Martial Arts Oxford by Xue Zhang What My Students Say

Philip Smith

“ I have been training in martial arts for 6 years, the last 5 years of which have been with Xue. He is a very talented and devoted teacher and one of the few instructors I have met who genuinely cares more about seeing students improve than they do about money. Xue works with each student with compassion and flexibility to identify their own strengths and weaknesses, helping them to develop their own style. He is a very technically accomplished martial artist who has a great deal of time for his students. I would never have achieved the skill level I have without him. ”

Toby Phillips

“ Xue's skill, knowledge and understanding of martial arts is phenomenal and I believe there are few people out there that can achieve what he has already achieved. He also possesses the ability to get this knowledge across in a clear and easy to understand way, making his teaching invaluable. Training with him is a real privilege and I am honoured to call myself one of his students. ”

Jake Glennon

“ I trained under the General (ask him how he got that nick name!!!) for a year and still would be had I not moved to university, if there's one thing to be said about him it's that even though he's twenty four (or three I forget ;-) it feels like your training with a forty year old master. It doesn't matter what level of skill you are he will not only always be there to help, but he will often know how exactly to help, he knows many many styles and can teach traditional or contemporary methods of form and application, one of the most impressive things, is his improvised counter classes he'll invent what to do on the spot with ruthless efficiency, which is not only a spectacle but builds confidence in applying your own techniques to see their strengths and weaknesses, that having been said the people I know that currently attend are also incredibly friendly and helpful people if it's your first time they'll treat you with as much warmth and understanding than if you're in regular attendance. There also very funny people, which always good, but I digress, for almost everyone reading this no matter how long you've been training there will be something for you to learn here, and if I'm honest I'm looking forward to holiday time when I can resume the sessions with them, hopefully I'll see you there. ”

Chris Grant

“ I have been studying with the General for over a year now and at least one would be mugger will bear testament to the effectiveness of his teaching. His focus on "what works in the real world" means that you are constantly learning techniques that are both applicable and effective. His classes will challenge you without leaving you feeling lost and (as long as you train regularly) you will see a steady improvement in your level of skill. ”

Stefan Harper

“ Xue Zhang is among one of the few instructors today who will reveal the reality of Martial Arts. Traditional schools will teach the art and leave it at that, it is assumed that once you know the forms you'll be ok to defend yourself. Xue Zhang teaches both traditional forms and application of those forms whereas a traditional school will only teach the form. Straying away from tradition; he teaches locks, grappling as well as holding proper sparring classes. His style reflects what Martial Arts is all about, a lot of styles today are just art, Xue's is both art and martial. One particular instance that is evident of this in my mind is when we were learning the animalistic style of the snake combined with locks. Xue displayed how the characteristics of a snake can apply effectively when performing a lock. Personally I was quite taken back by this because I had only ever learned one style on its' own. Xue doesn't hold back any secrets and often says that he wants his students to "get better or even surpass me". After sparring sessions, he goes through each student individually and marks what they need to work on. Xue also demands commitment, he puts much time and effort into teaching. All this makes Xue a great instructor and I feel extremely priviliged to be under his banner. ”

Jane Greer

“ I remember first meeting Zhang Xue he had come out to the park to help his brother train a few enthusiasts and lent his experience to the task. I know I went away from a number of these occasions with the impression of their strengths’, (on many different levels) which sort of came through to me after the sessions as I became aware of the keen motivation that was transmitted in the process of their teaching.

If you are interested in learning martial arts, I would recommend Zhang Xue, aka the General, for the depth of his knowledge, his experience, understanding and not least, his generosity. It is enjoyable learning with him, high energy and motivation are additional rewards. I think he is a dedicated teacher, one of those who loves the art. Xue and his brother Zhe appear to have an almost immeasurably profound respect for each other and their respective knowledge and experience. I’ve been told that Lord General knows many styles and countless forms, and you probably sense some of this the more you are able to work with him. I’ve also heard that he is quite sought after in his own country as a personal trainer. I feel certain that he wants his students to learn (as he himself has said), he is direct and clear in his method and technique, which is probably why he is ultimately a very effective teacher. Though you may not always see where something is leading, there are advantages, foundations are laid for future strengths and as you go on you see a lot more in the moves you are being shown. [I think because I learned my kung fu foundation over quite a long period of time with a Grandmaster, partly alongside training with Xue and Zhe Zhang I came to see a bit more from personal insight, that you have to have patience to learn from someone at such a high, or advanced level of training and ability and in that kind of situation implicit, or absolute trust is paid back double. ”