Simon Lailey is an old hand in the art of Kung Fu and runs a school of Martial Arts in Ryde. One of his pupils, Roly Botha has been making fantastic progress, as Simon tells us. Ed
Roly Botha certainly has come a long way since he first started with me a number of years ago as a “Young Dragon!”
“Young Dragons” (YD) is the name of I have 
given to my junior martial arts programme where I teach authentic Chinese Kung Fu.
Outgrowing my YD class Roly is now more keen than ever as he makes the transition from being an ‘older boy’ to becoming a young man.
Several months ago I invited him to move up from the “Young Dragons” class and join my adult Kungfu group which I call “Sanshangong”. This he very happily did and has since proved himself admirably. Recently Roly attested for his Red Sash and passed with a distinction achieving a 100% pass- mark.
Refusing to allow the time factor nor distance to stand in his way, Roly travels each week from his home in the South of the Wight and embarks upon a two-hour journey that involves one bus-trip or more as he travels to Ryde where he trains with both seriousness and intensity. Very keen to not let his training slip Roly is both committed and dedicated and does his utmost not to let anything get in the way of his weekly practice. His parents are behind him all the way and do all they can to ensure that their son excels to the very best of his ability.
Now I am looking to have Roly work towards gaining a nationally-recognized qualification in martial arts coaching – an idea that Roly is very excited about indeed!
For more information about “Young Dragons”, “Sanshangong” and members of these two martial groups check my Website, The MARSTA
