DIG out your swords, spears, staffs and whip chains . . .

A special course that involves the use of these and many other weapons is being introduced in St Helens.

Lessons in the ancient art of Wushu are being given at the St Helens Martial Arts and Fitness Centre, Tolver Street.

The man behind it is coach Jonathan Staples,a member of the Great Britain Wushu squad, who trained at the Beijing Sports University.

Explained Jon: "Wushu is the national sport of China and literally means "martial arts."

"The Chinese government decided martial arts were disappearing as new wars were being fought with guns and missiles.

"They took a three-year survey of all martial skills in China, re-vamped them and called the collective Wushu.

"It contains many different martial styles and techniques - northern styles with their high leaps and kicks, southern styles with their strong, low stance work, to character styles like snake fist, eagle and drunken boxing."

"Wushu is famous for its weapons - sword, spear, staff, whip chain, daggers, shield halberd, three-section staff, double weapons - to name a small percentage.

"The interesting thing about Wushu is that you aren't taught just to strike and block, but how to spin the weapon all around yourself, even, sometimes, throwing and catching it.

"Because Wushu is so vast a system, it is ideal for all people and in later grades the student even gets to choose the weapons they wish to learn."

Jon's courses take place on Fridays between 6.30 and 8pm. For further information ring 01704 576850.

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