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TestimonialsSifu Quintin's deep knowledge of martial arts comes through in his teaching style, the school is inclusive and flexible, and the community offers guidance and support. All this inspires me, I'm always learning so much! I started Tai Chi first, and last year I began learning Kempo as well. The study of internal and external forces across both arts works well together. It is great for my fitness and confidence and it is amazing how many applications there are to life too. Its sport and philosophy! It gives me great pleasure to write this testimonial for Master Quintin Derham. Our daughter Erin is a spirited young lady, always has been, and when she was younger, we struggled to manage her hyper and boisterous nature and to get her to focus and listen. We wanted her to maintain that spirit, after all that is what makes her so special, but to find ways to allow her to temper her moods whenshe overstepped her boundaries and to navigate a calming path through the white noise of electronic toys, iPads and too much Disney Channel! Kempo has been fantastic for Ben. Even though he has only been going for one term we have seen a huge improvement in his confidence. He was having trouble at school with a few other boys but since starting Kempo he has the confidence to stick up for himself and hasn't had any issues for a while now. I will often see him around the house practising all the moves he has learnt. He really looks forward to his Wednesday afternoons. Conor had a presentation he had to make to his class today and it went extremely well. He was really happy with it. He told me that his confidence and method of delivery was due to the Leadership programme. I think that's a real positive! Christine ShanahanAlex has had an amazing two years in that Wednesday class, and it's just great to have someone outside the family talking about these values to the children. He really enjoys class, gets an awful lot out of it - I think his coordination has improved tremendously and his confidence in his own ability. He is very much looking forward to the challenge of the Monday class next term. I have known Quintin and his Kempo School for over ten years. He has operated out of Glen Eden Intermediate in a very professional manner. His students are always engaged in their learning and really enjoy the instruction given. Many of our students attend and have gone up the ladder towards Black Belt very quickly. They stop me in the playground and say how they are going. They are motivated to succeed. I have no hesitation in recommending his school. We have been pleased to see Oliver's confidence and skills continue to improve during the period he has been at Junior Kempo. The focus placed on respect, for self & others, is a great base on which to build the knowledge & understanding required to practice Kempo. This obviously has a much wider application in general life also. The need to stay 'on task' when learning different techniques has improved Oliver's ability to concentrate. The instructors are excellent & take the time to ensure students know why they are learning what is being taught. As a family we would thoroughly recommend Kempo as an activity to get your children involved in. Our son was part of the Titirangi School for 6 years. Not only was he taught the art of Shaolin Kempo but also discipline, respect and lots of other qualities that stand them in good steed for the rest of their lives. Sifu Derham is an amazing instructor and as such so are the other instructors that teach there. He has passed on all the good qualities that are needed to teach to the instructors that work under him. It is our opinion that our son has benefited immensely from his years at Shaolin Kempo. I'm really proud of Bruno, and really grateful to you all for the extraordinary coaching and support, and the wonderful influence you are having on the way he is developing as a person. Over the seven years I have known Sifu Quintin it has been obvious that he is an accomplished martial arts practitioner who has expert knowledge and skills in a number of Chinese martial arts. He is thus well qualified to instruct students of all ages and levels of experience in these arts. What makes him stand out though is his genuine concern for his students both in the training hall and in life outside. As a teacher he is a great motivator and coach who encourages rather than pushes. Sifu Quintin has impressed me as a man of great personal integrity who despite his achievements is constantly seeking to further develop his knowledge and skills. Quintin Derham has continually excelled as a teacher and student in the art forms taught within Robert Gemmell Martial arts. His thirst for knowledge and dedication to research is reflected in his teaching and training ability and he is a true cornerstone of our school. With a wealth of long term, dedicated experience in teaching and a relentless drive to pursue and deepen his knowledge of the syllabus, he manages to provide insight and value to all students regardless of their grade and ability. The true measure of any teacher is in the qualities exhibited by their students and Senior Master's students are a testimony to his ability to inspire and motivate leaders of the New Zealand martial arts scene. The Martial Arts permeates through senior master's daily life and leading by example as a person, he displays the qualities and virtues you would expect in a high-ranking master instructor. Having had exposure to various international martial arts instructors, I can vouch that training under Senior Master's leadership will deepen your knowledge of training techniques and principles and provide real value beyond expectation. Private one-on-one training with Senior Master Quintin Derham has greatly accelerated my development in Chuan Fa. His ability to pinpoint and focus on individual areas for improvement has assisted me greatly in lifting the veil on techniques and philosophies, allowing me the freedom to explore the finer points of Kempo, Bagua, Tai Chi and H'Sing. An appreciation of Tai ChiI have been attending Tai Chi for the past 7 months, during which time I have been very conscious of an improvement in my general well being. Apart from this advantage I also have reason to believe that there have been other significant advantages. I have for the past several years had bone density checks. The reason for this is not because any symptoms have given me cause to be concerned but because I am 66 years old and I like to keep a check on how the aging process is affecting me. I have always recorded above average in these tests. However - The results of my recent (Bone density) check recorded a marked improvement in both the density & tissue of my bones. As I have not changed my diet I can only attribute this to the advantages of practicing Tai Chi on a regular basis. Apart from doing Tai Chi I also go tramping once a week. I have discovered that since including Tai Chi in my weekly exercise programme I am able to enjoy tramping much more, this is because I have learnt to breathe properly. Since learning the Tai Chi breathing technique I am able to take far greater advantage of the air I inhale as it enables me to not be daunted when confronted by a very a steep climb, which occurs very regularly. I had the pleasure of meeting Quintin and attending a three-hour Qigong seminar. I had nearly seven years’ experience both learning and teaching beginners Tai Chi from other schools, but somehow feel I had never learned the true basics. It seemed tome, that my previous learning had begun with leaving out the most important critical steps and information, before I had learned Tai Chi forms. My interest is now in Qigong and I would now take advantage of any further seminars to learn from Quintin. Quintin is a master with clarity and knowledge far surpassing my previous experience.
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