The Ip Man in all of us: classes teach kung fu for Hong Kong office workers

In the heart of Hong Kong, a block away from the Lan Kwai Fong entertainment district, a group of mainly white-collar workers gathers regularly to learn kung fu.

Mindful Wing Chun, as its name implies, aims to teach the martial art in a way that emphasises mindfulness - being in the present and in touch with your body to maintain overall health and wellness, King says.

Research tells us our minds can often be elsewhere as a result of stress at work or in other areas of our lives. Any build-up of stress leads to health problems – including poor posture in the case of many office workers. King says wing chun offers a holistic remedy to the problem.

“In my opinion, wing chun is the essence of correct and efficient movement,” he says, “meaning the minimum use of muscular force to get the maximum result. For anyone learning this type of wing chun, no matter what they want to achieve – pain relief, stress relief, self-defence – they have to come through the root of mindfulness. When we are mindful of the body, we are able to tap into the muscles and relax them. Once we achieve this, the joints are freer and we move more efficiently.”

This is why everyone, from professional athletes to housewives, can benefit from mindful wing chun practice, says King.