Success for Taifu School

A Bexhill karate group achieved total success when all its students passed their grading tests.
By The Newsroom
Published 6th Jul 2009, 16:49 BST
Updated 7th Jun 2018, 19:57 BST

The Taifu School has a small club which meets at St Peter's community centre, and also St Mary Magdalene's church hall, and is aimed at all ages.

It is run by Alan Hill who is a grade four instructor in Taifu International Okinawa Karate and Ryukyu Kobodu - he is a 1st Dan in Karate and 3rd Kyu in Kobodu. He obtained his first degree black belt in 1998.

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Alan commented: "We like to get in close - we are not like an open sport karate, and we also do Kobodu which is weapons training. It's a close form of fighting. It's all part of self-defence and keep fit.

"We take any age - young people, old people, it doesn't really matter. I give the first lesson free and see how you do, and it goes from there really."

There are two sessions for the club every week - on Mondays the group of up to ten students trains at St Peter's Community from 5.45-6.45, and on Wednesday they meet at St Mary's Magdalene church hall from 6-7.30pm.

Alan said: "I think like most martial art training it does develop character, fitness and also helps mental agility. It is good training all round, in body and mind. We don't ram anything down anyone's throat, but it is about training with respect for the dojo. If you want to train up to black belt it could take five to eight years depending on how hard you train, but it is a time thing - you can't learn something for three months and expect to be Bruce Lee or Jackie Chan."

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Alan himself has been studying martial arts for more than 30 years and his son has also become a teacher - Alan credits Taifu with helping both of them get through difficult times.

"It just gives you a bit of motivation when you are under stress. Now nothing really worries me or bothers me. I know as long as you get fit and healthy it helps body and mind and spirit, and if I am doing it even at my age, it can't be all bad."

For further details of the Taifu school contact Alan on 01424 733210, or on 07815907661, or find out more from the parent club in Hastings which is run by Robert Patten, and has a website www.taifuma.org.