GAO-SHAN-PAI-WU-SHU
Hartshill Dojo
Where do you currently teach?
Liberal Club Coleshill Road Nuneaton
How much is it?
£1.50 per session
So how did you get started in martial arts?
Well to be honest that is a long story! When I was younger there were various clubs calling themselves “Gung Fu”. There were a number of classes, and I began the Tiger Ripping System at the age of 11 (now 63), so my initial class was “Gung Fu”.
However I then wanted to become involved in competitions, and as you had to be part of an association to compete at the time, we crossed over to the Japanese system, and joined the BKA (British Karate Association).
How was Gao Shan Pai Wu Shu born?
Well Ted Harris (Keith’s Sifu) was still practicing Tiger Ripping Kung Fu, and from that we started to have splinters of classes forming. Alongside this we were not satisfied with the BKA, as it was too Japanese!! I mean it was very rigid and we were always disqualified from competitions because of illegal moves!
For these reasons we decided to develop our own association so that we could be unified but maintain the freedom to grow and develop. For this reason Gao Shan, is not a fixed Gao Shan system, and has always invited other styles to become involved, allowing the art to develop. Such styles have included jujitsu, aikido and kick boxing.
The originals of Gao Shan were myself (Keith Wilson), and Phil Randle. A number of our students such as ‘John Cousins’; ‘Dave Skyner’; and ‘Steve Hyde’ to name a few have proceeded to establish their own successful classes, and so we grew.
What does Gao Shan Pai Wu Shu mean?
Well.. Gao Shan means high mountain, which represented the location of the it’s original dojo in HartsHill, and Pai Wu Shu means school of martial arts.
There’s more to it than that though, I designed our badge (see on home page) and if you pay attention to it you will notice in the centre there is a mountain with a wide base and three peaks. The wide base represents the traditional wide; strong; immovable stance which we adopt within our art. The mountain’s peaks represent the deeper side of the style and symbolises the philosophy of the art, which teaches that throughout your martial arts career as well as your life you will inevitably have ups and downs, but regardless your always on the same mountain, and at a low point it’s important to remember to keep moving forwards and you’ll reach your next peak.
As for the Yin and Yang symbol, this represents the fact that Gao Shan has been developed with peace in mind and is part of the overall balance.
So what is Gao Shan all about?
Gao Shan is a none profitable association which teaches self defence and martial arts to all groups regardless of age; sex; or race, we are none selective and invite anyone to learn our art.
If you come to one of our classes you can expect to get fit very quickly, learn ways to protect yourself and the people around you and above all have fun!
Additional Information
Kata a Japanese word describing detailed choreographed patterns of movements performed either solo or as a pair, allowing one to practice martial arts techniques”
- Keith Wilson developed all the Kata’s within Gao Shan, excluding the first advanced kata, which is an original kata from the ‘Praying Mantis’ Kung Fu Style.
Dojo “A Japanese term which literally means ‘place of the way’, and in the context of martial arts refers to the place of training”
- Keith has taught Gao Shan in over seven Dojo’s, including Coleshill Road Liberal Club; Sally Chase Chapel; St John’s Hall; Nuneaton Conservative Club; Nuneaton Social Club; Pingles; and Stubs Pool Centre.
- Remembrance
Finally Keith would like to take the opportunity to remember martial artists passed such as Eddie Randle; Les Hornsby; as well as his original Sensei Ted Harris; his Sensei Tom Keiry and his Sensei Master Johnson.
