Our last class of 2022 has been held and we have drawn the final curtain on this year.
It has been a strange one, recovering from the legacy of covid and trying to maintain the momentum of various projects we have started, as well as continuing learning, developing and practising. We have had some very memorable moments, starting with our Chinese New Year Celebrations returning to Inverness after an absence due to covid. We also returned to the Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival and the Tartan Heart Takeover at Eden Court.
Thanks to the continued efforts of Si-dai Gung – Frank Yee – we have been able to continue our learning experience online. Schools from all over the world have been able to learn directly from the man himself via the magic of modern technology. We have also had the opportunity to continue with grading tests online too. This has enabled all students to move forward and continue to progress when they’re ready.
We have also had the honour of Si-dai Gung visiting Scotland and learning and testing with him “in person.” In October he was able to travel to Peterhead and Edinburgh to conduct tests, seminars and Bai Si ceremonies. You can read more about his visit in our post – Great Grandmaster Frank Yee Visits Scotland
We are very excited to see what is in store for us in 2023. Our regular timetabled classes will begin on Tuesday 3rd January. New students are always welcome to come along and try our Form class at 6pm or Qigong class at 7pm on Tuesdays. Our kids classes will begin again on Monday 9th at 6.15-7pm. Children aged 8-12 are always welcome and encouraged to attend this class. Your first class is free and our online options are still available to everyone too. At 7-8pm on Mondays we also have our lion dance classes. If you are interested in learning and performing with our lion dance team, you’re welcome to attend these sessions and practice with us. On Sunday 22nd of January we will be celebrating Chinese New Year with a lion & dragon dance performance and traditional shop blessing procession at the Eastgate Shopping Centre, beginning at 11.30am. Please come along and join in with our celebrations. All money raised at this event will be donated to Cash For Kids. You can support by donating on the day or via our fundraising page:
All donations, no matter how much, will be gratefully received and make a big difference to this amazing charity that supports families all across the North of Scotland. ❤️
May we take this opportunity to once again thank you for your support and wish you a healthy and happy Christmas and New Year.
Great Grandmaster Frank Yee Visits Scotland
After 3 years Great Grandmaster Frank Yee has finally been able to return to the UK to conduct tests, seminars, Bai Si ceremonies and presentations. He spent a weekend in Peterhead from September the 10th-12th and then travelled to Edinburgh to repeat the same timetable of events the following weekend.
GGM Frank Yee last visited the UK in 2019. He was due to return a year later in 2020 but Coronavirus put a stop to those plans. Now, 3 years later, we finally had the honour of meeting again, in person, and learning more knowledge from this exceptional man.
Despite just arriving from a New York flight, with a 13 hour delay and only 5 hours of broken sleep across 3 days, GGM Yee was still his bright and characteristically energetic self. He also appeared to have not aged a single day since we last saw him. GGM Yee wanted to begin proceedings by presenting all the senior students in attendance with a special calligraphy scroll that he had personally penned himself. He had the original intention of presenting the calligraphy to us all on his planned visit in 2020. Not only did he have the kindness and patience to inscribe each scroll individually for each student but he also had the foresight to preserve them for the duration of the pandemic, knowing that better days would once again unite us all together again.
Next on the agenda were junior and senior grading tests. Students train for a long time before they are eligible to take these tests, sometimes for years. As you can imagine, many students were very nervous. Not only performing in front of their Sifus but also the watchful eye of GGM Yee. This round of tests saw many students achieving great success, including the first Jo Gow (black belt equivalent) for the branch in Ellon. Congratulations to all students who succeeded in passing their tests. Following the tests GGM Yee gave a speech on the importance of correct practice and practicing for the excellent health benefits that Hung Ga can provide.
After a brief lunch break GGM Yee conducted two separate seminars. We have been lucky over the last few years where we have been able to further our knowledge with seminars online. Nothing can beat being there, in the room, learning the precious knowledge which GGM Yee spends months preparing. His notes for each of the seminars are rolled onto huge scrolls of paper and draped over chairs so that every small detail can be articulated to all the attendees, both in person and online.
The end of the seminars concluded the first day of GGM Yee’s visit to Peterhead. A banquet was held at the school for students to enjoy some celebratory time together after a long day of tests, practice and learning.
The next day began with many students taking Bai Si ceremonies. These are traditional discipleship ceremonies where the student is formally accepted as either an ‘in the gate’ or an ‘in the room’ disciple. You can read more about these ceremonies in our previous article, “Ceremonies in Edinburgh.” GGM Yee explained in great detail the significance and symbology of the altar and table set up for these ceremonies. This ensures that future generations of students can benefit from the rich culture of Traditional Hung Ga Kung Fu and that these traditions are never forgotten.
The finale of a memorable weekend was a senior seminar on advanced pole techniques. All attendees have been learning these techniques online over the past year. The chance to cover fine details and corrections in person was extremely beneficial, however, and demonstrates how important close contact learning is, especially after such a long period of time studying online.
After an eventful weekend in the North East of Scotland, GGM Yee then travelled to Edinburgh, to continue his comprehensive teachings of the complete Hung Ga kung fu system. It was only a short period of time but an incredible wealth of knowledge and many treasured memories spent with GGM Yee. We hope it won’t be so long before we can meet again.
15th March 2020 News & Updates
We will discuss the impact of the coronavirus on our school, and gyms in general, and what precautions should be taken to maintain your health. Our class times and prices have been updated. The launch of our Spring Qigong Routine is expected any day now and you can read an inspiring interview with one of our students in our latest Student Spotlight article
COVID-19: Is it safe to attend my kung fu classes?
We are not experts on infectious diseases by any stretch of the imagination, however, due to the warnings from health officials we have sought advice on what precautions we should be taking to ensure the safety of our students and their loved ones.
If you have been infected by the novel coronavirus or have symptoms of COVID-19, you should stay at home unless directed otherwise. If you don’t have any symptoms and have no reason to believe that you have been exposed to it, then there is currently no need to lock yourself in your home.
The recent advice from health officials is to practice “social distancing,” to reduce the spread of the virus from one person to another. This is achieved by staying about 6 feet away from each other, avoiding large gatherings, and working from home (as far as is practicable).
Attending our classes in Inverness is a great way to escape the anxiety and stress of everyday living for many of our students. There have only been a few cases of the virus in the Highlands (at this point) so the threat is relatively low.
According to current advice, perspiration alone cannot transmit COVID-19. It is estimated, however, that the coronavirus can live on metal, glass and plastic surfaces for up to nine days. In an effort to reduce the risks we will be cleaning and disinfecting mats and equipment before and after use. Where possible, students are asked to bring their own equipment which they might need for any of the classes.
“Where possible and safe to do so, we will remain open as usual. We ask that all our students attend as normal, where possible and safe to do so.”
If any of our students are unsure or require further information, please phone or email in advance. In the event that we must close our doors, we will post announcements on our website and social media channels. We will also look into the possibility of introducing teaching classes online, if the closure is for a sustained period.
In October last year we published our first seasonal Qigong routine titled “Autumn Qigong Routine to Boost Immunity.” Qigong can be a gentle, yet effective, way to boost your body’s natural ability to fight off disease and infections. Despite the fact that it is no longer Autumn for us here in Scotland, our Autumn Qigong Routine still remains a fantastic way to boost the immune system. This will give your body the best possible chance of fighting the virus quickly and efficiently, so you will be back on your feet sooner than you might think. Why not give it a try and see what you think.
Spring Qigong Routine
Spring has sprung, here in Scotland. Snow drops, crocuses, daffodils and cherry blossom have all begun to bloom everywhere. Temperatures are very slowly rising and the days are beginning to stretch longer. We are working on our Spring Qigong Routine and hope to deliver this very shortly. We aim to balance the body’s systems with focused, deliberate, slow exercises and rhythmic, deep, diaphragmatic breathing. To be sent our routine, completely free of charge, into your inbox, simply send us your name and email address in the form below:
Updated Prices & Times
You may have noticed that our timetable has been adjusted to include or Qigong classes on Thursday evenings at 6.15PM. Our classes in Forres have also been running for a few weeks on Friday evenings. We have updated our prices too, making it more affordable to attend our public classes along with our private tuition once a week.
We also have private tuition spaces available all day on Monday and Wednesday this week. It is actually really easy to book these by choosing a space on the following calendar and entering your details. You will be redirected to PayPal where you can pay securely for your session. All you need to do after that is turn up on the day, ready for action!
