INSTRUCTOR PROFILE
SIFU MIKE GORTON
Like many others of his generation Mike was inspired to take up Martial Arts after seeing the 'Kung Fu' TV programme in the 1970s. However, at that time all that was on offer were the Japanese Martial Arts of Karate, Judo and Aikido.
Mike found a local Aikido class where he began his Martial Arts training, and then continued training in a wide variety of other Martial Arts systems, including Shotokan Karate, Wado Ryu Karate, Lau Gar Kung Fu, Ninjutsu and Tai Chi.
Always searching, but never quite finding the system he was looking for, Mike finally discovered Wing Chun; a highly practical Martial Art that offers the right combination of 'hard' and 'soft' techniques, to produce maximum effect with minimum effort.
In 1997 Mike Gorton joined a class in Stafford and was one of the first students of Sifu Mik Lane who pioneered the teaching in the UK of the Leung Ting 'Wing Tsun' system after learning the system in Germany.
Mike took over the running of the Stafford club in 2000, and in 2005 began teaching Kung Fu professionally. After passing the Technician grades Mike became the Staffordshire Instructor for the WTKO and was acknowledged as a Sifu in 2009.
In 2019 Mike rebranded the Staffordshire club as 'Stafford Ving Tsun' and continues to teach Ip Man lineage Kung Fu combining and taking the best from all the influences and instruction received over his many years of training, not limited to the perception of any one lineage.
Besides teaching Martial Arts, Mike is also an Artist and Musician. Hobbies include Weight Training, Sailing, Surfing, Wind Surfing, Walking and Skiing.