Welcome to Europe’s only full time Eagle Claw Kung Fu school run with the blessing of the Lau Fat Mang World Eagle Claw Kung Fu Association and Master Gini Lau (Daughter of famed 'Eagle King' of Hong Kong, the late, great, grandmaster Lau Fat Mang)

The school is situated in Maidenhead and open 6 days per week, Monday - Saturday.

Offering the following services:

Eagle Claw Kung Fu	Tai Chi Chuan and Chi Gung
Self Defense	Lion Dance and Kung Fu Demonstration team

Kids Kung Fu & Healing and Therapy

We are a traditional Kung Fu school, passing on the knowledge and skills held close to the heart of the family recognised as the worlds leading experts in Eagle Claw Kung Fu, the Lau family.

The school is run and managed by SiFu Julian Dale, Dai Si Hing of the World Eagle Claw Association Inc. under tutelage of Master Gini Lau. SiFu Dale has over 20 years experience in Chinese martial arts, having spent long periods of time training in Hong Kong and practicing in America with Master Gini Lau.

SiFu Dales experience and foundation years were spent in the Northern Shaolin style, SiFu Dale has also been taught extensively in the Internal martial arts such as Ba Ji Chuan (click here for further information on Ba Ji Chuan), Chi Gung and Chen Style Tai Chi Chuan by Master Jian Cheng Ji of HangZhou China. SiFu Dales area of specialty, is that of Northern Eagle Claw Kung Fu it is this style that he has dedicated himself to, both in practice and teaching. SiFu Dale has also received instruction and teaching by renowned internal Martial Arts Master Dr. Kenneth Fish Washington DC USA.

Tai Chi (left) and Eagle Claw (right)

Practicing the Northern Shaolin style gave SiFu Dale a great platform with which to leap into Eagle Claw, the many years of hard training in Northern Shaolin conditioned and worked SiFu Dale building his physical and mental skill, so that when he left this style the transition into pure Eagle Claw as taught by Master Gini Lau was quick. Re-adjusting to absorb the Eagle Claw style was smooth, based on SiFu Dales extensive previous training enabled him to quickly pick up the Eagle Claw style and rapidly accelerate his level within the system. Now as senior student of Master Gini Lau,  the secrets and advanced skills of the style are revealed.

SiFu Dale is also a qualified health care practitioner, using traditional herbal remedies to treat martial arts and sports injuries, massage, and manipulation. SiFu Dale is a qualified clinical nutritionist and holistic health care practitioner.

The Eagle Claw style in it’s early stages can be clearly considered an external style, but as one progresses within the system and starts to build understanding, the Eagle Claw style becomes more internal, using elements that are commonly only associated with classically defined internal styles, such as compression, coiling, rolling, sinking, pushing and pulling to name but a few.

Building the true skill within the Eagle Claw style takes time and can only be passed on from a teacher who has fully mastered the style in it’s entirety. The increasingly difficult forms demand a lot of practice, as does the day to day training to excel at Eagle Claw Kung Fu

The Eagle Claw system at an advanced level, is soft fluid and extremely effective in it’s application, solid stances, swift footwork, fluid waist, piercing eyes, strong kicks, fast hands and a crushing grip all go to make up the style.

The specialty of the style is the Eagle Claw hand skill, which mimics the talons of the eagle. It takes time to firstly build the power and strength for gripping in the fingers, the wrists must be strengthened to provide strong twisting power, all this is combined with the other elements of the body, hand, foot work combined, waist and shoulders work in harmony, the eagle claw should seize and grasp with power delivered internally to the fingertips.

MaSik Deu Sau (left) Ying Jow - close up (right)

The Secret Principles of Eagle Claw Kung Fu are Jow Da Cum Na (seizing and locking), Dim Yut Bye Hei (attacking pressure points and stopping the flow of breath), Cow Wai Sau Fung (locking), Diu Cow Fing Lau (controlling, pushing and pulling), Sim Jim Tong Na (twisting, jumping and dropping to the floor), Noi Sup Chung Dit (falling and techniques using the waist) and Fun Gun Chow Quat (cutting veins and shattering bones).

The Eagle Claw system has many increasingly complicated solo routines, dual and multiple partner empty hand and weapon forms to master. The core of the system is based around the original founded forms as created by the famous military General Yeuh Fei.

Those forms are : Hung Kun Sup Loh – 10 section walking form, Lin Kuen Mm Sup Lho – 50 section connecting fist and Yhat Ling Bhat Cum La Sau 108 point Eagle Claw form.

This serves as the highest levels of Eagle Claw and is only passed on to those who have sincerely dedicated themselves to the art and carry it with honour and pride.