[CPABC_APPOINTMENT_CALENDAR]Hire Our School
If you have thought about running your own martial arts, yoga, meditation or exercise class but you’re put off by the high charges for renting space out, we have a great solution. Our Academy has a fantastic central location in Inverness. It is available throughout the day Sunday to Saturday. We also have Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights available for you to run your classes. If you wish, we can even designate space for your marketing and help get the word out on our social media platforms. It only costs £12 to rent out our school for an hour. If you need more time, speak to us about what you need and we can come up with a fair arrangement. As always, you can email us directly or read more about what we can offer you in this article: Space Available
Student Spotlight
Our latest Student Spotlight article focuses on Emma Archer. Due to Emma’s work commitments Emma is often working away. This doesn’t stall her unwavering commitment to practicing the art of Hung Kuen. Far from it in fact. Emma is so dedicated to learning that she trains at multiple branches of Yee’s Hung Ga whilst travelling. Find out more about her inspiring story here: Student Spotlight: Emma Archer
As mentioned earlier, our Spring Qigong Routine will be launched very soon. Please make sure that you have signed up to our email alerts for this. Any further information about the coronavirus or school closures as a result of the pandemic will be announced via our website and social media channels, so please make sure that you check regularly, or sign up to our email alerts below…
8th March 20 News & Updates
Some weeks it’s business as usual and then other times you just can’t cram anything else into the week. Last week was one of those weeks. We’ve had new classes beginning on our timetable, pre-tests and a combat sport workshop as well as all our regular classes. Our Forres school has even made the local papers too.
Forres News Article
Our school in Forres has only been opened a short while, yet have already managed to have an article published about them in the local paper. The Forres Gazette wrote about the opening of our new branch and focused on how Sifu Hepple’s own journey with Hung Ga Kung Fu has shaped his own life, as well as the lives of many of his students. You can read the whole article here: New Kung Fu Class in Forres Helps Build Physical and Mental Strength.
Pre-testing
Exams are never easy. The pressure to succeed can be overwhelming. Nerves can make you flustered. Trying to remember all the information you need can be a hard task on its own. Trying to recall it all ‘on the spot’ adds a whole new level of panic! The kind of skills you learn to deal with these pressures are useful in all walks of life. During our gradings at Yee’s Hung Ga, there can be a lot of information that students have to process. To take some of the pressure off and to set their minds at ease, our pre-testing stage is a valuable part of the whole testing procedure.
We conducted the pre-testing stage on Saturday the 7th of March. All students who participated passed with flying colours. The next stage is the final grading. Until then it’s back to business and lots of practice!
You can read more about one of our students who attended our pre-testing on Saturday. Emma Archer, who will be looking to take her Yee Cup Junior Level test (1st test of 2nd level) at the next grading, is the focus of our latest Student Spotlight Article. Due to her busy work schedule and commitments, Emma trains at various branches of Yee’s Hung Ga across the North of Scotland. This is a testament to her commitment and dedication to the training at Yee’s Hung Ga. If you are inspired by her tenacity and perseverance, you only need to make it along to your first beginners class to see why Emma is so dedicated. Read the article here: Student Spotlight: Emma Archer.
Hung Ga for Combat Sports
After the pre-test on Saturday, we also held a unique workshop in the Inverness academy. Sifu Michael Rose, Vice President of Yee’s Hung Ga Europe and instructor of the Peterhead branch, conducted a hands-on seminar about the use of Hung Ga techniques for competing in combat sports. Sifu Rose has first hand experience with competing and we were lucky enough to receive the benefit of his knowledge. More of these exciting workshops are in the pipeline, so to keep up to date, make sure you sign up to our email alerts below.
Rent Our School
If you have thought about running your own martial arts, yoga, meditation or exercise class but you’re put off by the high charges for renting space out, we have a great solution. Our Academy has a fantastic central location in Inverness. It is available throughout the day Sunday to Saturday. We also have Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights available for you to run your classes. If you wish, we can even designate space for your marketing and help get the word out on our social media platforms. It only costs £12 to rent out our school for an hour. If you need more time, speak to us about what you need and we can come up with a fair arrangement. As always, you can email us directly or read more about what we can offer you in this article: Space Available
Classes
Our Qigong classes commenced last Thursday and will continue at the same time of 6.15-7pm every Thursday. Our timetables and price list have been updated. These classes are suitable for anyone, of any age, who is interested in learning the art of Qigong. 1-1 tuition will still continue in the normal fashion.(see below)
As well as Qigong, we obviously have Hung Ga kung fu classes too. Our kids class is on every Monday at 6.15-7pm. There’s no waiting list for this so your child could start straight away. We also have our beginners class at 7pm on Tuesday evenings. There is plenty space available for anyone who wishes to begin their training. For more information on beginning, see our page: How Do I Join?
As well is these classes which are oriented for complete beginners, we also have a Techniques, drills and applications class on Monday evenings at 7pm. This is designed for students of all levels to practice turning their skills into 2nd nature. Our Lion Dance & Performance class is designed for students of mixed ages and abilities. The stances, footwork and co-ordination are a great accompaniment to your Hung Ga training. Traditional training & sparring is for more experienced students to hone their skills with. Anyone who has completed an introductory Tuesday evening class is welcome to attend any of the classes on the timetable. On Friday evenings we also have classes, available to anyone, at our Forres branch of Yee’s Hung Ga.
1-1 Private Tuition
Whether you wish to learn Qigong or Hung Ga kung fu, you have the option to learn in our public classes, 1-1 private tuition with Sifu Hepple or a mixture of the two. Private tuition is simple and easy to arrange. Simply pick the available time that suits you, enter your details and then pay securely via PayPal.
[CPABC_APPOINTMENT_CALENDAR]We are STILL working on our Winter Qigong Routine notes and our Spring Qigong Routine. Due to testing and workshops, they’ve pushed onto the backburner slightly. We will, however, be back on track soon and should deliver on our promises shortly. To make sure that you don’t miss out, sign up to our email alerts below….
Student Spotlight Emma Archer
In our Student Spotlight series, our students have the opportunity to tell you about their training in their own words. Emma Archer has been training since 2015, participating in demonstrations and lion dance displays. Due to working life, Emma’s progress has been more gradual than some other students, however she enjoys committing her leisure time to training and gaining a deep appreciation for the style. Emma is currently learning the famous Fu Hok Seung Ying Kuen (Tiger & Crane Double Fist) form for her Yee Cup Junior level (1st test of 2nd level). Here Emma tells you about her experience of training at Yee’s Hung Ga Kung Fu Academy in Inverness.
What made you want to train in martial arts?
Originally, I was inspired by my father who practiced Lau Gar Kung Fu in his teens. He taught me some stances and techniques. These share similarities with Hung Ga. Of course, films starring famous practitioners were also an influence.
How did you hear about the school?
There was no Kung Fu school in my hometown, so growing-up I practiced Shotokan Karate off and on for several years. While I did enjoy the training and think it is a great style, something about Kung Fu always appealed to me more.
In my 3rd year of University, I desperately needed an alternative focus to my dissertation, and decided that it was time to look into Kung Fu again. Miraculously, there was a school across from my flat (Yee’s Hung Ga Aberdeen at the time); guess it was just meant to be! When I moved to Inverness for work, I knew of the school here and began training under the instruction of Sifu Simon Hepple.
What was your first class like?
Just as nerve wracking as my first class in Aberdeen. However, I had met Sifu Simon and some of the Inverness students before at tests and events, and they were very welcoming.
Did it live up to your expectations?
Exceeded them.
How did you feel after your first class?
Pumped with motivation to train again and after a few more classes, felt right at home.
What do you think of your training so far? Is there anything you’d change?
Enjoy every minute of it. If I could train all day every day, I would.
What are your hopes for your future in martial arts?
Apart from maintaining my own fitness and well-being, eventually I would like to help others on their Hung Ga journey.
Anything else that you wish to add?
I have trained at a few branches, and each has a positive and friendly atmosphere. While it is not common for a student to change schools, branch instructors have been very accommodating of my working situation. I feel accepted and enjoy training with everyone. Sifu as well as my Hung Ga brothers and sisters are always encouraging and help to improve my skills.
It is also nice when we join other schools for seminars and events. Not to mention our predecessors are very skillful, knowledgeable and approachable. Always an honour to learn from them.
Kung Fu truly improves your fitness and self-confidence, which has helped me in other areas of life.
Come try Hung Ga and join our awesome family.
16th Feb News & Updates
We’ve had another exciting week in Inverness. New Qigong classes have been announced and are due to commence at the beginning of next month. We have also planned an exciting seminar workshop to coincide with our scheduled pre-testing at the beginning of March.
Highland School of Qigong
Springtime is a time for getting out and about and putting all those plans you made over the Winter months into action. It would seem that March is the month where it is all going to happen. Our Spring Qigong Routine is due to be released then. We also have the long awaited return of our public Qigong classes.
Spring Qigong Routine
Continuing from our previous Autumn and Winter Qigong routines, we will also be compiling a Spring Routine. This will follow a similar format with everything that you need sent to you, completely FREE, in an email. This will include a warm up, main practice and cool down. Each exercise, within the routine, will have a video of it being performed. It will also contain brief instructions, an explanation of any theory and a list of the main benefits. A workshop will also be held a few weeks after the release of the routine. This will aid you in your practice and help to clarify any questions that might’ve arisen after practicing it for a short time. Any notes from the workshop and general feedback will then be compiled and sent out to everyone, which should aid further practice and development.
All this information will be completely free of charge to anyone who is interested in learning the art of Qigong. To receive this information, you only need to sign up with the form below. Once compiled, we’ll send it all out to you at the email address that you sign up with.
Qigong Classes
Our public Qigong classes are due to return to our Inverness Academy next month. From the 5th of March 2020 we will hold regular public Qigong classes every Thursday evening at 6.15pm. These classes are open to anyone, of any age, who is interested in learning the art of Qigong.
