Instructor Bio
Tom Collingridge
Telephone: 07977 014298
Website: www.wingchundevon.co.uk & www.taichi4life.co.uk
I have been training in martial arts for over 16 years, during which time I have remained passionate about the practice; recognising what great benefits can be drawn from these elaborate systems of self-development.
I have trained in a number of different martial arts including Tae Kwon Do, Kick-Boxing, Aikido, Ju-jitsu, Iaido, Taijiquan, Pa Kwa, Preying Mantis Kung Fu and Wing Chun Kung Fu. My search during the early years was to find a martial art (or combination of martial arts) that would be best suited to my goals, preferences and temperament. This is important because there are several hundred martial arts to choose from and they all offer different strategies/approaches, philosophies and training methods; having come from a multitude of different cultures and historical times. However, all martial arts are, in my opinion, equally valid and beneficial in the long-term.
After about 5 years of martial arts practice, I decided that I wanted to continue learning more than one martial art. I decided to stick with Wing Chun Kung Fu for its practicality, Taijiquan for its grace and health benefits and Aikido for its dynamism. Until recently I was a black-belt instructor of Aikido, but ceased practicing to focus on practicing and teaching the Chinese arts of and Wing Chun Kung Fu and Tajiquan.
I have trained under a number of different Wing Chun Instructors, but none more so accomplished and helpful than my current Instructor, Sifu Bill McKay. I continue to train diligently under the guidance of Sifu McKay and his instructor Sifu Harry Cannon, a long-standing student of Master Samuel Kwok.
I feel privileged to be taught by such excellent instructors, and hope that I can pass on as much of their precious teachings as possible.