Like everything, there is a beginning...

The York Kung Fu Association (YKFA) has been training students in Wing Chun since 1997 under the careful guidance of John Bates Sifu. The training stems from the parent association The International TaiJiQuan, Shaolin and Wu Shu Association (ITSWA) who's President is Derek Frearson Sifu.

The Club opened its doors in York after John Sifu moved from Leicester, the home of the ITSWA, to York and found no other clubs teaching Wing Chun at that time. As John Sifu has been training Wing Chun most of his adult life it was a natural progression to establish his own club and students. Beginning with one night a week and progressing to three nights a week training, the YKFA is now a strong and respected part of the York Martial Arts scene.

The YKFA owes much of its success to the ITSWA and in particular Derek Frearson Sifu for the strong support and guidance in helping to establish a training club to further spread the teachings of Wing Chun and TaiJi Quan.

John Bates Sifu (left) with Derek Frearson Sifu