Classes will be priced at £5 per class. There is also the option to buy a loyalty card for £30. This will grant you a 7th class for free. They will follow a similar format to our previous Qigong classes where we will practice a set routine. A Qigong exercise will then be taught to individual students to practice throughout the week. If you would like to enquire further about these classes, you can email us directly to ask any questions. We will also post updates on our Facebook page:
If you prefer to learn privately, we still have 1-1 tuition available. These sessions can easily be booked with our online booking system. Just select a day and available timeslot that is suitable for you on our calendar below. Fill out your details and you will then be taken to PayPal. You can securely pay for your session with any debit or credit card at this stage. We currently have availability all day on Monday and Tuesday this week.
[CPABC_APPOINTMENT_CALENDAR]Rent our school
If you have thought about running your own martial arts, yoga, meditation or exercise class but you’re put off by the high charges for renting space out, we have a great solution. Our Academy has a great central location in Inverness. It is available throughout the day all week. We also have Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights available for you to run your classes in private. We can even designate space for your marketing and help get the word out with our social media. It only costs £12 to rent out our school for an hour. If you need more time, speak to us about what you need and we can come up with a fair arrangement. As always, you can email us directly or read more about what we can offer you in our article:
Hung Ga Fighting System for Combat Sports
On the 7th of March we have scheduled pre-tests for our students. These help our students prepare for the rigorous grading procedure which we are quite proud of at Yee’s Hung Ga. We ensure that our students are fully capable for the level that they are testing. Simply attending a grading does not guarantee a pass in the Yee’s Hung Ga system. A student must undergo a number of tests to pass each grading. This ensures that the art of Hung Ga is passed on fully for future generations. It also means that our students are under no disillusions about their strengths and capabilities. The pre-testing stage also helps to settle any anxious feelings that our students might have about the main grading.
On the same day at 1pm, Yee’s Inverness will host a seminar, suitable for anyone, students and non-students, to attend. This seminar will be delivered by Sifu Michael Rose, instructor from Yee’s Hung Ga Peterhead and Vice President of Yee’s Hung Ga Europe. The seminar is all about the Hung Ga fighting system and how it can be used for various combat sports including; MMA, Sanda & Kickboxing. Sifu Rose can also advise on correct stance, positioning, stretching, diet & nutrition in preparation for competing. Boxing and MMA gloves are both suitable for this workshop. A limited supply is available at the school but we recomend that you take your own.
If you’ve ever thought about competing or would like to know more about the training involved, this is your chance to gain the knowledge you need to take it to the next level. The seminar lasts for about 3 hours. It is suitable for both men and women, basically anyone interested in learning. For students of Yee’s Hung Ga it is priced at £30 and non-students £35. Tickets can be pre-booked, to avoid disappointment, here:
Hung Ga Fighting System for Combat Sports Tickets
Facebook event page for seminar
Classes
Our classes continue at our academy in Inverness and at the swimming pool gymnasium in Forres. Anyone wishing to begin their martial arts journey at Yee’s can attend our Tuesday evening beginners class at 7pm in Inverness. Both our classes in Forres are suitable for complete beginners. We have a class at 8pm for adults or 7pm for kids. Anyone is welcome to come along and give it a go.
1-1 Tuition
We have private 1-1 tuition classes available for anyone who would prefer to learn solo. These classes are easy to arrange. Simply select a date and available time slot, fill out your info and then pay securely by PayPal with any credit or debit card.
[CPABC_APPOINTMENT_CALENDAR]Coming soon…
As well as our Spring Qigong Routine, our Qigong classes commencing, our pre-tests and seminar, regular classes in Inverness and Forres, we will shortly be releasing our notes from our Winter Qigong Routine. The notes give further information about each exercise and about Qigong practice in general. We will soon be announcing further details about another seminar based on Hung Ga techniques. This should take place towards the beginning of April. To keep up to date with announcements, make sure that you sign up to our email alerts below.
9th Feb News & Updates
Our first classes in Forres kicked off this week. We also have a blog article on the “Ecology of the Dancing Chinese Lion,” from one of our Inverness students. We have updates to our classes for the week ahead and an exciting announcement about regular Qigong classes beginning soon.
Forres Classes
Our first classes in Forres began this week. It is great to see an interest in traditional Chinese martial arts here. We appreciate everyone who has shared our posts and helped us advertise these classes. The hard work is just beginning though. Please keep helping us to spread the word so more people can find out about us.
If you are interested in joining us in Forres, just come along to one of our classes. Both our current Forres classes are on every Friday evening in the swimming pool gymnasium. We have one at 7pm for 6-12yr olds. They are open to both girls, boys and any parents who want to join in. They are only £4 for an hour.
Our adult class is at 8pm and only costs £5. It is open to anyone, men and women aged over 12 years, who are willing to give it a go. You dont need to be mega fit to do these classes. They are designed for anyone to follow along to. You practice at your own rate and get fit as you practice. The more you practice, the better you get!
If you are interested in coming along but a little anxious about attending your first class, don’t worry. You can give us a phone or email and we can set your mind at ease before you attend. For pointers on what to expect, check out our page, “How Do I Join”
You can also check out our Forres website page here:
And our Forres Facebook page here:
Ecology of the Chinese Dancing Lion
A Yee’s student from Inverness has written a fun blog article about the Chinese Lion Dance. You can read it here:
Ecology of the Dancing Chinese Lion
Emma Archer, the author, begun her Hung Ga journey at our academy in Aberdeen and has been training for a number of years now. She is currently training for her Yee Cup Junior level.
Classes
Highland School of Qigong
We are happy to announce that we will be reinstating our public Qigong classes at our Inverness branch. These will begin on the 5th of March at 6.15pm until 7pm. Each class is priced at £5 or £30 for a loyalty card which will give you a 7th class for free. There will also be updates to the curriculum we previously taught in these classes. The Qigong classes will take place instead of the Hung Ga kids class for ages 8-13. The older kids class will now be incorporated into our kids class on Monday evenings.
Hung Ga, Inverness
As mentioned above, our kids class for 8-13 yr olds will now be incorporated into our Monday kids class, to allow room in the schedule for our refreshed Qigong classes. This will take place immediately, however the Qigong classes will commence on the 5th of March.
Our Monday kids class at 6.15-7pm will now be for 6-12yr olds. Anyone interested in attending, within that age bracket, is welcome to join us. Anyone outside that age bracket, who would like to join, is welcome to attend our Tuesday evening class at 7pm.
1-1 Private Tuition
We have full availability for 1-1 training sessions on Monday and Tuesday this week. There is also some availability in the evenings after the public classes. These are ideal if you wish to improve, at a faster rate, on what you have already learned in class. If you wish to learn out with the public classes then these are also your best choice.
They are simple to arrange and pay for. All you need to do is complete the form below with your required dates and times. You will then be taken to the PayPal site where you can securely pay for your chosen class, even if you dont have a PayPal account.
[CPABC_APPOINTMENT_CALENDAR]Space Available
Do you wish to start your own yoga class or meditation group? Perhaps you already run a martial art class, excercise club or group and are looking into other locations?
We currently have space available (out with our regular timetabled classes) where you can rent out our school. Check out our article here:
Or you can email us to find out more.
We shall soon be releasing our Winter Qigong Routine notes. This will accompany the routine we developed last year and the workshop which we held in our school in January. The notes give further information about each exercise and about Qigong practice in general. Don’t miss out, sign up to our email alerts below.
Festive Special News & Updates
Welcome to our final newsletter of 2019. Our Winter Qigong Routine has finally been sent out and we have set up a workshop to compliment it. Our Chinese New Year preparations continue. Only 5 more weeks to go! If you are looking for last minute gift ideas, we have got you covered, with tickets to our Winter Qigong Routine Workshop and Gift Certificates. Although too late for Christmas delivery, there’s plenty of bargains still to be had in our ‘Hung’ sale. Our public classes have now drawn to a close, however the new year beckons. It is a time for reflection and new beginnings. If getting fit and healthy, meeting new friends, getting out and off the settee, learning something new and interesting that could potentially help you in a tricky situation, is high on your agenda, read on to find out how to start your kung fu journey at Yee’s.
Winter Qigong Routine
Here in Inverness, Winter has arrived. Freezing temperatures, short daylight hours, the stress of Christmas, parties on every corner. It can all take its toll on your mind and body. Luckily our Winter Qigong Routine has also arrived in time to help you relax and refocus. Refresh your mind and body with our qigong routine. We have designed it especially for this time of year.
If you haven’t signed up for our FREE qigong routine yet, simply complete the following form and we will send it to you.
Inside our Winter Qigong Routine email you will find an introduction to the routine, the routine itself with YouTube links to every exercise, a YouTube link to the whole playlist of every exercise and also a description of the physiological effects of the routine on the body. Every YouTube video has a brief description of how to complete each exercise, as well as a description of its purpose and benefits. All this information is completely FREE!! If you are interested in learning about qigong, this information is invaluable.
