UK Instructors England
England based
Instructors
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Sifu Brian Atkinson
- Hsing I Instructor
- Chen Tai Chi Instructor
Manchester,Northern England
2nd Generation Student of Master James W. McNeil
From a young age, I always had an interest in martial arts and in 1987, I joined the White Cloud Kung Fu Club; a local class close to where I live. The club was run by the late Master Derek Gordon, who taught a very hands on, mixed martial arts syllabus derived from aspects of Northern Praying Mantis, Tai Chi, Hsing-I, Pa Qua, Wing Chun and several weapons. I studied at all available classes and gained my Black Belt First Dan Instructor in 1991. In 1994, sadly Master Gordon passed away suddenly. However, from 1994 to 2003 I continued to train and coach at the school under direction of the senior instructors.
2003
I was invited by my friend and Kung-Fu brother to visit a Hsing-I class in a neighbouring town, which was being taught at the Little Nine Heaven Kung-Fu School. This was run by Sifu Andrew Jackson, a student of Master James McNeil.
On attending my first class, from the moment I walked in I was surprised how friendly everyone was. I spent most of that lesson working alongside a young student and was impressed by the level of detailed instruction he gave me. This made me realise the depth of knowledge that the teacher and his teacher must have. When the class ended, Sifu Jackson invited me to attend a seminar the following week, which was being conducted by his teacher, Master McNeil. I did attend and it immediately became obvious to me, the exceptional knowledge and skill his teacher had. To this day, it is that which has inspired me to continue to make the hour long journey to and from each training session.
At the Little Nine Heaven School, the warmth, friendship, detail of instruction in training and care for all students; combined with a deep respect for the school’s ancestry creates a unique atmosphere and is unlike any other martial arts class I have attended.
I regularly train under Sifu Jackson in Hsing-I, Chen Tai Chi, Tzu-men Chuan, Basic Iron Hand method, Shih Shui, Chi-Kung, Taoist Meditation, Acupressure Massage and Moxibustion. In 2007 I was awarded my Black Belt in Hsing-I Chuan and in 2010, I was honored to be awarded instructor status and my First Degree Black Belt by Master McNeil on his visit to the UK and now help Sifu Jackson instruct at the schools regular Hsing-I classes.2009
I was invited and accepted as a direct student of Master McNeil to study the rare Taoist System of Little Nine Heaven Wu Tao and completed my basic training over two years. I have recently furthered my training with Master McNeil in Psychic Healing Chi-Kung.
I feel very fortunate to have met such teachers, who constantly inspire me. The Little Nine Heaven UK School has shown me kindness and given me great encouragement, guidance and support over the years.
2010
– Master McNeil returned to the UK to complete the Little Nine Heaven Wu Tao Intensive Training Programme.
2013
– Master McNeil visited the UK to teach several public seminars and also a private two week intensive seminar to senior students of the Little Nine Heaven UK School in Taoist Psychic Healing Chi Kung.
2015
– Philadelphia, USA 1 week Intensive training at the Little Nine Heaven World student gathering. This was attended by over 30 students worldwide and all the systems that have been learned were reviewed.
2016
- Manchester, UK 1 weeks private training with Master McNeil and reviewing Hsing-I, Chen Tai Chi, Tzu Men Chuan, Little Nine Heaven Wu Tao, Meditiation, Chi-Kung training.
2017
- Cabapino,Spain 1 week Intensive training at the Little Nine Heaven World student gathering. This event was taught by Master McNeil and was attended by over 30 students worldwide and reviewed all the systems taught by Master McNeil.
2018
- China 2 weeks with Master McNeil and other senior students visiting the Little Nine Heaven temple, Grand Master Chiao's old home and associated Taoist sites.
Sifu Ben Norbury
- Splashing Hands Instructor
Manchester,Northern England
2 nd Generation Student of Master James W. McNeil
I first started practising martial arts in 2000 whilst I was studying at university. I attended some Ju Jitsu classes with the aim of improving my fitness rather than any focus on the martial aspects and because of this, it didn’t hold my interest at the time.
As a keen footballer I unfortunately sustained several injuries that interrupted any kind of regular martial arts training and it wasn’t until I finished university in 2006 that an old school friend took me to a local martial arts school where Sifu Chris Lomas was teaching 'Splashing Hands System'.
The training in class was spirited and physically demanding - I was in my early twenties at the time and quickly fell in love with the style and the training, I’d never been in such good shape physically. The more I trained, the fewer injuries I got too and it was positive feedback for my physical and mental health.
2008 - present date
Later in 2008 I moved back closer to Romiley, Stockport, where by chance I realised that my local physio, Andrew Jackson, who I had known for many years through treatment of my football injuries, was also a teacher of the Splashing Hands System and was a kung fu brother of my previous teacher. As fate would have it, once again I had a kung fu school right on my doorstep. So in 2008 I continued my regular Splashing Hands education in Romiley – now that I had found the style for me, I wasn’t going to give it up!
It was at Sifu Jackson's school where I was introduced to the L9H syllabus for the Splashing Hands system that enabled me to follow a formal progression through the ‘belts’. It was here that I was also fortunate enough to meet and train with the head of the system Master James McNeil. Thanks to the arrangements made by Sifu Jackson in 2013, I graded under the watchful eye of Master McNeil at a seminar during one of his visits to the UK and was awarded the rank of black belt. It was at this time I also began learning the Splashing Hands Five Animal forms.
In 2015 I attended the L9H Philadelphia world student gathering with my kung fu brothers and sisters from the UK, where I met and trained again with Master McNeil and many of his students from around the world. During this trip I was introduced to the basic Iron Hand bag training method and on my return to the UK, I received further training in this method.
In the last few years I have supported Sifu Jackson in coaching new recruits in the Splashing Hands System through the intensive weekend programmes that happen quarterly, aimed at creating instructor level students based around the UK. During this time I have also received my Instuctor certification in Splashing Hands Kung Fu and trained in the Advanced Iron Hand method and the Staff form.
In 2021, with Sifu Jackson’s support and guidance, I am now teaching the regular Splashing Hands System class based at the Little Nine Heaven UK Kung Fu School, Romiley for splashing hands students based in NW England.
In addition, during 2021 I have also completed a number of courses aimed at improving my general teaching capabilities which were run by the British Council for Chinese Martial Arts: Level 3 Physical Conditioning; Level 3 Sports Psychology and Level 2 Coaching.
Sifu David Couldrey
- Splashing Hands Instructor
Clackton, Essex, Southern England
2nd Generation Student of Master James W. McNeil
I started my martial arts training in Essex, studying a generic/mixed style of Kung Fu in 2005 where I reached 4th Dan level. This included an introduction to the basics of the Splashing Hands System and Hsing-I Chuan. During this time, I competed in the British Kung Fu Championships and after several attempts won golds in Qing Da and Pushing Hands.
I have also reached the rank of blue belt in Ju Jitsu. Over the years I have attended Thai Boxing lessons to improve my sparring and also been training with a retired friend from Hong Kong where we practice two person Praying Mantis based sensitivity drills.
In the last five years, my interest and curiosity with Splashing Hands training made me seek out more of the art and I contacted Sifu Andrew Jackson and started formally training in the complete Splashing Hands System at the Little Nine Heaven UK school.
In 2020 I achieved my Splashing Hands black belt and reached instructor level in 2021. I currently teach this system alongside other systems which I have learned in the Essex area of South England and look forward to many years ahead training in this style. I'm also beginning my study of Little Nine Heaven Wu Tao, Shih Shui Kung and Hsing-I under the tutelage of Sifu Andrew Jackson and look forward to the journey ahead.