Hello, and welcome to our Kung Fu family!
Who we are
We are a traditional Chinese Martial Arts school based at King's College London. We are a very enthusiastic and friendly group of practitioners of the Seven Star Praying Mantis system. More than a simple sports club, we are a group interested in traditional Chinese martial arts, philosophy, and culture, and very enthusiastic about spreading the genuine Seven Star Praying Mantis boxing.
Who can practice
Kung Fu is a martial art that is suitable for everyone, and no previous experience is expected. We offer a safe and non-competitive training environment for senior and junior students to learn from one another and grow stronger together.
Health Benefits
Seven Star Praying Mantis Kung Fu helps students develop coordination, build good reflexes, improve mental focus to remain calm in stressful situations, reduce anxiety, and improve overall health. Practitioners develop good self-defence capabilities and a boost in self-confidence.
What you will learn
Praying Mantis boxing is known for its speed, agility, and flexibility. It focuses on both long-range and close-quarter tactics, grabbing and trapping strategies, and take-down techniques. We offer a unique approach focused on self-defence techniques, fighting drills, free sparring, single and partner forms, weapon sparring forms, and internal energy exercises (qigong/luohan).
Genealogy
We follow the lineage from the well-known Hong Kong family of Grandmaster Wong Hon Fun/Huang Han Xun (7th generation), aka the ‘Mantis King’, his disciple, Grandmaster Brendan Lai (8th generation), and two of his disciples, Master Tony Chuy (head of the Praying Mantis Martial Arts Institute in New York City) and Dr Samuel Mendonça (Chief Instructor of the Lai Kung Fu Institute Brazil). Our curriculum follows the teachings of Grandmaster Brendan Lai, Master Chuy, and Dr. Mendonça. The lead instructor, Raphael Lima, is a certified instructor with more than 13 years of experience in the Seven Star Praying Mantis system.
Community-building activities
As a kung fu family, we also engage in several activities outside training sessions, such as Chinese dinners, seminars and training camps, Praying Mantis theory study sessions, and other cultural activities. Everyone is welcome to join our activities!
Interested? These are the next steps.
Sessions
- Thursdays at 7 pm, in Bush House SE Wing, 8th Floor, Activity Room E
- Saturdays at 10.00 am, in Bush House SE Wing, Ground Floor, The Studio
- Saturdays at 2 pm, in Bush House Room TBC
If you would like to come, just show up for a free trial session or drop us a line via e-mail at l[email protected] or Instagram @laikungfu.london
Prices
- £16 a month for unlimited sessions to be paid at the beginning of the month directly to our committee members
or
- £4 per session for members and £8 for non-members to be paid directly to committee members after each session
Our yearly membership is £32+ £4 for insurance (to be paid on the KCLSU website) and already includes the beginner-level uniform (training shirt and trousers).
Everyone is entitled to a free trial session! Join us!