.  Weapons are not involved in grading exams until black belt level though, so there’s no rush.

Q.  When do we start sparring?
A.  Sparring can be dangerous if you haven’t first learned to control your abilities.  To teach this, we do start light sparring fairly early in the first term, and gradually build up to semi-contact work before the first competition.  If you don’t want to spar competitively, you don’t have to.

Q.  I don’t drink. Will I still enjoy the socials?
A.  We have several existing members who don’t drink, but still enjoy a night out with the rest of us.  We are a martial arts club, not a drinking club, and that’s reflected in the variety of different socials we run.  Big nights out are only a part of what we do socially, not the whole thing.

Q.  Isn’t this kind of thing mostly for guys? Is it something that girls can do too?
A.  We usually have a few more men join than women, but martial arts is becoming a very popular choice for women now and we actively promote that.  Both women and men can become excellent martial artists if they train hard enough and the club already has several very experienced female members.

Q.  When can we get hoodies?
A.  Social kit orders are usually taken around November and a second order is usually placed after Easter.  You can’t buy the kit on your own because we have new designs custom made each time, which the manufacturers only take bulk orders for.  You will always be given plenty of notice as to the order deadline.

Q.  How much does membership cost?
A.  Club membership costs £54 for the year, and all members need to purchase AU affiliation for insurance purposes, which costs £15.  So, for annual membership entitling you to at least three sessions a week, the total is £69 – less than half the price of a Radmoor Centre gym membership!

Q.  Do we have to pay for each session?
A.  No, the joining fee is all you need to pay to train with us.  There are other costs throughout the year, such as paying for grading exams, going on socials, etc, but these are all optional.

Q.  I want to join but would like to try the training first. Is that allowed?
A.  Yes, we offer taster sessions to all new members in the first two weeks of term.  If you like the training and decide to join, we advise you to do so as soon as possible as we are only allowed to sell a limited number of memberships each year, and in previous years they have sold out quickly.