Sifu Paul is the Instructor of the Avondale training centre and one of the head examiners in New Zealand.

I went to my first Kung Fu class as a teenager early 2003, invited along by my friend. At first it was a recreational activity that I did but after time it became a lot more than that. I sat my black belt in 2005 and early 2006 I started my journey teaching and this is where things changed. As a student you’re responsible only for your own training and improvement, but as a teacher you’re responsible for others.

This is where the learning intensifies for many martial artists, as your understanding improves, your knowledge deepens and you have to problem solve in order to ensure your students learn. There is so much mutual benefit to sharing my knowledge and experience of Shaolin Kung Fu.

Shaolin Kung Fu is as much a philosophy of self-improvement as it is an activity that teaches you combat skills and culture. For many students they come along for the recreational or physical benefits but over time, as with many traditional martial arts, they stay for something much deeper.

Over the years I’ve deepened my learning by travelling overseas to train, and have studied other styles of Kung Fu as well as Kickboxing, boxing and MMA. However I haven’t had the same sense of community and purpose as I have with Shaolin Kung Fu.

As a teacher, it’s my responsibility to ensure that students learn, practice, and share Shaolin Kung Fu. The classes in Avondale are focussed on an introduction to the breadth of our martial art with the opportunity to develop depth after time. We’re very community centred, with careful learning outcomes in a fun learning environment.

I also contribute to the broader Chinese Martial Arts community as an Executive Member on the Board of the New Zealand Kung Fu Wushu Federation. The Shaolin Kung Fu Association is a member of the Federation where we contribute to tournaments and learning opportunities with martial Arts with the same values. 

Get in touch with me at auckland@shaolinnpc.co.nz and 021 120 6227.