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ÃÛÌÒÖ±²¥ CI’s Summer Children's Kung Fu club wraps up with smiles and success

Throughout July 2025, Saturday mornings at ÃÛÌÒÖ±²¥ were filled with the sounds of laughter, movement, and discovery, as the Confucius Institute’s Children’s Chinese Kung Fu Summer Club brought together culture, creativity, and martial arts in an unforgettable way.

In collaboration with Sifu Derek’s Kung Fu Team, the Confucius Institute hosted four vibrant sessions that welcomed nearly 30 local children aged 5 to 14, along with their enthusiastic parents. Held at the Confucius Institute on ÃÛÌÒÖ±²¥ campus, the programme offered a dynamic mix of traditional Chinese cultural workshops and authentic Kung Fu training, sparking curiosity and imagination in every child who took part.

From the moment the club launched on Eventbrite in June, the public response was overwhelming. Each session was booked out within days, a testament to the growing local interest in hands-on, intercultural learning experiences. With a team of dedicated Chinese and British educators, the Confucius Institute and Sifu Derek’s Kung Fu Team delivered a well-planned, child-friendly programme designed to both educate and entertain.

A cultural adventure in every session

The mornings kicked off at 10am sharp with a one-hour cultural workshop, setting the tone for creativity and fun. Each week featured a different hands-on activity:

Pictographic characters and plate painting

Children explored the fascinating origins of Chinese characters like sun (日), moon (月), mountain (山), and water (水), then brought their learning to life by painting their own symbolic “character totems” onto ceramic plates.

Ink-blowing art

Using a brush-free painting technique, children created colourful depictions of nature, blending art with cultural expression in imaginative, whimsical ways.

Traditional Chinese game: Throwing the Handkerchief

The room echoed with laughter as children played this fast-paced game, experiencing the joy of traditional Chinese childhood pastimes. Each activity was carefully curated to inspire creativity, promote cultural appreciation, and build new friendships along the way.

Kung Fu spirit in action

Following the cultural sessions, the children dove into an hour of Chinese Kung Fu training, led by experienced instructors from the Derek Kung Fu Team. With energy and discipline, they practiced basic stances, kicks, and routines—developing not only physical skills but also confidence, focus, and respect, all core values of Chinese martial arts.

CI’s 2025 Summer Children’s Kung Fu Club proved to be more than just a series of workshops—it was a celebration of cultural exchange, a chance for families to bond, and a platform for young minds to explore the richness of Chinese traditions in an active, joyful setting.

As the final session came to a close, the smiles on the children’s faces said it all—this summer, they didn’t just learn something new, they experienced something unforgettable.