John Holden’s 40th Kung Fu Anniversary
Sifu Paul Burkinshaw presenting trophy to Master John Holden for 40yrs in Kung Fu
On Friday 30th November 2012, Sifu Paul Burkinshaw, his eldest son Cameron and I were invited to celebrate Master John Holden’s 40 years in martial arts at the Attleborough working men’s club in Nuneaton. The event was organized by John’s ex wife Heather and their daughter Sarah. They had organised a fantastic buffet, with several personalized specialty cakes commemorating John’s 40 years and a disco.
The night got off to a good start as John greeted everyone at the door as they entered the venue. The people that attended were either his students from his current classes in Atherstone, Nuneaton (which is held at the Attleborough working men’s club) and Leamington Spa (Andy Doust), or lots of the “old faces” who he had trained in the past. These old students included people such as Simon Fletcher, Tony Tallis , Matt Matby, and of course not forgetting Mick Proctor who first introduced John to martial arts. This was when they worked together at the Homefire Plant in Keresley village back in 1972. Also in attendance were Ken Highland who John had trained with on several occasions in the 1970’s and Ted Buswell who was one of his old club mates under Ted Harris who was their teacher. Steve Humphrey’s, who John had trained under in the late 1970’s and 1980’s in the style of Feng Sou had also made the celebration travelling over from Evesham.
Master John Holden, Master Ken Hyland & Sifu Paul Burkinshaw
Mick Proctor & Andy Doust
People started to mingle and talk about old times as the night went on. During the party Heather came around with a commemorative book inviting the guests to write a small piece in it which would be given to John at the end of the night. The evening concluded with two presentations, one made by John’s current students and the other by Sifu Paul Burkinshaw presenting trophies to commemorate his 40 years. Master John Holden was Sifu Paul Burkinshaw’s teacher of Shaolin Fist Kung Fu, when Paul started in 1986.
Written by Ian Harrison
Student of Sil Lum Hark Fu Mun under Paul Burkinshaw
40 Year Trophy (made by Daren Lynam)