As well as our FREE qigong routine, we have also set up a workshop to compliment it. In this workshop we will practice the whole routine. It will be an ideal opportunity to ask any questions that you might have, or may have arisen from your practice of the routine. We will discuss the main theories and philosophies behind the routine, the organs and channels involved in each exercise and how they are put together to benefit the entire system in a holistic manner. This workshop will take place on the 4th of January 2020. Ideal to set off the new decade on the right foot. You can keep up to date with this event on our Facebook event page:
Highland Scool of Qigong, Winter Qigong Routine Workshop Facebook Event Page
The workshop costs £15. (£10 for Yee’s students) You wont need any special equipment. Just some comfortable clothing and shoes. If you would like to make notes, bring a notepad and pen with you, perhaps a bottle of water too. Filming is prohibited, however if you wish to take photographs, this is fine. You can buy tickets to this workshop on our website. Ideal for a last minute Christmas present:
Winter Qigong Routine Workshop Tickets
We would LOVE to see you practicing our routine! Follow us @yhginverness and use hashtags #YHGInverness and #HSQInverness to show us your qigong practice.
Our newsletter is still in its infancy! We could use your help getting the word out. If you know someone who would enjoy hearing from us, please forward them this email and share on your social media.
Spring Festival/ Chinese New Year 2020
Another event that is fast approaching is the Inverness Chinese New Year Celebrations. There are many practices on Chinese New Year that are surrounded by legends. According to one such legend, a monster called Nian (年) would come about every New Year’s Eve and terrorise everyone. People would hide away in their homes from the creature. The legend tells of one boy who was brave enough to fight off Nian using firecrackers. The next day, people celebrated their survival by setting off even more firecrackers. That practice has become, forevermore, a crucial part of the Spring Festival.
In modern times we use firecrackers to make a lot of noise for celebrating and to welcome in the new year. People stay up on Chinese New Year’s Eve and set off firecrackers at midnight. In the morning, firecrackers are used again to welcome the new year and good luck. The most amount of fireworks are set off at this time, more than any other time of the year, anywhere in the world. Due to safety reasons and concerns for air pollution, many Chinese cities have banned fireworks. Over 500 cities also have restrictions in place too. Beijing banned fireworks for 13 years. The ban was lifted in 2006 due to public pressure. If you’re in China during this time, you’ll probably be able to hear and see the explosions for at least 3 nights (and it can go on for weeks).
While we might not have firecrackers with us, we will certainly make a lot of noise at the Inverness Chinese New Year Celebrations. Our lions and dragon will be performing demonstrations across the city. You can find out more information and keep up to date with times and locations on our Facebook event page below:
Inverness Chinese New Year Celebration 2020
Chinese New Year Gala Show Aberdeen
Chinese New Year Gala Show Inverurie
Our Lion & Dragon Dance Team will also be performing at gala shows in Aberdeen and Inverurie. The Yee’s North of Scotland Lion & Dragon Dance Team consists of three Yee’s Hung Ga schools that are spread across the North of Scotland. The chief instructors from all three schools are originally kung fu brothers from the same Yee’s school in Aberdeen. This means that we all have the same Sifu, Bruce Clark. We all share the common bond of Hung Ga kung fu and we have all pledged to spread our art, in all its various forms, as best that we can. Lion dance performances play an important roll in spreading our art. We are always looking for keen students who are interested in what we do. You can contact the other two branches below:
Yee’s Hung Ga Ellon Branch
Yee’s Hung Ga Peterhead
Classes
Although our current classes have ended, they will resume on the Monday the 6th of January 2020. We wish all our students and supporters a very merry Christmas and a happy new year. If you are considering starting Hung Ga once our classes resume, we recommend readying our page, ‘How Do I Join?’ If you think it all sound good on paper but need that extra push to get you off the settee, have a read of our article, ‘Motivation: Hints, Tips & Good Practice’ It’s a lot easier and a lot less painful to begin than you think. Just turn up and enjoy the experience. See you in the new decade….
‘Hung’ Sale
If you are on the hunt for something very last minute to give to your kung fu obsessed loved one, but ran out of ideas. We have got you covered. We can email these to you and you can print them out to give in person.
How about tickets to our Winter Qigong Routine Workshop in January. Reasonably priced at only £15‐10.
Winter Qigong Routine Workshop Tickets
Or how about some gift certificates. Gift certificates can be redeemed for Qigong & Hung Ga classes, private tuition, uniforms and clothing, weapons, sparring kit and medicines. Multiple certificates may be purchased and/or redeemed at once. And we have price options from £20‐200.
YHGInverness Gift Certificates
If you’ve dropped all the hints in the world and you STILL didn’t get want you wanted for Christmas, don’t worry. Our sale is still running in our store. You can buy what you really wanted in our online shop. Everything is on sale (excluding uniforms, tickets and gift certificates) so you can finally justify buying it for yourself!
See you in the next decade. Have a great holiday and stay safe!
8th Dec. News & Updates
We continue our preparations for the Chinese New Year, Spring Festival. Our sale continues on our Fu-kit online store. Our latest article is still available for you to read. There are updates to our private tuition and class schedule for this week. We also have more info on our future articles and workshops coming soon.
2020 Spring Festival, Chinese New Year.
We are busy preparing and practicing for the Inverness Chinese New Year Celebrations next month on the 25th of January. You can see our Facebook Event here. This year we have the continued support from The Eastgate Centre and The Victorian Market as well as independent retailers across the city centre.
The Spring Festival coincides, roughly, with our birthday at Yee’s, Inverness. This will be the 8th year that YHGInverness has been open on Inverness High Street. In Chinese culture, the number 8 is regarded as the luckiest number. It’s pronunced ‘Ba’ in Chinese, similar to the word ‘Fa’, which means to be prosperous. It signifies prosperity, success and high social status. We hope that this means it will be a good year for us at Yee’s. 2020 is also the year of the rat. The rat is also particularly auspicious for businesses starting new ventures.
We celebrate our birthday and the Spring Festival together by performing displays to the public. We perform lion dance, dragon dance and kung fu displays. The lions and dragons are often confused with each other. Both dance traditions date back well over a thousand years. Although neither creature existed in ancient China, both are celebrated as mythical, powerful, and auspicious, especially during Chinese New Year and other important events. The main difference between the two is the number of performers. A lion only has two, a head and a tail performer. A dragon is very long and can have 10 performers operating it. Some of the larger dragon parades can have many many more performers. It also looks like a dragon flying in the air. It is raised up on poles and the performers move the dragon around in spirals, usually above the heads of the audience. The lion performers move around on the ground, using stances based around their style of kung fu.
You can keep up to date and find out more information about our Spring Festival display on our Facebook event page. Please feel free to like and share the event.
Hung Sale
Our sale continues in the Fu-kit section of our website. Everything is on sale including dresses, skirts, leggings, shorts, t-shirts, polo shirts, hats, caps, teaware, beanbags, mugs, hoodies and much more! (Excludes uniforms) If you are thinking of buying a gift for your training buddies or loved ones who have a passion for Hung Ga, now is the time! We can only keep prices this low for a short time, so get in there quick. Visit our Fu-kit shop for all sale items.
Classes
Our classes run right through December but we take a short break over the festive period. Our last class will be on Thursday 19th December 2019 we will then open our doors to a new decade on Monday the 6th of January.
With a new year and start of a new decade on the horizon, many people start to look at what they would like to achieve. Physical health and fitness is usually high up on the agenda. Mental wellbeing is often not as high on the list but it is becoming more of a priority. At Yee’s you can combine training both your mind and your body together. Take a look at our Horse Stance article to see just one method that we use which incorporates your mind, body and spirit. Starting at Yee’s is really easy. Take a look at our “How Do I Start?” Page. In short, just come along to a Monday or Tuesday evening class at 7pm, it is that simple. No money needed. Just a bottle of water and some comfortable clothes to exercise in. If you need some inspiration to help you take that first step, read our “Motivation, Hints & Tips” article. Nobody can make that first move for you but once you do it, you’ll wonder why you didn’t do it years ago.
If you prefer a more personal touch, you can arrange for a 1-1 training session with Sifu Hepple. An hours session will cover the basic warm-up and stance training exercises. It includes a section of your first form and basic principles of our training methods. For this coming week there are a few private 1-1 tuition slots left. Use the timetable below to book an available slot. You can even pay for it all online, that way there’s no backing out. Just turn up at the right time and we’ll take it from there.
[CPABC_APPOINTMENT_CALENDAR]Coming Soon
We have a few plans that we are working on at the moment. As mentioned earlier, we are preparing for the Spring Festival next year on 25th of January. We also have some exciting workshops and a brand new Winter Qigong Routine that we are also preparing for. To avoid missing out on details of these exciting opportunities, make sure you enter your email below. If you would like to register your interest in any of these workshops, please email us directly.
17th Nov News & Updates
After our gradings and seminars last week in Peterhead, it’s back to the grindstone. Practicing, preparing and sharpening those skills. We are hoping to conduct future gradings again, next year in the Spring. Students who have reached the necessary standard can attempt to take on the challenge then. In the meantime, training resumes. We have a lot to prepare for too, with the festive season and Chinese new year just around the corner.
