Included below are some recent open testimonials from my students, for your information:

"I have been training with Sifu John for 2 ½ years and started when I was 17 years old. I love training and the enjoyment and effort John has put into teaching others and myself is truly inspiring. I'm now coming to the end of my first year of competing and have just won a silver medal in October 2005, my second medal for the club. I compete against others that have been training in wushu for approx 6-10 years and I am proud to be close to their level in such a short space of time.

I travel 30 miles to Nottingham 2-3 times a week but its well worth the travel and I know of people that travel much further just to train with Sifu John. His method of teaching brings the best out of people and pushes them to work hard. John is open to the evolution of modern wushu and supports the traditional styles, the current styles and the styles that are yet to come. His understanding of the sport has proven he is one of the best.

Many thanks to John for the time and effort he has put into teaching others and me."

Kieran Rushby Oct 2005.

"I first started attending the East MIDLANDS Wushu Association over a year ago, initially only attending the Monday night classes of the Long and Broad Sword. Prior to attending these classes I had experienced quite a severe injury to my left shoulder resulting in a limited range on movement in my left arm.

However with the realistic and honest approach, advice and guidance offered by Sifu John Read, during these classes I have been able to improve my performance and indeed range of movement in the effected shoulder through gentle and regular exercise identified by Sifu John.

In addition to this and as time has progressed I have now also been able to attend several other sessions during the week in respect of, Long Fist and Staff Routines and one private session a week during which time I study the Beijing 24 Kung Fu Routine .

On thought in relation to Sifu John's methods to the teaching of Wushu I can only describe it as an holistic and well rounded approach and one which not only addresses the physical and external aspects of this art but also the much more subtle and gentle issues in respect of , self awareness, control and personal development.

This is highlighted by the in depth explanations and examples given by Sifu John, during all classes at which time he offers ample opportunity for all students to ask questions or seek additional guidance in respect of moves, techniques, application and so on.

For any person wishing to take up the art of Wushu I would not hesitate to recommend Sifu John as a perfect teacher and trainer. In the time I have known him and many of his students I can only praise the quality of his lessons and the personal and caring interest he takes in respect of his students their wellbeing, progression and development."

Jeff Fairfield-Read - July 2005

"I have been training with Sifu John Read for more than two and a half
years. I have, at various times, studied Kung Fu, Chang Chuan, Jian Shu
and Hsing Yi under him. In my experience he is a very knowledgeable and
committed teacher. The atmosphere in his classes is always friendly and
good humored. His lessons are also safe, I have not seen an injury in
all the time I have been training with him.

I would have no hesitation in recommending him to anyone interested in
Wushu.

Yours,

Oliver Jauncey"

"As the most senior member or John Read's kung fu group, I must say how I have enjoyed John's sessions, which I have attended on a weekly basis for well over 4 years. He tries to vary his lessons through a mixture of stretching, pad work, self defence and learning forms. John gives a professional attitude to his teaching, encouraging his students to learn both correct techniques and the marital spirit. I have enjoyed and continue to enjoy these weekly sessions.

Kind regards,

Vikas Gupta"

"I have been attending (John Read's) Kung Fu classes on a weekly basis now for about two and a half years. I was a total beginner back then and nervous about the prospect of learning a martial art. However, John made me feel at ease and helped me on my way to learning the basics without me feeling afraid of making mistakes, and I looked forward to going back. As time has gone on John has helped me to develop my skills, become more flexible through careful stretching and more aware of how to apply the correct techniques to different moves. I really enjoy learning Kung Fu in this safe and pleasant environment.

John has also taught us some self-defence moves. He has told us how to channel our energy correctly and use the right technique in order to perform the move most efficiently. From my experience of this, John would make a good self-defence teacher."
Claire Dawson

"I had already been practicing Chen style Kung Fu for about one year when I first met John, where he was giving a two hour combined lesson of Hsing-I and Chen style Tai Chi.
The reason for my visit to his class was to experience practicing the internal martial art of Hsing-I as yet little known in the west. It is a fast and powerful style.
John commenced the class with gentle warm up exercises and some Hsing-I Qigong, then began to demonstrate Metal, the first in the sequence of five basic movements. He did this at first slowly and softly in order to allow beginners to see movements that could be executed at lightning speed, which he also demonstrated. We all followed him up and down the room and then on our own at three different speeds, slow, medium and fast. We were then introduced to a basic martial application of Metal, deflecting the opponents strike and. counter striking. All this was done in a controlled way at a speed that was within the abilities of each student.
I never felt that I was being stretched. beyond my ability and was confident that the lessons we were being taught were safe and would gradually build up in speed and power according to the rate of learning.
I have also been taking private lessons in Baguazhang for 6 months with John and at my age of 53 years old feel that I have had a new lease of life after a lay off practicing martial arts for over 20 years.
For anyone interested in practicing Chinese internal martial arts I can strongly recommend John Read.
Yours faithfully,
Andrew James"

"After many years of learning Tai Chiin classes I was feeling growing levels of frustration, boredom and dissatisfaction in my lack of progress.
John Read has not only introduced me to Chen style Kung Fu, but has mixed various styles to address areas requiring improvement.
He matches an acute awareness of a students needs with a vast repertoire of exercises and processes to meet those needs. Sessions with John are, as a result, half lesson, half exploration and always challenging.
Whilst the form is extended and refined each time, I never quite know what
route we will take to get there, but I do know it will be an interesting route."
Gordon