General | Location | Class Conditions, Rules & Safety Code | Policies | Yun Hoi Crest
The school opened in 2000, the Year of the Golden Dragon.
Yun Hoi is a semi-private gwoon. This means it is not a public commercial school open to all applicants. Yun Hoi follows the Chinese tradition of interested prospective students applying for membership.
If sifu decides to accept the applicant based on his experienced judgment then training can commence. Yun Hoi Gwoon teaches Yuen Kay San Wing Chun. Disciples also learn Koo Lo Pin Sun Wing Chun. A unique and highly systematic and sequential spiral currriculum covering the complete Wing Chun art is offered to selected students. Students advance through appropriate commitment, effort, attendance and attitude.
As the gwoon is not open to the general public with visitors not allowed, if you are a bona fide applicant, please contact us for details on the training location.
Class Conditions, Rules & Safety Code
All mobile phones, beepers and any other electronic signalling devices are to be switched off during class. In an emergency situation (eg involving a sick family member etc) exceptions may be made upon request to the Chief Instructor.
No visitors will be permitted at classes. The chief instuctor must approve all guests.
Members must be a minimum of secondary school age.
Each member must pay upon joining and annually thereafter a pro rata portion of the membership martial arts student insurance fee.
All instructors and assistant instructors shall be required to hold current Red Cross Senior First Aid certificates and be Nationally Certified Coaches or Fitness Leaders. Failure to renew Red Cross requirements or Nationally Certified Coaching certification must be notified to the Chief Instructor. Those failing to do so will be unable to teach classes unless under the direct supervision of the Chief Instructor.
The Club will always exercise a reasonable duty of care to the best of our ability and knowledge. Whilst taking reasonable duty of care, neither the Club nor any of its representatives or hall hirers (other than by breach of OH&S requirements or reasonable maintenance) will be held responsible for any and all injuries, losses, or damages which may be sustained or incurred by students or others while participating or practising any club activities, travelling to or from, or participating in activities involved in this course.
Report any and all illnesses and injuries to the instructors immediately. If you have any infectious illness you must not attend classes until cured. If in doubt, contact the instructors.
The First Aid kit is to be present at all club training activities. No First Aid activity which is not taught in authorised First Aid courses (e.g. Red Cross, St Johns Ambulance) is ever to be used. This specifically excludes the use of oriental medicines or practices or alternative medicine or practices. None of these alternatives can legally be endorsed in any way by the Club or its representatives. All First Aid will conform strictly to the guidelines of NCAS approved First Aid courses. No assistant instructor is to offer suggestions to an injured or ill member as to referrals for medical or para-medical referral for any injury or illness other than the advice to see a properly qualified medical practitioner. No assistant instructor is to offer suggestions to an injured or ill member as to medications. This specifically includes any non-standard alternative health preparations.
All training is to conform to NCAS and Club approved methods.
The club uniform shall be: Yun Hoi black gung fu trousers, Yun Hoi white socks, Yun Hoi black martial arts shoes, Yun Hoi maroon winter polo T-shirt, Yun Hoi black summer singlet, with optional Yun Hoi black winter sloppy joe or Yun Hoi fleecy top and Yun Hoi Bomber jacket for instructors. Approved uniforms are mandatory at all training sessions and other activities as directed. Any unsafe or delapidated equipment or dishevelled uniform must be replaced upon the request of an instructor. Only properly endorsed club uniform is to be worn and endorsed club equipment to be used at all training sessions.
As training fees are termly payments of an annual fee, they are to be paid whether or not training is attended. Leave from training for illness or other documented, legitimate reasons (e.g. employer temporarily posting you out of state), may be applied for in advance of absence, or in special circumstances, after (certified illness, authenticated personal tragedy). There is an annual vacation during the Xmas period each year. The club does not train on public holidays or during school vacations.
The fee charges shall include: annual training fee, compulsory annual student insurance fee, compulsory uniform fee, compulsory equipment fee as required for various levels - (sand bag, knives, pole, etc), compulsory grading fees, and any fees for optional activities (camps, dinners, seminars).
Problems with payment should be discussed early with the Chief Instructor to avoid difficulties. Only verifiable reasons will be accepted.
Members will be entitled to attend two nominated training sessions per week. And, upon payment of any appropriate fee, to attend optional activities - camps, dinners, seminars etc. Members may, upon arrangement and agreement with the Chief Instructor, attend additional sessions upon payment of a small additional fee.
Members will be notified of current fee schedules and of any changes.
There will be 10 levels of training. Beyond this there will be 6 instructor levels of training. Continuation of training at the Club on graduation from the student grade levels and instructor levels is encouraged and anticipated.