Chinese New Year 2020
The Chinese New Year of 2020 falls on January 25th (Saturday), and the festival will last to February 8th, about 15 days in total. 2020 will be the Year of the Rat according to the Chinese zodiac. The Rat is the first of all the zodiac animals and represents the beginning of a new day. In Chinese culture, rats are seen as a sign of wealth and surplus. Because of their reproduction rate, married couples also prayed to them for children. People born in the Rat years are likable, charismatic and energetic.
In China, you’ll hear it being called chunjie (春节), or the Spring Festival. It can still be very wintry, but the holiday marks the end of the coldest days. People welcome spring and what comes with it: planting and harvests, new beginnings and fresh starts.
At Yee’s Hung Ga, we celebrate with lion dance parades and martial arts displays. Yee’s displays in New York Chinatown are world renowned. Here, in Scotland, our displays gain ever increasing popularity and media coverage. We travel all over the north, performing at galas, highland games, weddings, festivals, special occasions and events. Chinese new year is a big deal for kung fu schools the world over. It is a chance to demonstrate the skills of the students and promote the school, raising awareness and interest. It is a great honour for kung fu students to be involved in these celebrations. It shows a high level of commitment to the school and also that their skills are worthy of such demonstrations.
Make sure you sign up for our email updates below to find out more about our plans over these festivities. If you wish to get involved or would like us to perform for you or your business, you can contact us through our social media channels or email us directly.
Hung T-shirt Sale Extended
Our ‘Furious Five’ t-shirt sale has been extended to now included all our t-shirts. This includes our embroidered polo shirts, now down to only £12.99, and all-over print t-shirts, such as our ‘Tiger Stripe All Over Print T-shirt,’ now only £21.99 or our ‘Ladies All Over Leopard Print Crop Tee,’ down to just £17.99.
You can also find our new kids uniform t-shirts and new adult uniform shirts on the Fu-kit section of our website under the uniform menu. They can also be purchased, in the school, from Sifu Hepple.
Autumn Qigong Routine
Our Autumn Qigong Routine has had a great response from people of all ages and backgrounds. It is a gentle, low impact, form of exercise which has a huge impact on physical and mental health & wellbeing. It is easy to follow and shouldn’t take too long to complete. Best of all, it’s completely free and won’t cost you a single penny. You don’t have to subscribe or give away any personal details. There’s a description of the exercises, a YouTube video to follow along to and a detailed description of the main benefits and theory behind the exercises. The background knowledge and theory is a great way for interested beginners to find out more about qigong and its benefits. It should also be an interesting read for more advanced practitioners who are looking to further their studies and personal development with qigong. We would like to introduce more of these practical guides and would love to hear your input. If there’s anything in particular that you are interested in or would like to find out more about, we would be delighted to hear your thoughts. You can message us on our social media sites or email us directly.
Classes
If you are interested in learning more about qigong or kung fu, or would like to get fit and healthy, perhaps drop a dress size before the christmas party, why not book a private tuition timeslot that suits your own schedule. You can book on the schedule planner below or on our homepage, Facebook or Instagram pages. This week we have availability all day on Monday 18th & 19th of November, as well as in the evenings on the other available days. Just check the calendar for specific times on certain days. Private tuition is a fantastic way to improve on your qigong & kung fu practice; whether it is learning new form, theory, meditation or a mix of everything. Whatever your goals, we can arrange a training plan to suit you.
[CPABC_APPOINTMENT_CALENDAR]Forthcoming seminars & Workshops
We are planning to host two practical seminar workshops at Yee’s Hung Ga in Inverness. These will be open to the public as well as Yee’s students. If there is enough interest, we may also host a Winter Qigong Routine Workshop. This will be similar to our Autumn qigong routine but specific for the winter season and the theory which goes along with it. The two planned workshops should take place before the festive period and they will be an exciting opportunity to learn the theory and practical application of the five elements. One workshop will be based on qigong and the other on kung fu applications. To avoid missing out on details of these exciting opportunities, make sure you enter your email below. If you would like to register your interest in any of these workshops, please email us directly.
10th Nov News & Updates
It has been a bumper week this week at YHGInverness. We have had students gradings in Peterhead with Sifu Pedro Cepero Yee. He also conducted some amazing seminars for junior and senior students. Our ‘Furious Five’ t-shirt sale continues. We have updated info for private tuition and public classes this week. Chinese New Year draws closer, it will soon be time to dust off our lions. There are uniform updates for our kids t-shirts and adult shirts.
Gradings & seminars in Peterhead
On the 5th of November, students from three of our North of Scotland branches congregated in Peterhead for gradings and seminars. Yee’s Hung Ga is an international association with branches all over the world. Inverness is one of three across the North of Scotland, along with Ellon and Peterhead. The Northern schools often collaborate together. We join forces for displays such as Belladrum and Chinese New Year, as well as fund raising events and also for gradings and seminars.
Our students train for a long time to prepare for their gradings. It can take a year or longer to achieve the standard necessary for the first grading. At Yee’s Hung Ga, we pride ourselves in the fact that we have a high standard set for the different levels within our system. Students need to train consistently with focus, passion and determination to succeed. For each grading every student is tested individually on form, knowledge, technical ability and foundation & endurance.
The form is a pattern, or routine, of fighting applications. It consists of various stances and methods to train the body and mind for combat. It creates awareness of surroundings, co-ordination, develops speed and different power applications, breath control, accuracy, endurance and confidence. It is the basic building blocks that we use to train ourselves with. Each student is asked to demonstrate the form for their level and is judged by a panel on how well it has been executed.
Knowledge is assessed by asking the students questions on the fighting applications contained within the forms. This can be tricky as there is often more than one application for any particular section within the form. Students are also asked question about philosophy, the history and development of the forms and the Hung Ga system, language, different ways to generate power and the students own personal development through their training. If the student is grading on one of the many weapons of the Hung Ga system, they are also asked about the weapon itself, its uses and limitations.
To understand how each student can use the knowledge and physical applications that they have learned practically, they are paired off with another student of the same level. They are then asked to spar with each other, using techniques of their level and ability. This is to gauge how well the students have grasped the basic principles, applications and concepts of their level.
The foundation and endurance of the students are really put to the test during the last part of the grading procedure. All students are asked to perform the basic stance, ‘sai ping dai ma,’ or ‘four point great stance.’ This stance is sometimes known as, ‘ma bu,’ or ‘horse stance.’ The length of time required to sit in this stance depends on the level the student is grading at. Jo Gow gradings, or our equivalent of black belt, can be half an hour or more. The stance can be difficult to master and the students must really focus to regulate their breathing. They must use their mind to overcome the physical limitations of the body, elevating the spirit above what is perceived as possible. This can only be done with regular and consistent practice. A break in practice, due to injury or personal circumstances, could set a student off course for years. We will discuss the ‘Horse stance’ in a future article and you can test your own endurance and stamina.
As we also have a pre-testing stage, it makes it a little easier on our students nerves when gradings come around. All our students did very well at handling their nerves though and this was reflected in their results.
Sifu Pedro Cepero Yee also conducted two seminars whilst he was visiting. One for junior and senior students and another for senior students only. The junior seminar explored the devastating elbow techniques of the Hung Ga System. The applications learned in this seminar utilised ‘inch power,’ to generate a lot of power in a small space and concentrated at the point of the elbow. This can be very explosive. It can cause serious injuries or knockout. These techniques are only shown to loyal students who have demonstrated the restraint necessary to use them if a life threatening situation arises and not to abuse the knowledge frivolously. The senior seminar was to review key points on Grand Master Tang Fong’s famous form ‘Ngauh Gwat Sin’ or ‘The Beef Bone Fan.’ This form was created by our Great Grandmaster Tang Fong. It utilizes close range concealed techniques, locks, and pressure point strikes to disable an opponent. There are many practical applications for this unique weapon.
Chinese New Year
Chinese new year is just around the corner and we have already begun our preparations for this busy time of year. Chinese New Year officially begins on January 25th 2020, and ends on February 4th. It will be the Year of the White, Metal Rat. Chinese New Year is celebrated by more than 20% of the world. It’s the most important holiday in China and to Chinese people. There are lots of festivities everywhere. Yee’s Hung Ga are no exception, we perform lion dance displays, parades and demonstrations. If you would like to get involved, promote your business or would like us to perform a lion dance, please email us directly or get in touch through our social media networks
Hung
All of our ‘Furious Five’ 5 animal t-shirts are now on sale in the Fu-kit section of our website. The prices have been discounted to give you some amazing deals such as our ‘Eye of the Tiger’ design. It comes in 14 different colours and is reduced from £20.50 down to £13.99.
You can also find our new kids uniform t-shirts and new adult uniform shirts on the Fu-kit section of our website under the uniform menu. They can also be purchased, in the school, from Sifu Hepple.
Autumn Qigong Routine
If you haven’t tried it already, we highly recommend that you give our Autumn Qigong Routine a shot. It is a gentle, low impact, form of exercise which has a huge impact on physical and mental health & wellbeing. It is easy to follow and shouldn’t take too long to complete. Best of all, it’s completely free and won’t cost you a single penny. You don’t have to subscribe or give away any personal details. There’s a description of the exercises, a YouTube video to follow along to and a detailed description of the main benefits and theory behind the exercises. The background knowledge and theory is a great way for interested beginners to find out more about qigong and its benefits. It should also be an interesting read for more advanced practitioners who are looking to further their studies and personal development with qigong.
