Combat: How long did you train under Simon Lau's personal guidance?

G. McKenzie: For 8 years. You see I had the key to his school - I would train there from 4.30pm - 7.30pm, then take the class until 10.00pm, then work on the door of this nightclub until 3.30am. Believe it or not I would then go back to the school for an hour to train on the dummy before bed. I was only 20, gave up my daytime job, had no wife or family then and plenty of time to train.

Combat: When did you break away and go independent?

G. McKenzie: After another 3 years of running a branch of the Simon Lau Martial Arts Academy' in Edmonton. I felt the need for independence for the sake of my personal development. No hard feelings it was just time to go, it's like a son leaving his home, his dad is still his dad. I then opened 'The Wing Chun School' in Hackney.

Combat: What did you teach?

G. McKenzie: Everything that my Sifu had taught me. My own style had been developing for some time, influenced by boxing. I suppose mobility, flexibility and footwork were incorporated to prevent surprises and be ready for anyone. The problem with many martial artists is that they can only fight similar stylists. This is unrealistic, the aggressor might not have any 'style' at all. Remember fight the man not the style.

Combat: How do you gear your students to 'fight the man'?

G. McKenzie: Firstly, they must have no preconceived ideas about what might happen in a fight - just act or react. Students come to me to learn to defend themselves so I must prepare them for everyone, Wing Chun allows for just this. As there are only 3 angles of attack, learning hundreds of different blocks is pointless. My students sum up the angle of attack and then counter attack as appropriate. Furthermore training in class is geared towards the way a student would fight in a real situation.

Combat: What training is of use for this?

G. McKenzie: I have developed a very fast paced drill called 'Pak Sau' sparring which allows for simultaneous attack, block, counterattack at close and long range. There are no fixed patterns - there never are in reality! It's up to the students to attack each other from whatever angle, with whatever combination and whatever part of the anatomy they see fit. The drill never stops, is very fast and heightens the students awareness, reaction, reflexes and speed.