Compulsory grading tests will be held after the required period of training in a level. Grading tests will be offered every term for those eligible. Trainees with satisfactory attendance (90%) at grade levels must undertake a grading test as per the grading schedule unless notified by the Chief Instructor. The Chief Instructor reserves the right to decide that any trainee may require more than the minimum time training in order to take a grading examination. Trainees may only attempt one grading level per set period in accordance with the requirements for each grading level. Those who did not successfully complete the previous grading test must retest at the next grading test. Grading fees pay for the grade examination, grade sash, and grade certificate if successful. Certificates for student grades and diplomas for instructor grades and grade sashes will be issued on successful completion of each grading level.
Grading test fees shall be on a sliding scale. Current costs will be notified to all applicants for each grading prior to the grading and are to be paid one week prior to taking the grading test. Fees are to be credited against the next grading if not successful. Trainees agree that the decision of the Chief Instructor regarding gradings is final.
Respect the instructors and seniors. Their directions must always be followed promptly and unquestioningly. Never interrupt or speak whilst an instructor is teaching.
Respect your fellow trainees. There is to be no sexual harassment or discriminatory comments. What you think may be a joke, others may not.
Arrive on time for training and depart immediately at the end of your class.
No talking during training - except during free partner work if it is essential for safety - then, as quietly and briefly as possible.
To avoid injury, no jewellery of any kind is to be worn during training (this especially includes all rings).
Finger nails are to be kept short to avoid injury.
No intoxicating substances or stimulants are to be consumed prior to training.
No eating, chewing gum, smoking, or drinking alcohol in or around the training premises.
Train as seriously and as often as you can to improve and maintain your skills.
Any and all information and documentation in any form given to you is commercial in confidence and cannot be given in any format or by any means to non members.
Only practice the techniques the instructors have taught you.
No "horse-play" in the the training premises. Respect the training hall and contents so as not to cause any damage or injury.
No chi sau, advanced free san sau or any form of fast drills to be engaged in without instructor supervision and without the appropriate protective equipment if the activity is one for which any is required. No chi sau or sparring is ever to be conducted with anyone not a Club member at any time .
No-one is to teach any other person anything or engage in any demonstration without prior instructor permission.
The Club class routines, syllabus, training methods and techniques are especially not to be revealed to any other martial artists, in any forum, by any means, as they are all commercial-in-confidence.
No-one is to enter in any martial arts competition. The Club does no believe such competitions have any positive value.
For your safety, no training equipment (swords, pole, wooden dummy, kicking bags, punching bags or pads) are to be used without instructor permission and supervision. We especially insist that no one is ever to use the wooden dummy without permission. If you possess a set, Wing Chun practice knives must never, ever be sharpened. Neither the Club nor any of its representatives in any way endorses the use or possession of sharpened Wing Chun knives. Weapons must never be used for mock or play combat. All drills must be in the presence of an instructor. All weapon possession, training and usage is to be in accordance with the relevant laws.
Always behave so as not to disgrace or discredit the good name of Chinese Gung Fu, Wing Chun, Yun Hoi Yuen Kay San & Koo Lo Pin Sun Wing Chun Kuen Gwoon, the instructors or yourself. No comment is to be made publicly in any medium about any other martial arts.
Conditions may vary as required in the future. All current members will then be notified of any changes.
Yun Hoi Yuen Kay San & Koo Lo Pin Sun Wing Chun Kuen Gwoon Policies
(All policies are to be read in conjunction with, and in the spirit of, the Membership Application and Club rules. Applicants and members need to note that infringing club rules can result in membership being terminated. This is not discrimination. You have had carefully explained to you, and freely signed, a legal membership document agreeing to abide by the rules.)
The underlying principle of all our policies is: all members have the right to train in a safe, healthy, respectful environment, free from fear.
Occupational Health & Safety
The Club rules are designed with two objectives in mind: your safety and the continued excellent reputation of this club. All rules are to be scrupulously followed. All training areas are to be kept clean. No smoking is allowed on or around training areas. No consumption of alcohol prior to training is allowed. Any member found to be engaging in illegal drug use will have their membership immediately and permanently terminated. No mobile phones are to be turned on during training without express permission of the Chief Instructor. Check the training area before training commences to ensure there are no environmental hazards. Any hazards are to be reported to the instructor. No damaged, unsafe equipment is to be used. All equipment is to be used only in a safe fashion as expressly shown by the Chief Instructor. It is the responsibility of each and every member to report their pre-existing injuries or illness to the instructor before the commencement of training. It is the responsibility of each and every member to report any illness or injuries during training immediately. Refer also to the club rules, pregnancy, general fitness to train, and infectious diseases policies.
