The Teacher
Sifu Mark Parry was born in 1969 and has been teaching Wing Chun Kung Fu since 1991 both in the UK and in Auckland. After emigrating to New Zealand in 2007 with his family he opened a Wing Chun Kung Fu club which has grown in popularity ever since.
The club now has several black sash students here in New Zealand along with other beginner, intermediate and advanced students who can testify to the quality of life improvements learning Wing Chun Kung Fu can give. Sifu's own 2 sons have been learning Wing Chun since 1996. Wing Chun gives the opportunity not only to learn a self defence system, but the opportunity to learn about one’s own self and the true potential each person has to improve their health, well being and quality of life. Both personally and professionally.
Sifu has been fortunate to Learn the original Fatshan Wing Chun system which has truly changed his life. Through the practice of this female Wing Chun system which consists of sets, concepts, alignments, body powers and footwork he has gained a true understanding of the underlying principals of Kung Fu. As well as the chance to pass on this knowledge to help keep the art alive for generations to come.
Kung Fu translates as “Time and Effort” and practicing Wing Chun over time with effort can produce some amazing results.
Sifu states that he has had the privilege to learn Wing Chun from some great Sifu’s and he would like to take this opportunity to thank some people who have passed on their Wing Chun knowledge to him. His first teacher Sifu David Preston who started his lifelong fascination with the system, who gained his knowledge and skills from Master Austin Goh. Also his current teacher Sifu Robert Stevens who himself is a 7th Generation Bai Sai disciple of Dr Leung Jan under his teacher Sifu James Roselando Jr. Finally his Kung Fu brother and long time training partner Sifu Neville James.
In Sifu's own opinion after reading many articles on the Wing Chun history and lineages over the decades, there appears to be many avenues as to how and why the Wing Chun system has grown to be so popular today. There are many skilled teachers and practitioners throughout the world who have acquired their knowledge from Masters of Wing Chun. There will be always be claims by some that they have the true system in its entirety or that they were taught by certain people. Unfortunately over the centuries records of history are difficult to trace without a time machine to verify these claims. But the important thing is that the system of Wing Chun Kung Fu lives on regardless of which family holds which particular variant or lineage of the system.
