The Black Crane Kung Fu Schools is dedicated to providing safe, friendly and effective martial arts training that is available to all types of adults and children regardless of their physical capabilities. This school teaches a non-tournament martial arts system with the emphasis on traditional Kung Fu training incorporating fighting principles and Chinese philosophy.
Under the instruction of Sifu Neal Gilding the Black Crane Kung Fu Schools has built an excellent instructor base providing experience, knowledge and quality tuition to its schools and its students. From 2017 Sifu Neal Gilding is celebrating his 50th year in training in martial arts.
The Black Crane Kung Fu Schools provides the following benefits to its participants:
Friendly and Safe training environment
Accredited Instructors
Traditional principles and techniques
Discipline
Self Confidence
Higher fitness levels
Improved self esteem
Longevity
Reduction in stress levels
The ability to effectively defend yourself
The school motto, Noy Sing, is the first thing and last thing which occurs in a training session. When the class bows in and when the class bows out it is said. It is said as a reminder to which principles should be applied not only during the class but through our lives as well. Following these principles will greatly help ones learning in martial arts as well as in everyday life.
School’s Motto – Noy Sing
JEN
(Patience) |
NAI
(Perseverance) |
SHAN
(Kindness) |
TUNG
(Understading) |
CHIEN
(Humility) |
What to expect in a training session
A normal training class is broken up into three periods each of these periods are designed to interact with each other to give the student the most out of there training session. This allows the students knowledge base to grow while they develop there coordination, balance, speed and power through the numerous training systems and drills used in the schools.
The first period consists of the warm up.
The warm up starts with gentle rotations of the joints increasing mobility and range of movement. As the body slowly warms up we start basic chi kung (breathing) exercises this increases the oxygen intake to the lungs and then to the blood, waking up the mind and stimulating the whole body. Now that the body is awake and wants to move we start gentle stretching and strengthening exercises to enhance your bodies movement and power. These series of exercises then lead into the next level of intermediate chi kung (breathing) exercises which are designed to heighten your bodies senses while your mind remains calm and at peace. These exercises are performed with a training partner and they strengthen your entire physical body while testing your stability and form (posture). These exercises also have a profound effect on the inner body, strengthening and invigorating the internal organs. The warm up ends with a series of standing and seated stretching exercises designed to limber up the student before training.
The second period consists of leg techniques.
The second period starts with the whole class going through a series of training drills for your stances and movement. Then the class is split into grade standards so that the techniques and movements you are shown are in your range of capability and comprehension. In a normal class you will train one on one with a training partner of similar grade and size. This will allow you to effectively build up your reflexes, speed and power while you become more proficient with your movements, stances and accuracy. This period will allow you to explore the multitude of kicks, knee strikes and leg manoeuvers that are taught within this school.
The third period consists of hand techniques.
The third period starts with the whole class going through a series of training drills for blocks, punches and strikes. Then the class is split into grade standards so that the techniques and movements you are shown are in your range of capability and comprehension. In a normal class you will train one on one with a training partner of similar grade and size. This will allow you to effectively build up your reflexes, speed and power while you become more proficient with your movements, stances and accuracy. This period will allow you to explore the multitude of blocks, punches and strikes that are taught within this school.
Additional training components.
Self Defense – Defending against common street attacks (in particular holds, grabs and takedowns).
Weapons Defense – Defending against weapons used in common street attacks.
Full contact bag training – Punching, kicking and striking on the schools full contact bags.
Reflexes training – Techniques and drills designed to enhance and heighten your reflexes.
Free training – Students defending themselves from an attack using any techniques they have learnt so far.
Additional training components are not taught on a nightly basis like the hand and leg technique.
The Black Crane Kung Fu Schools are renowned for the high standard of training it sets for its students and instructors and it honours these students and instructors when they excel in their martial arts training. Although certificates and awards are presented to students and instructors throughout the year, the schools formal presentation night is held once a year usually around November depending on the schools calendar. This is when all the schools come together to formally recognise the students and instructors achievements, hard work and dedication in all facets of the martial arts within the Black Crane Kung Fu Schools. These certificates and awards presented by the school are recognised overseas as well as throughout Australia. This is due to the schools affiliation with large International martial arts federations and Government bodies.
This school was started in 1984 and since that time has been teaching Kung Fu, Tai Chi and Martial Arts weaponry on the north and south sides of Brisbane. There have been many Black Sashes that have been trained within the schools in that time, some going on to becoming instructors taking up teaching positions within the schools. Of these instructors only a select few are entitled to take the Instructors code. By taking the Instructors code in the Black Crane Kung Fu Schools it allows the instructor to be formally recognised by their fellow instructors, the school and its students.
To be eligible to undertake the Instructors Code the instructor is required to hold a current Black Sash and must have held a teaching position within the schools, as well as been actively teaching students in front of a class for more than two consecutive years. The instructor must also hold full national coaching accreditation with the Australian Sports Commission.
The ceremony for the Instructors Code is only preformed on the Schools Presentation Night as this falls in line with honoring Students and Instructors achievements for that year. The ceremony starts with the Sifu performing an opening ceremony by laying out candles in the shape of a pentagon representing the five elements of the Wu Hsing. This is followed by a brief tea ceremony were the Sifu welcomes and embraces the Instructor into the school. This is then followed by the instructors pledge, were the Instructor reads the schools Instructors Code out loud to the audience, after which the instructor signs the pledge in front of the audience. The Sifu then signs the Instructors pledge on behalf of the schools. The instructor formally bows to the Sifu honoring his acceptance into the school. The Sifu then performs the closing ceremony.
