Someone tried to rape my student

Teaching women martial arts in the 1980s were rare, yet I welcomed them because I believed that the art is for all to enjoy regardless of sex, race, or religion. I had a young lady called Diana who was very keen to learn. She was English so some of my Chinese students did not approve of her training with them. I told them we must not-be prejudiced against women and should train and work together to better each other’s skills.

Thinking back it was a breakthrough to accept a woman into my Wing Chun school. I taught her differently because women’s body and strength is different from men so I taught her the Gulao Wing Chun way so that if she was confronted by an attacker she would be able to handle herself.

After a year she had to go to Morocco for her work. After three weeks and while she was there I had a phone call from her saying she was nearly raped in the lifts and it was a very horrific experience. I asked her if she was okay and she told me that she entered the lift and had not realised that she was followed in by a member of management — she turned round and he was standing in front of her.

Once the lift door closed he had tried to put his arms around her and she froze instantly. My teachings sprang to her mind and she remembered that if she was confronted with an attacker to always remember chain punching and she did it — knocking him down. He was caught by surprise and she escaped — an action that saved her from a horrific ordeal.

She said that she understood now why I had reminded her to focus when punching whilst training in the kwoon. This helped her in real life as once her mind was able to focus she could transfer what she had learnt into a real-life situation. I was glad she was okay and told her to keep on practising the techniques I had taught her.

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