Fighting fit
SPORTS SHORTS
Kung Fu
Bruce Lee wannabes will want to sign up for
this unique Kung Fu class – now celebrating
two years at Imjin Barracks.
Royal Air Force Martial Arts instructor Chris Hull
has been teaching the Chinese martial art of
Wing Chun Kuen (literally ‘Singing Spring Fist’)
at Gloucester since 2017.
The Kung fu style is evolved from medieval
Chinese battlefield and insurgency warfare.
It favours speed, directness, efficiency and
reaction over brute strength or complex
movements; all vital in self-protection.
Using fists, hands, elbows, knees and feet, or
anything else that might do the job, the aim
is always to end a confrontation as quickly as
possible, and then escape to safety.
Wing Chun is not competitive, and certainly not
pretty, but it is ideal when you need it most.
WAX ON, WAX OFF
IMJIN BARRACKS GYMNASIUM
Free gym membership available – and we’re
open 24/7
Our gym and recreational centre at Imjin
Barracks are open to all MOD staff and
military spouses/partners based here. We
offer a wide range of facilities including
squash and tennis courts, as well as group
fitness classes.
If you need some help or motivation, there are
three physical training instructors (PTIs). And
while their main focus is delivering fitness
programs to ensure troops are operationally
fit, they can also design tailored training
programs and provide guidance on healthy
living or recovering from injury.
Civilian personnel need to complete a gym
induction. Annual insurance (currently £30)
must also be purchased through the ARRC
Support Battalion.
Opening Times
The gym is manned Monday to Thursday
from 7am - 10pm, and Friday 7am - 2pm.
Outside of these hours the gym can be
accessed 24/7 by signing out a swipe
key from the guardroom.
This Mum Runs
A unique running club for military mums has
launched in Gloucester, bringing a national
initiative to our local community.
‘This Mum Runs’ is a group of over 50,000
women nationwide whose vision is to help
mums become happier and healthier through
running.
The scheme launched locally as ‘This Mum
Runs Military Mums’ with free weekly runs
held in the Gloucester area.
The club aims to help mums who have
partners in the military to carve out some
time, get some headspace and meet new
friends – with less emphasis on performance
or times and more emphasis on fun and
running at the speed of chat.
Fitness
The PTIs are on hand during working hours
to provide advice on equipment use for the:
• • Cardio area, including running, rowing,
cycling and other cross-fit machines
• • Multi gym equipment for strength and
Chris Hull provides FREE tuition as part of
the RAF Wing Chun Kuen school, with the
charitable aim of enhancing the efficiency of
UK Armed Forces. That is except, of course, for
insurance fees (£5.00) and a t-shirt for uniform
(and an optional hoodie). A small price to pay
for such valuable skills!
Classes meet in the Imjin gym on Tuesday
nights from 5.30 - 7pm.
Perhaps Wing Chun Kuen is what you have
been looking for, but you simply didn’t know it
was here on your doorstep?
Now that really does sound like a path to true
happiness.
conditioning
• • Free weights areas
Sports
Facilities and some sports equipment can be
booked through the duty PTI:
• • Sports hall – football, basketball,
badminton or volleyball
• • Squash
• • Tennis
Classes
A range of fitness classes are organised to
cater for military and civilians, including:
• • Lunchtime circuits on Mondays and
Thursdays
• • Lunchtime yoga on Wednesdays
GREAT ESCAPE
Rosalind Oram, community leader for
Military Mums, explained: “We have a vision
to get as many women as we can active in
a fun community and to make friends while
getting some much-needed time just for
themselves.”
Rosalind is supported by specially-trained
volunteers dubbed ‘Run Angels’ who are a
friendly face to welcome members, warm
everyone up, keep people safe and make
sure no one gets left behind.
Runs are held every Sunday at 8am, and
women interested finding out more can
visit the dedicated Facebook group page
thismumrunsmilitarymums
Women’s rugby
Women’s rugby is one of the fastest-growing
sports in the UK.
And now future players are being encouraged
to take up the sport by one of our local stars
of the game.
Lance Corporal Anabelle Whitecross plays for
Gloucester-Hartpury WRFC (and featured on
the cover of the last edition of the imjin). She
is welcoming anybody interested in learning
about the sport to contact her, regardless of
previous experience.
For more information contact
Anabelle on extension 6167 or e-mail
[email protected]
Calling all sports
teams!
We want to feature your club on these pages of
the imjin magazine.
Send your news and photos to our sports desk
via [email protected]
the imjin AUTUMN 2019
27