ELN spoke to Wesley Travis who runs the East London Martial Arts Association (ELMAA). ELMAA runs Kung Fu classes in the SELMO Community Hall on Samuda estate on the Isle of Dogs. ELN: Why did you start running classes in Tower Hamlets? Wesley: I am a martial arts instructor in Edmonton and Walthamstow, but the schools there didn’t want to run classes in Tower Hamlets too. I live on the Isle of Dogs, and I wanted to put something back into the community, my community – so I began running classes myself.
ELN: What qualifications to you have? Wesley: I have a number of diplomas which mean that I am a fully qualified instructor. It doesn’t just stop there, though. I have to keep up with my own fitness and training in order to keep my instructor qualification valid.
ELN: What is involved in Kung Fu? Wesley: Kung Fu has been going for 3,000 years, so it’s a well tried and tested discipline! Our most famous pupil was Bruce Lee, a famous actor who brought martial arts to the western world – almost single handed. He was the most famous exponent of our art. Kung Fu is almost unique because it involves inner strength. It doesn’t matter what size you are: you fight with your whole body weight and this allows you to take on a wide range of opponents. I say “fight”, but Kung Fu is not about going out looking for a fight. We stage show fights, but the main use of Kung Fu is defensive, not aggressive.
ELN: What kind of people is Kung Fu suitable for? Wesley: Anyone can do it! Kung Fu is a particularly useful skill to learn for women, who can use it as a self-defence skill. The first known student of Wing Chun was Wing Chun, a woman. It is also good for youngsters: it builds confidence, both physical and psychological, and helps young people stand up to bullies. It’s good for anyone who wants to lose weight or just control their weight and for anyone who wants to get fit or stay fit. Kung Fu is completely multicultural, with followers from all backgrounds. My own classes in Tower Hamlets are very mixed. Although the class is on the Island, we welcome people from all over Tower Hamlets. If you have a tenants association or a club on your estate, we can come and give a demonstration if you think your members might be interested in keeping fit or self-defence through kung-fu..
ELN: Who is Bob? Wesley: Bob is our “classroom assistant”. He’s been with me a long time and helps out with all the students. He can be a bit frightening to look at, but students do get used to him and his help is invaluable.
ELN: Admit it: he’s made of plastic, isn’t he? Wesley: It’s heavy-duty, high class plastic, though – and we don’t love him any the less for that. East London Martial Arts Association Kung Fu Classes Saturdays 10.30-11.30 Under 16 11.40-1.10 Over 16 Tuesdays 6-7pm Under 16 First lesson free Under 16s £4/lesson, adults £7/lesson Contact: ELMAA, 07904-839 431