Kwoklyn Wan grew up in Leicester in a family steeped in Martial Arts tradition. He was inspired by the films of Bruce Lee, like many youngsters from the 1970’s. Kwoklyn started his martial arts journey at the age of 4 in 1977 studying Shotokan Karate and then went on to study Wing Chun and Chinese Boxing with his Uncles in the early 80’s. During the late 80’s and early 90’s Kwoklyn tried many other martial arts and It wasn’t until he discovered Jeet Kune Do in 1998 he began to focus on becoming an Instructor in the martial arts. This resulted in Wan becoming the European representative of the famous JKD Wednesday Night Group headed by Tim Tackett, which has the aim of preserving and promoting Bruce Lee’s original form of the Martial Arts. Kwoklyn opened his own Martial Arts Academy ‘URBAN MARTIAL ARTS’ in 2004. Starting with just a handful of students Urban Martial Arts has grown, and now teaches Jeet Kune Do to students across the world.
Kwoklyn Wan Martial Arts Bio:
1977 – 1980 Shotokan Karate under Sensei Anthony Conroy
1980 – 1989 Wing Chun & Chinese Boxing Instructors Alan Lam, Gau Lau Chung & Peter Lee
1985 – 1990 Wing Chun under Sifu Derek Frearson (Lun Gai under Yip Man)
1990 – 1993 Muay Thai Boxing, Mantis with Dave Freeman, Jackie Wong
1993 – 1997 Kickboxing with Jag Johal, Dave Freeman
1999 – Ongoing Jun Fan Kung Fu, Jeet Kune Do and Eskrima Instructors: Jason Davenport WJKDF and Pat O’Malley (Bob Breen under Daniel Inosanto)
1999 – 2002 WTF Taekwondo & Sung Ja Do under Ed Burbidge & Jason Davenport (Soke George I Petrotta 10 Dan)
1999 – Ongoing Rapid Arnis under Tuhon Pat O’Malley, Magino Lucy O’Malley, Guro Nigel Brown & Guro Jon Broster
2001 – 2002 Brazilian Jujitsu with Jason Davenport (Royce Gracie)
2002 – 2003 Street Aware / Self Protection under John Skillen (Instructor with the British Combat Association)
2004 – 2006 Systema under Robert Poyton (Systema UK)
2005 – 2008 Jeet Kune Do became a member Instructor of the Hardcore Jeet Kune Do Association under Sifu Lamar Davis
2006 – (12 week) Intensive training course Tai Chi Broadsword under Robert Poyton
2006 – 2010 Boxing and MMA Training under Eddie Doucet
2006 – 2011 Serrada Eskrima under Guro Jon Broster (UK Representative Tuhon Mark Wiley)
2007 – Silat Beruang under Jon Broster (UK Representative for Jak Othman)
2007 – Ongoing Jeet Kune Do became the European representative for Tim Tackett and his JKD Wednesday Night Group. Preserving Bruce Lee’s Old School Jeet Kune Do training methods
2009 – Jeet Kune Do was asked by Sifu Tim Tacket to become a WNG Board Director. The Board of Directors administers the group, sets the curriculum and certifies instructors
2014 – Rapid Arnis Elite Instructors course Yr1 with Tuhon Pat O’Malley
2015 – Rapid Arnis Elite Instructors course Yr2 with Tuhon Pat O’Malley
2015 – Ongoing Fa-Jing Chuan Internal Chinese Boxing (Tai Chi) with Nasser Butt
2015 – Founded Urban Street Boxing alongside Tuhon Pat O’Malley
2016 – Rapid Arnis Elite Instructors course Yr3 with Tuhon Pat O’Malley
2017 – Rapid Arnis Elite Instructors course Y34 with Tuhon Pat O’Malley