Nam Yang / London
Tiger Crane Kung Fu
Photo: @eyeofthekestrel
Yvonne Cheung /
Yvonne started training with Nam Yang Chinatown in 2004. Together with Dave they learnt the soft internal arts of Tong Ling (clearing and circulating) Chi Kung and Shuang Yang Pei Ho (Sun Frost White Crane) as well as training in Tiger-Crane combination kung fu and Shaolin weapon routines. Under the guidance of her instructors she collected a number of medals for her traditional routines at the BCCMA Championships, and then in 2012 she took over the Nam Yang teaching at the Chinatown club.
She qualified as a Physiotherapist in 2009 and has been working with children and young adults since she qualified. She met Claudia, another paediatric physiotherapist, in 2012 and they talked about combining their skills to set up a children’s class someday. This became a reality in 2014 when they set up Little Tigers at Gospel Oak school.
Claudia Backhaus /
Claudia qualified as a paediatric physiotherapist from the University of East London in 2008 and has worked as a Paediatric Physiotherapist at University College London Hospital NHS Trust , Chelsea & Westminster Hospital NHS Trust and is now currently based at the Royal Free London NHS Trust. This is where she met Yvonne and both were involved with running core stability and strength & fitness classes for children of all ages. They decided to branch out these classes and combine it with kung fu, and hence Little Tigers was created.
Dave Baum /
Dave started training with Nam Yang Portsmouth in 2002 during his second year at University. He joined the Chinatown branch in 2005 where he met Yvonne and they trained under Nam Yang’s most senior instructors Lucas MacArdle, Michael Aronow, Robin Burby.
As well as training in Tiger Crane kung fu and the soft internal forms, Dave trained for many years in Sanshou (Chinese boxing) and has won a number of medals in the BCCMA Championships.
In 2013, Dave travelled to the Mountain Retreat in Thailand to train with Master Iain Armstrong and Master Tan Soh Tin. Whilst there, he started a film project, documenting the history of Nam Yang, key characters and the club’s future. It’s an on-going project, but we are hoping he will finish it someday!
Daniel Anstiss /
Daniel was inspired by a school demonstration in 2008 and since then he has not looked back. As a qualified BCCMA instructor he has lead classes of up to 30 students at Nam Yang Epsom and won numerous medals in national competitions.
During university, Daniel trained in Muay Thai to broaden his martial arts skills and after his studies he began to appreciate the balance that Kung Fu has to offer - the internal and external, and has returned to dedicating his free time towards the art..
As part of the Little Tigers he is keen to emphasise the practical application of moves in his teachings and a 'train how you fight' mentality.