Non-discrimination
The Club will not discriminate on the basis of sex; religion; race; ethnic origin; or sexual preference. However, the Club is a private gwoon so membership is by application and acceptance of the application. The Chief Instructor reserves the right not to teach some-one he considers expresses inappropriate and/or unacceptable attitudes, is unable to learn, is unsuitable to learn or likely to misuse the art for illegal purposes or to behave in a manner dangerous to members. We do not, due to the dangers involved in this martial art, teach children under secondary school age. In the interests of health and safety to both themselves and other members, applicants must be of good character, in normal health, within acceptable normal healthy weight limits, and reach and retain a level of normal, average physical fitness appropriate to undertake the level of training required of the Yun Hoi Yuen Kay San & Koo Lo Pin Sun Wing Chun Kuen systems. All members, contingent on meeting gwoon regulations and standards, have the right to equal opportunity. There is to be no sexual harassment in this club. Refer also to the policies on sexual harassment and infectious diseases.
Pregnancy
Martial arts generally, as normally practised, and this art in particular, pose far too great a risk to pregnant women and places unreasonable responsibility on fellow members and instructors. Training will need to be suspended during pregnancy and resumed post-natally only on a doctor’s advice.
Infectious diseases
All illnesses or injuries are to be reported to the Chief Instructor and the assistant instructor in charge of a group. Whilst a member has any infectious disease training is to be suspended. Due to the close, sustained close physical contact and regular exchange of sweat in Wing Chun, those with infectious conditions cannot engage in this art safely without exposing others to unreasonable risk of infection. Written medical clearance, specifying fitness to participate in the club’s training activities, from a general practitioner or medical specialist is to be provided before resumption of training.
General fitness to train
All members will keep the Chief Instructor appraised of their health and fitness status in relationship to training. In relationship to applicants with any pre-existing medical condition or injury, a written statement from a general practitioner or qualified medical specialist or physiotherapist (as appropriate as specified by the Chief Instructor) will be required prior to being accepted as a member or returning to training following injury or medical intervention. The certificate must state the applicant has normal, average health and the condition will not be exacerbated by Wing Chun gung fu training.
Body Fluid Spillage
Members will do everything possible to avoid accidents which result in blood spillage by exercising careful, skilful control of techniques. Any and all cuts are to be reported immediately to the instructor. In the highly unusual event of any body fluids being spilt, any and all spilt body fluids are to be cleaned up thoroughly and safely using latex gloves. All materials used are to be disposed of in accordance with sanitary requirements. Any cut is to be treated with the First Aid kit present at all training sessions. Any pre-existing cuts or breaks in the skin liable to contact training partners are to be appropriately covered prior to training.
Sexual harassment
Defintion of sexual harassment:
Sexual harassment is a form of harassment or bullying engaged in by a male or female with the target person being either male or female and which involves reference to sex or sexual actions. It can include any type of deliberately sexual behavior that embarrasses a person, or hurts their feelings.
It can include: kidding or joking about sexual preference or sexual matters; suggestive remarks or name-calling; "put down" jokes or comments; showing sexually explicit materials; continual unwelcome social invitations; offensive hand or body gestures; requests for sexual favours unwanted or obscene letters or telephone calls; and, deliberate, unwanted physical contact such as patting, touching, or brushing deliberately against another person. It has to be clearly specified in the context of learning a martial art where close body contact and touching is a routine activity, such as in Wing Chun, that all trainees accept the normal training processes which all trainees undertake and must understand this is not sexual harassment or assault. The gwoon has a policy that no instructor is to form a sexual relationship with any student. Sexual assault and stalking are distinct from sexual harasssement, and like such crimes as assault, theft or fraud, are clearly criminal offences. Assault includes indecent exposure; indecent assault; and, rape.
Who to contact if there is an allegation of sexual harassement
Trainees can see the Chief Instructor and/or any assistant instructor whom they feel comfortable talking with. The matter must be reported to the Chief Instructor as soon as practicable. Serious matters - assaults and stalking will be notified to the Police. Trainees have the right to contact Police at any time.
What happens following a complaint?
The Chief Instructor and a committee of objective assistant instructors (including an objective senior female student, if possible, where the complaint is put by a female) will investigate and interview those involved - participants and any witnesses. (In the case of stalking or an assault the Police will automatically be asked to investigate). Outcomes may include: one warning; apology and resolution not to commit the harassment again; suspension from attending all gwoon activities for a specified time; expulsion from the gwoon; and, in the rare event the incident may be serious enough, police contact. The gwoon will be reasonable and compassionate and fair but we are bound by reasonable ethical behavior, our rules and the law.