If you’ve already tied out our routine, perhaps you’ve practiced it every day, we would really love to hear your feedback. Have you noticed any benefits? Did you enjoy the experience? Did you adapt the routine? You can email us your thoughts or leave your feedback in the comments section of our posts or on the YouTube video.
Classes
If you fancy taking on the challenge and think you have what it takes to pass our rigorous grading system or perhaps you are interested in learning more about qigong or kung fu? Why not book a private tuition timeslot that suits your own schedule. You can book on our homepage, Facebook or Instagram pages. There is also an appointment scheduled below. This week we have availability all day on Monday 11th & 12th of November, as well as in the evenings on the other available days. Just check the calendar for specific times on certain days. Private tuition is a fantastic way to improve on your qigong & kung fu practice; whether it is learning new form, theory, meditation or a mix of everything.
[CPABC_APPOINTMENT_CALENDAR]Forthcoming seminars & Workshops
We will be releasing details of two practical seminar workshops taking place at Yee’s Hung Ga in Inverness. These will be open to the public as well as Yee’s students. They will be an exciting opportunity to learn the theory and practical application of the five elements. One workshop will be based on qigong and the other on kung fu applications. To avoid missing out on details of these exciting opportunities, make sure you enter your email below.
3rd Nov News & Updates
We have some awesome deals for you in our shop this week. Our students are in the final stages of prep for their gradings in only a few days time. Our Autumn Qigong Routine is still available for you to try completely free. There’s updates for classes and private tuition schedules for the week ahead. We have new uniforms for students and there’s news on upcoming qigong and kung fu seminars.
Hung
Our October promotion for £5 off a hoody and beanie has sadly ended. There are some awesome new bargains in our store though. All of our ‘Furious Five’ 5 animal t-shirts are on sale in the Fu-kit section of our website. The prices have been discounted to give you some amazing deals such as our ‘Eye of the Tiger’ design. It comes in 14 different colours and is reduced from £20.50 down to £13.99.
Or if you are a fan of winged creatures, our ‘Crane in the Rain’ design has been reduced to the same price, from £18.50 down to £13.99.
There are lots of unique, exclusive designs to choose from. Just visit the Fu-kit section to grab yours while the prices are still as low as this! They would make some great gift ideas for the martial artist in your life or a well deserved treat for yourself!
Gradings & Seminars
This week our students have been training really hard for their upcoming gradings in Peterhead. The gradings and seminars are on Tuesday the 5th of November, so only a few days left of final preparation.
Sifu Pedro Cepero Yee will be overseeing the test procedure and leading the seminars. Sifu Pedro Yee is a 9th Dan Sifu of Hung Ga. He is the eighth Senior Yup Sut (In the Room) Disciple of Master Frank Yee (Yee Chee Wai), as well as one of the first Americans to be accepted into the Yee’s Family Lineage at the New York Chinatown’s Yee Fong Toy Association and their world headquarters. At present Sifu Cepero Yee teaches and practices Hung Ga Kung Fu and Tuina as well as conducting ongoing workshops in the United States and the UK. He is also a well published author on Hung Ga Kung Fu. His article, “Hung Ga from Canton to New York”, is permanently on display at the Huang Fei Hong (Wong Fei Hung) Museum, the ancestral home of the style, in Foshan, China. He is the first non- Asian person to appear on the Cover of the Hong Kong Magazine, “New Martial Hero” (Fall 2005), in its 35 year history. He is also featured on the cover along side his Sifu in “Kung Fu Tai Chi Magazine” (May/June Issue 2006).
There will be lots of photos from the day of the gradings and seminars. Look out for our future posts to find out how everyone got on at the gradings.
Autumn Qigong Routine
If you haven’t tried it already, we highly recommend that you try our Autumn Qigong Routine that we published last week. It is a gentle, low impact, form of exercise which has a huge impact on physical and mental health & wellbeing. It is easy to follow and shouldn’t take too long to complete. Best of all, it’s completely free and won’t cost you a single penny. You don’t have to subscribe or give away any personal details. There’s a description of the exercises, a video to follow along to and a detailed description of the main benefits and theory behind the exercises. The background knowledge and theory is a great way for interested beginners to find out more about qigong and its benefits. It should also be an interesting read for more advanced practitioners who are looking to further their studies and personal development with qigong.
If you’ve already tied out our routine, or perhaps you’ve practiced it every day, we would really love to hear your feedback. Have you noticed any benefits? Did you enjoy the experience? Did you adapt the routine? You can email us your thoughts or leave your feedback in the comments section of our posts or on the YouTube video.
Classes
If you are interested in learning more about qigong or kung fu. You can book a timeslot that suits you on our homepage, Facebook or Instagram pages. This week we have availability all day on Monday 4th November, as well as in the evenings on the other available days. Just check the calendar for specific times on certain days. Private tuition is a fantastic way to improve on your qigong & kung fu practice; whether it is learning new form, theory, meditation or a mix of everything.
Please note that due to gradings and seminars in Peterhead, there will be no public classes or private tuition on Tuesday 5th November.
Uniforms
We have new uniforms for kids. Please contact Sifu Hepple with your sizes. These will replace the black t-shirts for kids that are currently available on the website shop.
Our new uniform shirts are also available to purchase on the Fu-kit section of our website under the uniform menu. They can also be purchased, in the school, from Sifu Hepple.
Forthcoming seminars & Workshops
We will be releasing details of two practical seminar workshops taking place at Yee’s Hung Ga in Inverness. These will be open to the public as well as Yee’s students. They will be an exciting opportunity to learn the theory and practical application of the five elements. One workshop will be based on qigong and the other on kung fu applications. To avoid missing out on these exciting opportunities, make sure you enter your email below.
27th Oct News & Updates
This week we are excited to publish a brand new article which has been specially designed for you at this time of year. Our Free Autumn Qigong Routine has been tailored to give your immune system a boost during the colder months. A forthcoming series of seminar/workshops is currently in development for qigong and kung fu practitioners too. We also have updates on our private tuition and public classes. There’s news on new uniforms for kids. It’s also your last opportunity to benefit from our £5 off ‘Hung’ hoodies and beanies. Our students are also in the final preparation stages of their forthcoming gradings next week in Peterhead.
Autumn Qigong Routine
It’s almost the end of October. The clocks go back. The darker nights and the colder temperatures are creeping in. Are you prepared?Don’t worry, Yee’s Hung Ga in Inverness has got you covered…
Our latest article is a Free Qigong routine that we have specifically designed for this time of year. We’ve created a video for you to follow along to as well as a detailed description of the exercises, their benefits, the theory involved and what you can expect. Just follow the link below to go to the article and see how our Autumn Qigong Routine can help protect your body against all sorts of illnesses and diseases which are associated with this time of year.
https://www.yhginverness.com/2019/10/25/autumn-qigong-routine-to-boost-immunity/
If you enjoy this Qigong routine and would like to learn more, please let us know in the comments section below or send us an email. We would be delighted to create future posts similar to this. Make sure you also sign up to our email alerts below too. We have an exciting seminar/workshop, on the five elements, in the pipeline. If you like our Autumn Qigong Routine, and wish to develop your knowledge further, this will be a fantastic opportunity.
Classes
We also have private tuition classes available for qigong and kung fu. You can book a timeslot that suits you on our homepage, Facebook or Instagram pages. This week we have availability all day on Monday 28th and Tuesday 29th of October, as well as in the evenings on the other available days. Just check the calendar for specific times on certain days. Private tuition is a fantastic way to improve on your qigong & kung fu practice; whether it is learning new form, theory, meditation or a mix of everything.
Our evening classes run throughout the week so if you are looking for something to keep you occupied on the darker nights, lose weight for Christmas or just try something new, kung fu is an excellent choice. Not only will it keep you fit and healthy but you will also meet some great people, learn something interesting that could potentially save your life, or that of your loved ones. We also have kids classes on Mondays for ages 5-8 and on Thursdays ages 8-13.
Lion Dance
We even have a lion dance class on Tuesdays which is suitable for all ages. Our collective Northern schools (Inverness, Ellon & Peterhead) often collaborate together to perform all over Aberdeenshire, Moray and the Highlands. We have performed at weddings, festivals such as Belladrum, shop openings, galas, Highland games and Chinese new year celebrations. You can find out more about our collaborative events, or book us for your own event, on this seperate Facebook page: Yee’s North of Scotland Lion & Dragon Dance Team.
Uniforms
Our new uniform shirts are available to purchase on the Fu-kit section of our website under uniforms. They can also be purchased, in the school, from Sifu Hepple.
We have new kids uniforms that have also been ordered. These should hopefully arrive this week. Please contact Sifu Hepple with your sizes. These will replace the black t-shirts for kids that are currently available on the website shop.
