High honour for Barnsley Sifu

A South Yorkshire Kung Fu Sifu has been named a ninth generation successor to the martial arts style he has practised for nearly 40 years.

Andy Norman, who teaches the Northern Shaolin Seven Stars Mantis style, received the high honour from his own eighth generation teacher, and now joins a proud lineage which began with the founder of the method in China 266 years ago.

“It’s like a family tree,” said Andy, aged 50, of Barnsley.

“Each generation, beginning with founder Wong Long who created the style back in 1750, bestows a small generation of successors tasked with carrying the style on for future generations. It’s a huge honour and I’m really proud to have been chosen as a worthy successor by my own teacher and my grand master, Lee Kam Wing, in Hong Kong. I’m really pleased to join this impressive lineage.”

Andy, a self-employed dry-stone waller, was one of seven Kung Fu ‘brothers’ in England and South Africa, chosen to receive the honour.

Andy runs Arrow Martial Arts, which holds weekly sessions in Barnsley and Leeds.

Visit www.arrowmartialarts.co.uk for details.