SOME people decide to learn the martial art Wing Chun because they want to get fit, while others want to defend themselves, says instructor Nicole Hynek.

But what people often find in addition is that this form of Kung Fu takes them on a voyage of self -discovery.

And that is certainly what has happened and is still happening to Nicole from Kidderminster, who is the only female instructor in this area.

Nicole, aged 36, was first introduced to martial arts at the age of four by her parents who were great fans.

“I started with karate and then did boxing and kick boxing. But I was still looking for the right thing and Googled Kung Fu. I found Wing Chun Dynamics was holding classes at the Lyppard Grange community centre in Warndon Villages, Worcester.

“All martial arts have their merits. Wing Chun is a Chinese system invented by a woman for women. It evolved from Kung Fu and it is quite short range and powerful in its delivery. It is very suited to women.”

She was taught by Wing Chun Master Dave Taylor in Worcester and says the discipline gives her a very strong sense of herself and with that comes a real confidence. “The more I trained the more I found out about myself. It is tool for growth as well as a technique for protecting yourself.

“I think the self defence is what brings most people to martial arts but, after you start, you start asking questions about yourself.

“At the end of the day Wing Chun is a martial art and is about breaking through your opponent’s barrier. It is a fighting system. It is the balance between inner focus and the physical skill of bringing something to a conclusion quickly.”

It also inspired her to give up smoking. “I was a smoker when I started doing Wing Chun. I did the first lesson and thought I could not do it and smoke. I quit and I have never smoked since.”

Nicole is unmistakably passionate about this particular martial art and says it has changed her life. “Wing Chun has revolutionised my life. I am 36 and I am the happiest I have ever been. I feel certain about myself. I am not afraid to be myself in the world.

“Wing Chun training brings you out of yourself and pushes you to focus on something more positive.”

But she was not always this confident. Nicole, who has a degree in biology and psychology from the University of Worcester and a master’s degree in molecular biology from Swansea, used to work as a laboratory scientist but knew it was not the right career for her.

It was while caring for her mother who was ill that Nicole realised she could be making more of her life.

She says: “You have this gift of your life and you have to make the most of it. I found the courage to try things. If it does not work then find something else. Do not let things pass you by.

“There are a lot of women who are waiting for something to happen and change in their lives. Stop waiting and start doing.

“I needed to do something else and I knew a year into my Wing Chun training that I wanted to be a teacher. I get tremendous satisfaction from seeing people grow.

“I want to empower people. I want to help more women and children who struggle with their confidence to be authentic.”

Nicole, who trains for an hour each day before starting work, teaches Wing Chun three days a week at the Evesham Chiropractic Clinic where she has an all male group, and at The Clinic in Droitwich, where there is an all female group and says she wants to make it more accessible to more women. Her students range from teenagers as young as 13 to adults in their 50s.

She says many of her Wing Chun students are executives or self-employed and can use some aspects of the training for work. She says the breathing techniques, for example, can be used to help with public speaking.

She says Wing Chun helps to challenge people and realise what they are capable of achieving and Nicole is certainly an example of someone doing just that. While building her martial arts training business she began to investigate nutrition for training. “You eat like a builder when you do Wing Chun,” she said.

She decided to write her first book – a cook book for Wing Chun called Peace at the Table – and did the photographs and illustrations herself. For this she used one of the other many strings she has to her bow. She has been a professional photographer running her own business specialising in fashion, food and portraits for the past 10 years and also does Japanese style Sumi ink painting.

She is also the only in female instructor in the country for Golden Bell 21 Form Qi Gong - a set of standing exercises from China where the practice focuses on the combination of motion and breathing. “Golden Bell Qi Gong is tough. It is hard training,” said Nicole.

And if this is not enough she chair’s a business women’s group called Achievers Academy for women in Kidderminster every month.

“We meet on a monthly basis and I deliver a topic. It could be about cash flow and we identify how they want to grow their business. It’s like a monthly coaching workshop for women.”

Wing Chun

• Wing Chun is a style of Kung Fu martial arts originating from China

• It was devised by Chinese Buddhist nun Ng Mui who had observed a confrontation between a snake and a crane

• It incorporates the direct striking of the snake and the simultaneous block and strike of the crane’s beak into a new fighting style

• It specialises in close contact combat, using quick punches and kicks

• It uses well coordinated attacks with simultaneous defence and vise versa

• Wing Chun means beautiful springtime

• It was kept a secret fighting knowledge until 1957 when it was taught in Hong Kong

• Bruce Lee was the first to take Wing Chun Kung-Fu out into the Western World

Golden Bell 21 Form Qi Gong

• It promotes focus

• Encourages positivity and self belief

• It relieves stress and anxiety

• It helps to train out weaknesses and injuries in the body