What rights does a person accused of sexual harassment have?
A person against whom a complaint has been made also has rights. These include: to be informed of the complaint against them; to have a chance to explain their view of the situation; to be treated fairly; to have the matter handled confidentially unless it is shown to be a criminal incident; to have the matter considered by a neutral person; to get advice from other people in a confidential fashion.
The Yun Hoi Crest
The distinctive Yun Hoi crest designed by Sifu contains a great deal of symbolism. Sifu’s Tibetan Buddhist name given to him by his lama, world famous Tibetan Buddhist scholar and meditation master, Lama Choedak Rinpoche, is Zopa Gyatso. This means Ocean of Patience. As well as his English name, Sifu, like many Chinese sifus and martial arts masters, now and in the past, has several names. These have been given to him by various teachers over the years. Yun Hoi is simply the translation into Chinese of Ocean of Patience.
Our crest portrays three ocean waves. The vastness of the ocean is hinted at in the three waves extending back into space, reminding us of Sifu’s great patience in learning his Wing Chun and teaching us and of the patience we must have in learning it correctly. The vastness and depth of the ocean reminds us of the same features of the art we strive to learn.
The maroon and gold colors of the crest reflect the fact that sifu is a Tibetan Buddhist and believes that gung fu practitioners ought to pursue the development of their character, mind and relationships with as much diligence as they pursue their gung fu training.
Further, there is great significance attached both to the number three and to water in Chinese and gung fu culture. Let’s elaborate a little on the three idea first then later on the water idea.
Numerals have always been thought to reflect cosmological significance for Easterners. To the Chinese, numerals represent the nine "xing" which symbolise the underlying essence of the universe; the five elements by which the ancient Chinese classified everything on Earth; and the eight basic process symbols of the Ba Qua of the Yi Jing, Book of Changes.
Three is a yang number and is regarded as a lucky number. The trio of Heaven Earth and Man were regarded in Taoism as representing all energies. Taoists proposed the three treasures of Man as body, mind and spirit and divided all universal energies into three types. To the Taoist, the mind is also divided into three functions. The three values: kindness, simplicity, and humility were highly regarded in old China - and still ought to be by modern gung fu practitioners.
In the old days a supplicant wishing to learn anything had to request the master they wished to teach them three times. Each time they bowed to the master they had to bump their head on the ground three times.
So, as you can see, there are many examples of three aspects to things in Chinese tradition. Following are some that relate to practising our Wing Chun gung fu.
The concept of three has been reflected in numerous gung fu systems as in Wing Chun. We characteristically have three empty hand forms (if we exclude the hong jong and muk yang jong forms). Even in Koo Lo Pin Sun, which has no forms as such, the art is taught through twelve sik (a multiple of three, as is the mystic number 108) which contain three moves each. It is an ancient saying that if you train every day you can master a form in three years - "One form, three years". Wing Chun originally had three weapons - seung dao (double knives), look dim boon gwan (long pole) and fei biu (throwing darts). These recognised three distances of combat. Sadly, no-one today knows how to use the darts as the last master of them, Yuen Kay San, did not pass on this skill to his only disciple, Sum Num.
There are also three phases of defence - the threat period prior to actual attack, the attack itself, and the period following the attack during which the defender must remain alert. These reflect the three times of past, present and future. The body is divided into three aspects in Wing Chun - stance, center and hands. The upper body can be divided into three levels of "gates" through which attacks may enter. Some say that there are three terrors in Wing Chun - bong, tan, fook. We have saam sing choi - three star strike as a Wing Chun hallmark. There is a Wing Chun saying - attack three times in one move. Finally, Sifu has learnt three lineages of Wing Chun.
The imagery of water too, is important for us in Wing Chun gung fu.
Water is a staple of life and can take many forms. It can sustain us, wash us or drown us. It can exist in three states and can be still and calm or torrential and sweep away everything in its path. A dripping flow of water will bore a hole in rock over time. Water flows and takes the shape of the space into, or through which, it flows. A common Chan or Zen Buddhist notion is that the mind ought to be like water. It ought to reflect what appears on its surface whilst its depths remain unchanged. It will absorb what is thrown into it. When a stone is tossed into a pond it creates a splash and ripples, then calm returns and it is as if nothing had occurred. The crest is also inspired by the poem:
“The body moves like a dance of waves
Like the flowing dragon and the white crane in play
Like the twisting of the frightened snake
Intent and strength move as if sailing on the waves”
by the famous Wang Xiang Zhai.
These sorts of images teach the gung fu practitioner important ideas to reflect upon.
So, these are some of the ideas our symbol can generate.