Our FAQS
Kung Fu - Martial Arts Clubs for Bristol Schools
City Gongfu provides Kung Fu and martial arts clubs for children at schools across Bristol. We also offer free taster sessions at our out-of-school clubs in Clifton/Redland and Horfield.
Do I need any previous martial arts or Kung Fu experience to join?
No. We encourage children and families from all backgrounds and martial arts abilities to take part. Our classes are open to students of all levels, including absolute beginners. We offer free taster sessions so you can come and try out a class before deciding if it’s for you and your child.
What age groups can join our martial arts classes?
We offer classes from as young as 4 years old (accompanied by a parent) and 5 years old (unaccompanied). Your child can learn at any age, and parents and siblings are also welcome to join in. While we don’t offer adult-only sessions, our family sessions include all ages so you can learn alongside your child.
What does a typical session involve?
Our sessions usually combine a range of activities, including warm-ups, breakfall practice, stepping drills, striking drills, pad-work, games, defensive applications, partner exercises and forms.
How long do class sessions last?
Typical sessions are 45 minutes with a water break in between.
Is City Gongfu suitable for all fitness levels?
Yes. Our training caters for all fitness levels and includes a mix of movements, exercises and drills designed to develop strength, balance, coordination and control. Ultimately, we train in order to have fun, get fit and learn new skills in a safe and supportive environment.
Where are the out of school classes held?
We have two training venues: one in Clifton/Redland and one in Horfield.
Our venue in Clifton/Redland is called The REC, at 213 Whiteladies Road, Bristol BS8 2XS. This is a fully matted and equipped martial arts studio.
Our venue in Horfield is at Horfield Parish Church Hall, Wellington Hill, Bristol BS7 8ST. This is a large hall with use of mats and training equipment.
Maps and addresses for both venues can also be found here.
How much do our martial arts classes cost?
Fees are paid as a term block, so the cost depends on the length of the term.
A 12-week term is £120, during which you can attend 14 sessions (12+2). This is because we offer two extra sessions per term on top of your weekly allocation.
Classes are flexible too, so once booked on, you can switch between sessions whenever you like. If you miss one, you can simply attend another on a different day at a time of your choosing.
Can I pay in instalments?
Yes. You can pay for half of the term first and the other half at the start of the second half of term. You will need to choose the bank transfer payment method when making your booking in order to do this.
How often should I train to see progress?
Like with anything, the more you put into training, the more you get out of it. We offer club training videos on YouTube for you to watch in your spare time, designed to help you and your child practise and prepare for gradings. This is strongly encouraged in order to progress.
Is weapons training provided?
Yes. We offer progressive and age-appropriate weapons training. Weapons safety is a core element of our training, so students learn how to use weapons in a safe manner. Students progress from sticks to poles and butterfly swords. No live blades are used and students are fully supervised when using all weapons.
Is City Gongfu mainly about fighting, or does it teach other skills too?
There is much more to City Gongfu than simply fighting. Our philosophy is based on non-violence and avoiding conflict wherever possible. We teach students to be respectful to others and to strive to develop self-discipline, while building teamwork and leadership skills. Our club’s five codes of conduct promote this, and students can receive awards for demonstrating these qualities.
What style do you teach at City Gongfu?
The core of our training is based on Wing Chun Kung Fu, a traditional Chinese martial art known for its practical, efficient and close-range techniques. However, we also include elements from other martial arts such as Muay Thai, Jujitsu and Arnis. This makes our syllabus broad, flexible and always open to new ideas.
How do grading and progression work at City Gongfu?
Students progress through a structured grading system as they develop their martial skills. Each grade introduces new techniques and builds on the skills learned at previous levels. Gradings happen in groups, and students are provided with a written syllabus to support their practice.
Students are also strongly encouraged to watch our training videos and practise at home in order to develop their knowledge and skills.
Who will be teaching?
Sifu Kee is the head instructor at City Gongfu. He studied at the UK Wing Chun Academy and is a qualified primary school teacher with over 15 years’ teaching experience. He started teaching adult martial arts classes in 2010, set up City Gongfu in 2014, and has been teaching kids’ martial arts full-time since 2017.
Are these classes suitable for children with SEN?
You know your child best. Our classes require focus and attention, as well as adherence to the code of conduct. Booking a free taster session will allow you and Sifu Kee to determine the suitability of our classes for your child.
Please be aware that Sifu Kee is the sole instructor, so one-to-one provision is not available as may be the case in schools. However, parents are welcome to join their child in class to support them if needed.
Which schools do you offer after school clubs at?
Our current list of school-based programmes can be found here. Classes are taught after school and follow the same structure and syllabus as our Clifton and Horfield classes.
If you think your child’s school may be interested in our extra-curricular programme, please email Sifu Kee to discuss this: info@citygongfu.com
Can I spectate my child during the session?
Yes. We have small seating areas for parents who wish to stay and watch. Alternatively, you can drop your child off and return at the end of the session.
Can I take photos?
Yes, but we ask that you only take photos of your own child, unless you have permission from other parents to take joint or group shots. During gradings, we usually have a photo opportunity at the end of the session to celebrate the students’ accomplishments.
Is there parking?
At our Clifton/Redland venue, there is on-road parking which is free from 4.30pm onwards (with a free 30-minute ticket). There is also free parking all day by Durdham Downs, a few minutes’ walk from the venue.
At our Horfield venue, there is a dedicated car park which can take multiple vehicles. There is also free parking on the local roads.
What should you wear to Kung Fu?
Wear light, comfortable clothing that you can move around in. Students are kindly asked to remove their shoes before training on the mats. City Gongfu clubwear is also available to purchase – please ask Sifu Kee and he can arrange this.
Do you offer holiday clubs?
Yes. We often run holiday clubs and workshops. Keep an eye out for club notifications about these, and check our website for the latest dates.
Why choose City Gongfu over other clubs?
Unlike many other martial arts providers, we focus solely on children and families – building good relationships with individual students and creating sessions that are tailored to the children we teach. Sifu Kee is a qualified primary school teacher with QTS and many years’ experience training children, so classes are specifically geared to each student’s development at all ages.
City Gongfu also has a 5-star overall rating on Google Reviews, with over 100 top reviews from parents and children. Please read them here.