Hung £5 Off Promotion
This is the last week to take advantage of our £5 off promotion in our online shop. Keep warm during the colder months ahead with £5 off any hoody and beanie together. Simply follow the link below then head to the Fu-Kit section of our website.
https://mailchi.mp/1389a6a4be6f/yeesautumnpromo
Forthcoming Seminar Workshops
Ensure that you sign up for our email alerts below to find out how our students get on at their gradings. They are training hard during this final week before their gradings on November the 5th. Sifu Pedro Cepero Yee is travelling to Scotland to conduct gradings and seminars for Yee’s students. This is a fantastic opportunity for all students to accelerate their learning to a whole new level. All students are encouraged to attend the seminars that are available, regardless as to whether they are being graded or not. It is an opportunity not to be missed.
We will also be releasing details of two practical seminar workshops taking place at Yee’s Hung Ga in Inverness. These will be open to the public as well as Yee’s students. They will be an exciting opportunity to learn the theory and practical application of the five elements. One workshop will be based on qigong and the other on kung fu applications. To avoid missing out on these exciting opportunities, make sure you enter your email below.
20th Oct News & updates
As the end of October approaches, we also come closer to the change of the clocks, the darker nights and the colder temperatures. Don’t worry, Yee’s Hung Ga in Inverness has got you covered to make the seasonal change as pleasant as possible. We have evening classes to keep you occupied in the darker nights and clothing from our sister company ‘Hung’ to keep you warm. This week we will also be releasing our Autumn Qigong Routine to boost your immune system. It’s an easy to follow routine with some simple movements that will help to protect you from the elements, inside and out. To keep in the loop and to make sure that you don’t miss out, make sure that you subscribe to our email list below.
Testing and seminars
Thanks to Sifu Ian Rose from the Peterhead branch of Yee’s Hung Ga, our students have undergone the pre-testing stage of the forthcoming gradings with Sifu Pedro Cepero Yee at the beginning of November. On Saturday the 19th of October our students, who were put forward for the gradings, underwent the pretesting stage for the first time. We have added this stage to our testing procedure to ensure that the level of knowledge and practical ability is of the high standard that you would expect from Yee’s Hung Ga. A fresh pair of unbiased eyes can also see technical issues which will help students to progress further. It was a very insightful afternoon and a welcomed experience by the students taking part.
Hung £5 Off Promotion
To make it even easier to dress in style and keep warm during the colder months we have an ongoing £5 off promotion, during the month of October. Simply follow the link below to gain £5 off a hoodie and beanie combo on the Fu-Kit section of our website.
https://mailchi.mp/1389a6a4be6f/yeesautumnpromo
Forthcoming Seminar Workshops
Ensure that you sign up for our email alerts to find out how our students get on at their gradings. We will also be releasing details of two practical seminar workshops taking place at Yee’s Hung Ga in Inverness. These will be open to the public as well as Yee’s students. They will be an exciting opportunity to learn the theory and practical application of the five elements. One workshop will be based on qigong and the other on kung fu applications. To avoid missing out on these exciting opportunities, make sure you enter your email below.
13th Oct News & Updates
Gradings & Seminars
Our students have been busy preparing for the forthcoming grading tests with Sifu Pedro Cepero Yee next month. We have pre testing on Saturday the 19th, to ensure that everyone is ready and to relieve any anxious students of their abilities. In the meantime, lots of training and studying!
Mental Health Awareness
Mental Health Awareness Day was on Thursday 10th October. Practicing kung fu is an excellent way to improve your overall mental health, as well as your physical health, for many reasons. There have been many testimonies towards this fact, some of which are Yee’s students who have managed to turn their lives around due to the positive effects of Hung Ga kung fu. If you would like to know more about how Hung Ga can help you too, or would just like to talk to someone about the way you are feeling, please feel free to contact us at your nearest branch.
Classes & Tuition
This week there are private 1-1 tuition slots available all day on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. They are really easy to book from our website or Facebook and Instagram pages. You can pay directly on the website or we accept cash & card in the school. 1-1 tuition is a great way to boost your training needs, if preparing for gradings or just want to accelerate the pace at which you learn. Perhaps you’ve had a wee break from training and looking to get stuck back into Hung Ga, 1-1 tuition is an excellent way to get back up to speed.
All our public classes are still running throughout the October break. If you are interested in coming along to give it a go, theres no better time than now. We still have lots of spaces in our kids classes on Mondays and Thursdays too. These are lots of fun. They are only £4 and there’s a variety of different components to each class, so your kids won’t get bored. The class on Monday is for 5-8 year olds and Thursday’s class is for 8-13 year olds. You can drop them off, do some shopping and pick them up at 7pm or sit in and watch, if you prefer. We also have a mixed ages lion dance class on Tuesdays too.
Hung Promo
Our sister company ‘Hung‘ are running their £5 off hoody and beanie promotion until the end of October, so there is still some time to sign up. Just follow this link:
https://mailchi.mp/1389a6a4be6f/yeesautumnpromo
They have some great items in the Fu-kit section of our website, to keep you warm and cozy during the cold, chilly months ahead. They are continually updating with new designs and items to help you perform, as well as chill out, on a regular basis. This week they’ve released a selection of beanbag chairs, so you can relax in style. There’s also new Dragon Scale Capri Leggings for ladies and Athletic Long Shorts for men.
Coming soon….
Don’t forget that we have an Autumn qigong article coming soon. To make sure you don’t miss out, sign up to our mailing list below and we’ll deliver it straight to your inbox once we’ve finished it.
Card Payments
So picture the scene:
You’ve worked hard all day and you’re tired. Despite this you’ve dragged yourself off the couch, on a chilly winter evening, to make it to class. You’re psyching yourself up in the changing room whilst getting ready. You suddenly remember that you forgot to go to the bank on the way.
How are you going to pay for the class? You could get changed again and nip out to the cash machine? Maybe just run out in your uniform? Class is about to start though and you daren’t turn up late! Perhaps one of your training brothers or sisters could lend you….. Nobody has any spare cash on them either though!
Don’t stress it, we can now accept contactless and card payments from all major credit and debit cards.
Phew, that’s a relief! One less thing to worry about.
You can also use all major credit and debit cards to pay for items on the Fu-kit section of our website via PayPal. Even if you don’t have a PayPal account.
If you enjoy our posts and wish to be notified of further posts, notices, discounts and events, pop your email address in the box below and we’ll give you a shout when new posts are added. You can also like and share on Instagram, twitter & Facebook
Student Spotlight
This is a picture of Sifu Hepple and John Weaver. John has been practicing for 3-4 years now and is currently training towards his Yee Cup Jr (1st test of the 2nd level) Grading. Here John tells, in his own words, of his experience training at Yee’s Hung Ga Academy in Inverness.
What made you want to train in martial arts?
I previously trained in Jujitsu when I was about eight years old. When I reached twenty four, I became very interested in practising meditation, healing arts and focusing (balancing) my mental/physical energies. I read books, became Reiki attuned and watched videos to increase my knowledge on the subject. This led me to learn versions of qi gong, from some new age teachers and other kung fu personalities. I think I was the ripe old age of thirty one before I attempted to do kung fu work out drills; I was completely exhausted and realised I knew nothing of the hard work and discipline that was required to achieve what I wanted. It was then I started looking for a teacher.
How did you hear about this school and why did you want to train there? What were your expectations before you started?
Kung Fu was the obvious choice for me based on my interests. I did a little research on the different styles, and thought about what may suit my body type. I knew already I would prefer something that would be powerful and balanced, but more hand based rather than the flippy-flappy leg kicks. I saw some videos of the Hung style online after finding out that a new had school opened up in Inverness. I contacted Sifu to see if he would accept me as a student, and the rest is history. My expectations were realistic; having tried to keep up with drills on dvds and failed, I was open to whatever lessons Sifu had for me in order to progress.
What was your first class like?
I was slightly nervous and wondered what the other students would be like. At that very first class, I mentioned some of the things I had been doing and Sifu responded “this may be a little different to what you’re used to!” He proceeded to show us Tiger techniques, specifically how to break an opponents arm. After that class, I was aching all over. My legs felt like jelly, and I thought it would be very hard to build up my fitness to an acceptable level to continue. However, I stuck with it and after a further four or five lessons I got used to doing the warm up exercises! It is quite invigorating once you have built up the stamina and I am glad I have continued with my training. My life has changed considerably in the last two years and I now have a young family and a home to maintain. I haven’t had as much time as I would have liked to train recently but as my understanding of Hung Ga grows, so does my desire to push myself further.
What do you think of your training so far? Is there anything that you would change?
So far I have learnt the full Gung Gi Fuk Fu form and am now learning Fu Hok. I have also learnt about the theory of Hung Ga and some of the additional exercises that can be done to unlock potential skills; fighting and some softer skills like balance, conditioning and strengthening. I have attended seminars in Aberdeen with Grandmaster Yee Chi Wai and our Sifu’s teacher, Si Gung Bruce Clark – both are very well respected Martial Artists. It is hard to start with, but if you try and push through it is very much worth your while. Our Kwoon (school) is very friendly, and Sifu obviously loves Hung Ga; showing us how it becomes a solid foundation in life. I would change nothing about the training given but if I could give advice to other beginners it would be to put three times as much effort in to practising at home, as you do in class. Basic drills, form and practising stances – but also looking at the ways in which Qi Gong and breath exercises can improve your general well-being.
What are your hopes for your future in martial arts?
