Welcome to Temple Gym Martial Arts

We hope you'll find these pages to be an informative resource on the art of Wing Chun Kung Fu, on San Shou Kickboxing and the Chinese Martial Arts as taught at Temple Gym by Sifu Derek Vernon.

Sifu Derek Vernon has been studying and teaching Chinese Martial Arts for over thirty years, and has produced champions in full contact San Shou Kung Fu as well as open hand and weapons forms. Sifu Vernon is a master of Wing Chun Kung Fu, under the following lineage:
Yip Man
Ho Kam Ming
Fong Chi Wing (Augustine Fong)
Derek Vernon

Temple Gym's main base is located in the heart of Torquay, Devon. Our clean, spacious, fully equipped facilities offer you a range of martial arts workout possibilities. Take full advantage of the centre's equipment, including heavy bags, freestanding sandbags, wing chun wooden dummies and punch bags.
Temple Gym offers quality, genuine, effective martial arts tuition within a welcoming and friendly environment; where absolute beginners can train in comfort with experienced fighters and instructors. Whatever your personal reasons for taking up a martial art - whether it's self-defense, fitness or competition - we can offer a program to suit your needs.
We also offer Wing Chun classes in Cornwall and Exeter.

Our Wing Chun Kung Fu system is an effective martial art founded primarily on strategic and scientific principles; blending soft and hard energies, using sensitivity, structure and timing to deliver devastating attacks and counter-attacks.

Our system of Chinese San Shou fighting, combined with American Kickboxing and Muay Thai techniques, makes for a most unique and effective fighting style.
Our Little Dragons classes/Juniors Kickboxing classes (5-16 years) are structured to give the children a quality martial arts education whilst simultaneously providing them with the insights for good character development

Temple Gym Martial Arts Centre offers classes to suit all ages and abilities.

We also offer weapons classes and classes in traditional Chinese Lion and Dragon Dance, our Demonstration Team is available to perform at schools, youth groups, summer fetes, charitable events and ceremonial openings of shops, offices and businesses.
For forthcoming events, click here.