About Nam yang

Welcome to the Nam Yang Family

Leading by Example Since 1954

Nam Yang Pugilistic Association was founded in 1954 by Grandmaster Ang Lian Huat, who had emigrated to Singapore in 1947 from Quemoy (now Kinmen), an island off the coast of Fujian province, China.  He was greatly respected throughout the Singapore martial arts community and trained many students.  Master Tan Soh Tin was one of the most senior of these students and he took over the running of NYPA from Grandmaster Ang’s death in 1984, until his own in 2019.  You can learn more about these two influential Masters here.

Nam Yang has a long history of welcoming and uniting people from diverse cultures, bringing them together as part of our kung fu family.  Inevitably, members have different cultural expectations, depending on where they have originated.  In any Nam Yang club, however, the culture of Chinese Kung Fu takes precedence.  This provides a level playing field on which all members can relate equally and, most importantly, train to the best of their ability. 

The essence of this Kung Fu culture is central to Nam Yang’s ethos.  Roughly speaking, it means living as part of the Nam Yang family, treating all your colleagues as you would family and making all newcomers welcome.  It means not letting your ego get in the way of training constructively.  It definitely does not mean that you can’t have fun – our members are usually extremely good at this. 

Leading By Example

We are all part of the Nam Yang family.  As members progress in their training, their role becomes to lead by example and personify the spirit of kung fu.  Irrespective of a person’s culture, we welcome them and treat them equally and with respect, and we expect this respect to be returned. 

Loyalty and Respect

These are two of the most important values in Chinese Kung Fu.  We value them highly.  All members, from the lowest to the highest, are expected to embody the values of loyalty and respect. 

Dignity

We believe in behaving with dignity and respect at all times.  We provide an environment in which people train together harmoniously in the spirit of kung fu.  This means no anger, shouting, rudeness, aggression, arguing or putting other people down. 

Meet our team

Lead Instructor

Amos

  • With Nam Yang since: 1997
  • Level of training: Completed all 11 basic Sam Chien sets, and 3 advanced sets: Coiling & Crane wars, Single finger set, 8 Golden branches. 
  • Weapons: Thumb Hooks, Monk Spade, Moon Crescent, Sai, Guan Dao, Tiger Fork, Tiger Hooks, Horse Cutter, Daggers, Cane, Spear, Tong Fa.
  • Trains: Tai Seng, Saturday
Instructor

Richard

  • With Nam Yang since: 2011
  • Level of training: Graded to the 9th basic Sam Chien set.   
  • Weapons: Thumb Hooks, Horse Cutter, Staff, Sabre, Cane 
  • Trains: Queenstown, Tuesday & Thursday
Instructor

Ham

  • With Nam Yang since: 2014
  • Level of training: Graded to the 7th basic Sam Chien set. 
  • Weapons: Staff
  • Trains: Kallang, Saturday 1800-2000 
Mentor

Master Iain Armstrong

Master Iain started training with one of Master Tan Soh Tin’s students in 1981, then began training directly under Master Tan in 1987.  Since 2008 he has run the Nam Yang Kung Fu Retreat in Northern Thailand. Official Biography

Mentor

Dougal Simmons

Dougal started training in 1986, living at the Nam Yang Club in Singapore for 5 years from 1994, becoming a MACU Instructor.  He started the Brighton Nam Yang Branch in England in 1999 and returned to Singapore in 2004, where he was lead instructor under Master Tan until 2019.  He now lives in England. 

Mentor

Master Iain Armstrong

Master Iain started training with one of Master Tan Soh Tin’s students in 1981, then began training directly under Master Tan in 1987.  Since 2008 he has run the Nam Yang Kung Fu Retreat in Northern Thailand. Official Biography

Mentor

Dougal Simmons

Dougal started training in 1986, living at the Nam Yang Club in Singapore for 5 years from 1994, becoming a MACU Instructor.  He started the Brighton Nam Yang Branch in England in 1999 and returned to Singapore in 2004, where he was lead instructor under Master Tan until 2019.  He now lives in England. 

Mentor

Andrew

Andrew started training under Master Tan in 1991.  He has since completed all 11 basic Sam Chien sets and 4 advanced sets, as well as mastering various weapons: Staff, Sabre, Sword, Cane, Horse-Cutting Knife, Monk’s Spade, Double Daggers and Double Axes.

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