Performing the Eagle Claw forms is very pleasing to the eye, Eagle Claw students within the World Eagle Claw Association have gone on to win many trophies and internationally ranked placing. In the England alone there are three British champion titleholders and an internationally ranked silver medallist at the world championships in 1998.

Gim versus Cheung (left) Tai Bo - Broadsword (right)

At the UK school, senior student Stuart Keating, SiFu Dale’s most senior student assists SiFu Dale in the day to day teaching and coaching. Stuart is highly respected for his abilities and demonstrates excellent skills and understanding of the Eagle Claw system

Stuart Keating

The school has been privileged to receive a visit from Si Bhat Ng Woon Ying, one of the late Great Grandmaster Lau Fat Mang’s original students from Hong Kong/ China Si Bhat Ng Woon Ying visited the school in November 1998. SiBhat is in her late 70’s but still delighted the students with her performance and demonstration of Eagle Claw Kung Fu. A true testament to the benefits of a lifelong practice of Eagle Claw. SiBhat Ng Woon Ying was an original child member of the famed Dao Dao Brigade operated by Great Grand Master Lau Fat Mang during the sino Japanese occupation in China during the 2nd world War.

SiFu Dale has also met and talked with on a number of occasions with another senior of the Eagle Claw style himself a member of the Dao Dao brigade and senior student of the late Grandmaster Lau Fat Mang our late SiBhat George San who sadly passed away in 2003 

SiFu Dale has also been fortunate enough to receive tuition and coaching from Master Gini Lau’s two brothers Si Sok James Lau (Master Gini Lau’s younger brother) and Si Bhat Francis Lau (Master Gini Lau’s older brother). This access to family members and elders of the Eagle style has enabled SiFu Dale to gain an ever-deepening understanding of the Eagle Claw style under the guidance of a truly incredible Master, Master Gini Lau.

SiFu Dale is a lifetime member of the Hong Kong Chinese Martial arts association, holding teaching qualifications in Eagle Claw Kung Fu from Grand Master Gini Lau, and teaching certification in Ba Ji Chuan Chi Gung and Yi Chaun from HangZhou University & Master Jian Cheng Ji.

Member of the British Council for Chinese Martial arts, this not only affiliates the school to a UK Government recognised governing body but it also ensure all instructors and students are fully insured.

The school is dedicated to promoting the Eagle style and name of the Lau family.

We offer tuition and training to both students in the UK and Europe, students are able to attend, classes, private lessons, seminars or distance learning programs. Teacher conversions and school affiliations are also available.

Currently there are students attending from Europe in such countries as Germany and the Czech Republic. The only sanctioned school in Europe is run by  Peter Kreml

The school is active in both competing and demonstrations, we have our own Lion dance team for special events and celebrations.

Students and instructors have given guest demonstrations at International exhibitions and events, some of the more notable events are the Combat martial arts magazine "Quest martial arts extravaganza" 

• SENI 2000 TO 2004 EUROPE'S LARGEST MARTIAL ARTS TRADE SHOW

• QUEENS GOLDEN JUBILEE PARADE WINDSOR BERKSHIRE (THE ONLY RECOGNISED LION DANCE TEAM FOR BERKSHIRE)

• HUTCHINSON 3G,CARTOON NETWORK, CNX TV, READING CHINESE SCHOOL, MR LEUNGS CHINESE RESTAURANT, THE HEALTH SHOW AND MANY OTHER SHOWS CHARITY EVENTS, MARTIAL ARTS DEMONSTRATIONS

Feature Editor of Britain's leading International martial arts magazine Combat - Malcolm Martin had this to say about a recent demonstration given by SiFu Julian Dale and students of the Lau Fat Mang World Eagle Claw Kung fu school at an Annual by invitation only Public Martial arts show called the Quest organised by Combat Magazine.

The Quest show is an annual martial arts extravaganza that is hosted alongside an International martial arts competition. The Quest show is by invitation only. It is the second year that the Eagle Claw school has demonstrated there, the first year being SiFu Julian Dale demonstrating a solo Chinese kung fu eagle claw form.

"Julian Dale and his team of students form the Lau Fat Mang World Eagle Claw Kung Fu school, bought the Chinese arts vividly to life for a very appreciative crowd. Their professionalism impressing both the audience and martial arts piers, also to the organisers of the event Combat Magazine.

Many of us believe that they should become regulars on the international demonstration circuit.

For many of the students this was their first public outing, the routine that was displayed had only been in place for 6 weeks, a lot of hard work and effort went into creating a demonstration that was both visually different from many other teams, creating a build up of tempo and intensity rarely seen in demonstration other than professional full time show groups who earn their living by giving theatrical shows."

SiFu Dale is also the official choreographer and team coach for the Manga UK demonstration team.