A wide and diverse range of people attend our classes, from complete beginners all the way through to our assistant instructors. As you can see from the profiles below, we have many different reasons and motivations to practice Hung Ga Kung Fu! Do any of these resonate with you? If so, there’s a good chance you’re going to enjoy practicing with us – we look forward to seeing you in class!
Age: 20s | 30s | 40s | 50s | 60s
Occupation: Fintech Data Scientist
Started: May 2017
Why did you take up Kung Fu?
My son & daughter started classes at the school before I did and it was whilst talking to the amazing instructors during those Saturday morning Kung Fu sessions for kids, that I was often encouraged to come along to an adult class. I initially demurred at this proposal as I felt too old to begin learning a martial art for the first time in my life. However, I soon noticed the positive effect Kung Fu was having on my children’s fitness and their confidence too. I subsequently realised that these would be useful traits to develop even, or perhaps especially, in middle-age and decided to give it ago: one of the best decisions I’ve made.
Which classes do you like best and how often do you attend?
I attend all three classes each week if possible: on Monday we learn form, a series of movements which build up into a ‘dictionary of fighting techniques’,on Friday the focus is on practical application of those techniques and Wednesday is sparring. Since the classes are complementary, it’s hard to name a clear favourite but I’ll go for the Wednesday class.In addition to both hand-to-hand and weapon sparring, it features a circuits session whose format is different every week; it’s immensely enjoyable and guarantees a slight sensation of muscle ache on the Thursday!
What motivates you to keep coming back?
Aside from personal goals such as improving skills, deepening knowledge & maintaining fitness, a big part of what keeps me coming back is thanks to the people I train with; they’re a friendly, supportive bunch. This makes for a real sense of community and a positive learning environment in our school.
What’s your favourite aspect of Kung Fu so far?
Kung Fu has given me a wide variety of unforgettable experiences which have enriched my life. For example, there’s a realisation that what we’re learning has been passed down from our ancestors over generations: I feel privileged to receive this deep knowledge with its remarkable insight into optimising body movement for self-defence. Also, completing each form, working to improve it&then testing gives rise to a sense of achievement I hadn’t felt for a long time. Finally, participation in cultural events as a member of the school Dragon Dance team has also been memorable, performing all over Scotland every year.
Age: 20s | 30s | 40s | 50s | 60s
Occupation: Office Worker
Started: 2018
Why did you take up Kung Fu?
I had done some martial arts before in the form of Japanese Jiu Jitsu at uni, and was actually only exposed to kung Fu when I saw a lion dance there during Chinese New Year way back in 2014. I was immediately obsessed and only started to learn more about the Kung Fu foundations within it once joining the school. I decided to become more deeply involved in the Kung Fu side of things after my first few sessions sensing how beneficial this would be for my physical and mental health and was immediately welcomed by fantastic people and a warm and friendly environment
Which classes do you like best and how often do you attend?
I attend 3 times a week when I can, and my favourite classes are lion dance (of course) and weapons applications on Wednesdays.
What motivates you to keep coming back?
The need to improve and challenge myself, as well as devote myself to something important outside of home and work. I also have a very loud and anxious mind so regular Kung Fu and lion dance training has proven fantastic for me and changed my life for the better. I have previously had some bad experiences with martial arts classes and teachers before which had put me off trying again for several years, but the warmth and knowledge/expertise of Sifu and everyone in the school keeps me coming back. I owe everyone who has supported me and pushed me to keep going.
What’s your favourite aspect of Kung Fu so far?
The commitment and discipline it has instilled in me, and the satisfaction of seeing and feeling tangible results physically and mentally.
Age: 20s | 30s | 40s | 50s | 60s
Occupation: Small Business Owner
Started: June 2025
Why did you take up Kung Fu?
Initially, out of curiosity! While waiting weeks to get my motorbike fixed, I watched a lot of Jesse Enkamp’s videos on YouTube and was struck by how considered and articulate the Sifus and Senseis were when talking about their disciplines. I hadn’t realised how thoughtful and reflective a martial art could be. My interest piqued, I Googled to see what was available in Edinburgh and chose Yee’s because they seemed to have so much going on, with an emphasis on health, community and family spirit. I went along to the first free taster class and was hooked straight away!
Which classes do you like best and how often do you attend?
I tend to go twice a week – every Monday and alternating Wednesdays and Fridays. That keeps me learning new form while also getting fitter and gradually improving my understanding. It’s all really good fun, but I think I like Fridays the best – learning how to put theory into practice in a safe way.
What motivates you to keep coming back?
Lots of reasons – the first of which is that it’s really fun. It’s impossible to worry about work or other stresses when you’re in the kung fu zone, learning new stuff. If you practice, there’s also a steady feeling of progress and improvement. Each time I go, I learn how to make something very slightly better – and all those incremental improvements start to build up. I also really like that everyone is really friendly and willing to help you improve.
What’s your favourite aspect of Kung Fu so far?
I love that it’s so broad. It allows you to expend a lot of energy very quickly (which is great for fitness), but it also encourages (demands?) self-reflection – precision is important, and that’s hard to achieve unless you’re constantly thinking about what’s going on biomechanically. I’m quite an analytical person, so I enjoy puzzling out why a particular move feels wrong and then trying to fix it before I ask for help.