Instructor - Chris Raybould
Sifu Leung Ting demonstrating with Chris' Sifu, the late Klaus Shultz
In 1993 Chris Raybould started his martial arts journey with Shotokan and Wado Ryu Karate. As a Bruce Lee fan, Chris had read several books and watched many Bruce Lee documentaries, learning that Wing Chun was one of Bruce's core arts. He couldn't believe his luck when he walked past an advertisement for a Wing Tsun school in his local town and didn't hesitate start his practice in 1996 at 17 years old. From '96 to 2001 Chris practiced the Leung Ting Wing Tsun system under Si-Hing Mik Lane. The Filipino weapons system of Latosa Escrima was also taught to him by his instructor during this time. Chris had the opportunity to meet Sifu Leung Ting and many of his international instructors in 1998, as well as attending many seminars in the UK hosted by Wing Tsun and Escrima experts, such as Rene Latosa and Master Bill Newman.
Chris with Si-Gung Ip Chun at the Ving Tsun Athletic Association, Hong Kong
It was in October of 2001 Chris then started training in the Ip Chun lineage under Sifu Shaun Rawcliffe. Ip Chun is the eldest son of Grandmaster Ip Man. Sifu Rawcliffe is one of a handful of teachers worldwide to be certified by Grandmaster Ip Chun to be his official representative. Chris had the honour of training with Si-Gung Ip Chun and his senior students at seminars in the UK and training trips to Hong Kong.
At this school, Chris worked his way through the complete Wing Chun system and is grateful to have learned from so many experienced teachers.
Chris learning the Six and a Half Point pole from Sifu Shaun Rawcliffe
Chris with Daniel Parr at the Sung Wing Chun Gathering
Then in 2019, after a period of exploring other Wing Chun lineages, Chris started practicing the Chu Shong Tin method. Chu Shong Tin was Ip Man's third official student in Hong Kong. Chris had watched many videos of Chu Shong Tin and couldn't help but wonder at the amount of power he was able to generate with so little effort. So, in the June of 2019, Chris arranged a private lesson with Daniel Parr of Sung Wing Chun in Sheffield. Dan has travelled to Hong Kong numerous times to train with Chu Shong Tin and his students. After experiencing power and skill beyond what he'd felt before, Chris knew it was something he had to learn, and still regularly visits with Dan for Private Lessons.
Chris is a Level 2 Certified Coach with the British Council for Chinese Martial Arts (BCCMA), a coaching qualification recognized by the Sports Council of England
The practice of Wing Chun has improved Chris' life in so many ways over the years. He teaches so other people can benefit from practicing this ancient martial art and wants to share the knowledge as openly and honestly as he can to anyone willing to learn.