My hopes for the future are to continue training, and to push myself further. My aim at the moment is to improve my stances, transitions between movements and get more sparring practice to apply what I have learned. I enjoy the traditional Lion Dance practice and would like to do more of that for the school in the coming years.
Anything else that you wish to add?
While studying for the Fuk Fu test, I wrote this down. ‘Kung Fu is something that cannot be bought or stolen; you cannot cheat or make it easier as it is what it is. You get out what you put into it via training – body and mind with a strong spirit.’ I am beginning to understand more on the concept of ‘martial virtue’ and can say that with Kung Fu, actions speak louder than words – so come join us.
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Grading 15/Nov/15
Congratulations to everyone who passed their gradings at the weekend. 4 Students from YHGInverness went through to Aberdeen to be tested at the Yee’s Hung Ga European Headquarters. All students passed with flying colours and did their school proud. Congratulations and keep training! 🙂
World Tai Chi & Qigong Day 25.4.15
The last Saturday in April every year plays host to World Tai Chi & Qigong Day. It is part of a global effort to promote the healing aspects of Tai Chi and Qigong within our society. For the second year running YHGInverness participated in this global celebration by hosting a free Qigong seminar/workshop. Sifu Hepple, Chief Instructor at YHGInverness, conducted the seminar on the Yi Jin Jing, (Muscle/Tendon Changing Classic) which is a Qigong set or ‘form’ thought to have been developed by the Indian Buddhist Monk Bodhidharma, the legendary monk who began the physical training of the monks at the Shaolin Temple and thus credited as the originator of Shaolin Kung Fu.
The set was taught step by step until complete. Once the whole set had been learned, the key points of each exercise and how they work with the meridian channel system of the body was discussed. During Qigong exercises Qi, or internal energy, within the body is manipulated for specific health purposes. This can be achieved by moving your body in a certain way to stimulate specific organs of the body or using your mind’s eye, will or intention to lead Qi around your body or through certain meridians of the body. Using your mind and body together with coordinated breathing increases the function of many systems of the body. It also reduces stress and fatigue, calms the mind, improves circulation and many other documented health benefits. Qigong can be practiced by anyone and although it originated in China over 2000 years ago, it is still practiced today by people all over the world, from all walks of life.
The seminar ran over the scheduled time by quite a bit, so thank you to everyone who attended and managed to focus for the whole seminar. Also thank you to everyone who helped make this a successful event, including anyone who shared our Facebook posts and helped to spread the word. Hopefully YHGInverness will continue to make this a regular event every year and continue to preserve the art for future generations. Special thanks to the organisers of World Tai Chi & Qigong Day who help to promote this art worldwide. Without their efforts we would never have all come together at the same time for their common vision of health and healing on a global scale.
If you are interested in finding out more about Qigong or would like to attend one of our Qigong classes, please visit our Qigong page: https://www.yhginverness.com/qi-gong-classes/
FREE Qigong Seminar/Workshop for World Tai Chi & Qigong Day
In honour of the World Tai Chi & Qigong Day, Yee’s Hung Ga Kung Fu Academy, Inverness will be hosting a FREE seminar on the Yi Jin Jing or Muscle-Tendon Strengthening Qigong. Beginning at 10am on Saturday the 25th of April.
The Yi Jing Jing is a qigong set, thought to have been developed by the Indian Buddhist Monk Bodhidharma, the legendary monk who began the physical training of the monks at the Shaolin Temple and thus credited as the originator of Shaolin Kung Fu.
The exercises in the Yi Jin Jing set feature soft even movements which will invigorate the limbs and organs of the body. Practice of the set will improve your flexibility and balance, muscle tone and strength. It is particularly beneficial to your breathing and has many documented health benefits.
The Yi Jin Jing set is easy to learn and suitable for beginners as well as people of all ages and skill levels. The set will be taught step by step by Sifu Simon Hepple, the chief instructor at Yee’s Hung Ga Kung Fu Academy. Once the complete set has been learned, we will discuss the key points of each exercise and how they work with the meridian channel system of the body.
After the seminar, The Yi Jin Jing will be added to the comprehensive qigong curriculum at Yee’s Hung Ga, Inverness, so don’t miss this fantastic opportunity to learn this set absolutely FREE!
This seminar is open to all members of the public, you do not have to be a member of the school to join in. If you would like to attend, you only need to turn up on the day. The seminar begins at 10am so please arrive in good time for the beginning. Participation is mandatory so please do not turn up expecting to be able to sit and watch. If you would like to make your attendance known then here is a link to the Facebook Event page:
https://www.facebook.com/events/1593102387624817/
You should wear loose comfortable clothing and flat shoes or trainers. Bring a drink with you. If you wish to make notes, bring a notepad and pen with you too. There is no strict age limit to the event however please exercise common sense if you are thinking of bringing very young children. You can always contact Sifu Hepple beforehand, via the Contact Us page of this website, if you are at all in any doubt.
Gradings & Seminar 22/02/2015
Congratulations to everyone who sat, and passed, their gradings last weekend (Sunday 22nd Feb 2015)
Branches from Aberdeen, Inverness, Ellon and Peterhead assembled to test the skills of some of the students. It’s always great to get together and see old friends and new faces from Yee’s Hung Ga, pass on knowledge and learn new skills. On this occasion Sifu Bruce Clark conducted a great seminar on elbow techniques and fighting applications after the gradings had finished. Here are a few photos from another great day of practice and training at our UK Headquarters in Aberdeen.
Student Spotlight
This is a recent photo of Sifu Hepple with Jenny Thomas, one of the senior students of YHGInverness. Jenny has been training for almost 3 years now and is currently at Yee Cup Senior Level. Jenny occasionally helps teach some of the classes at the school and will also teach some Qigong classes in the new year. (Find out more details here: NEW CLASSES)
Here Jenny describes, in her own words, how she found out about the school and her training so far:
About 8 years ago, maybe more, I watched a documentary about a disillusioned priest…
On his journey through life he had lost his vision,lost his passion for life, lost his reason to be alive,even lost his faith and finally lost his family.
He had given up his secure,safe ,well paid yet now meaningless job in the clergy and was seeking. Seeking a refuge, seeking to fill the endless void, seeking a new life, seeking to end that dull painful ache inside, seeking a reason, seeking to find the answers to the questions he didn’t even know…
And all this he found in Martial Arts. He travelled extensively , visiting monastery’s, retreats, Martial establishments, government Martial groups and displays in the far east .He spent time in mist enshrouded mountains and beautiful lands…yet it was one day when he was sweeping a dirty floor that it suddenly clicked into place and his peace flowed from within. I can’t tell you how he found this peace, he didn’t know himself….but he found it inside himself through lengthy practice and meditation.
A true story and exactly what brought me to Yee’s Hung Ga! I felt exactly the same as that priest and I wanted exactly what he had found. And if he could do it so could I!
And so my journey began…I had done a bit of karate in my younger years but had moved away and never took it up again. I tried a few different styles which worked for a while but then I grew restless again. The self defence was good but the fitness was lacking…or the style was good but the egos were too big…or the fighting was great but the spirit was dead….I finally feel I have “come home”…in Hung Ga I am continually learning; it is a constant in my life amongst the ups and downs of every day life; I am strong, physically, mentally and spiritually ;I have met wonderful people and have lovely training brothers and sisters…the list goes on. I can truly say that walking up those stairs to meet my Sifu for the first time was the best thing I’ve done!
Speaking of those stairs…after my first lesson I could hardly get down them! My legs were shaking so much from using muscles I had never used before. But I knew straight away I had found what I was looking for …Lazy legs however soon learn the stances and you’d be surprised how soon your muscles get stronger and you can do things you never thought possible. Practice, perseverance and patience is what you need. And if you don’t have them you can learn them too! Anything is possible if you go for it. We train our minds with horse stance…you’ll just have to come to a class to find out how! We do patterns, techniques, applications and drills, sparring,body conditioning….and just when you think you’ve sussed it, then you develop on what you’ve already learned and it suddenly makes sense as to why you had to twist that hand in that direction in the first place!
And Qi gong, Hung Ga’ s gentle twin…or rather the yin of the two: the internal, the subtle, the gentle, the dark …Compared to yang: the external, the extrovert, the vivacious, the fire…..Hung Ga is a hard and soft style, without one you cannot balance the other and both should be trained. Qi gong trains the use of the internal energy, the bodies Qi. It also nourishes the spirit , trains the breathing, balances the bodies organs and helps the body remain in a healthful state. Regular practice can help increase your spiritual awareness, develop perception; you learn to use and lengthen that gap between stimulus and response, to act but not react…. It is slow, gentle and relaxing yet still powerful. (Qi Gong is trained during Hung Ga classes and as its own class. It is suitable for all ages, we currently have age 10 to age 75!)
Of course we also learn to fight, to defend ourselves and our families if the need arose, and to spar amongst ourselves and also in competitions. But if you only know how to fight then you are a fighter, not a Martial artist. Our Grandmaster Yee Chi Wai says: “To be a martial artist you must learn Martial virtue, Martial knowledge, Chinese medicine and Chinese philosophy.
And that you shall! All of this and more at Yee’s Hung Ga …like the priest, I too have found my peace, I don’t really know how either. It just happens!
Come and find out for yourselves! Enrich your life!