Dear kung fu collective,

Half term is fast approaching and I would like to organise some training during the holiday.

I plan to start teaching the children the duelling routines, in which two or three students perform a

choreographed weapon routine, using safe demonstration weapons (not real weapons!). This is a

performance art which has elements of stage combat and Beijing Opera in it, and it is unique to

wushu.

In our kung fu syllabus these routines are for senior students, but because the skills take time to

develop, I like to start them early. This discipline is a team effort in which the students will need to

learn to work with a partner and become a performer; it is also great fun.

The routine we start with is Stick vs Stick (Kwan tock Kwan). This was originally taught in the Chinese

army as a basic weapon, a couple of hundred years ago. The routine is quite simple and only needs a

bamboo or ash cudgel to practice it.

I would like to organise three two-hour sessions throughout half term week. The cost is £10 per

class. The students will need to purchase a cudgel so they can keep practicing after the course.

Please advise me if you need a rattan? Cost £25 also available for Playwell martial arts.

I was thinking 11am-1pm on Monday, Wednesday, Friday?

If this is something your child would like to try, please let me know. Please let me know what days

and times are suitable.

Your child will need to be booked in on the training session.

Yours in the martial arts

Alasdair Monteith