"Wing Chun is much more of a lifestyle than a matter of fighting, and it's worth lifelong learning," says Kycelt who has been learning for a year and a half. He has been in Shanghai for seven and a half years.

"The intelligent art has made me confident and brightened my private life. It's not that spiritual but brings out my spiritual potential," he says.

Studying kung fu helps expats stay centered in Shanghai, he says, and better cope with the pressure and frustration of unfamiliar language and culture. "If you don't do anything against the stress, you can easily burn out."

At Longwu Kung Fu Center and others, regular Wing Chun sessions begin with warmup and flexibility exercises.

Students will be paired off for exercises after lifting legs by their own in varied movements in a progressing single file.

Coaches will constantly change practicing partners to ensure they are well matched and the practice is challenging and productive for both.

"Wing Chun is easy to pick up, doesn't require much practice space and is not restricted to only male practitioners," says master Wu Junhui, the center's head coach.

He's a native of Fujian Province and once studied with Wing Chun master Mak Yew Ming in Foshan, Guangdong Province.

Wing Chun also demonstrates Chinese traditional philosophy centered on the Taoist principle of taking the middle path and not pursuing extremes. Success is based on balance.

Wing Chun attacks are focused on the body's center line. Prime targets are the eyes, nose, throat, solar plexus and groin.

Those are traditionally the targets for women who are attacked, and Wing Chun was named after a woman fighter.

"When practicing Wing Chun, you always regard yourself as the weaker side, at a disadvantage," says master Wu. This is supposedly implied by the martial art's development by a "weak" woman.

Practitioners "borrow" their opponents' strength and naturally send it back.

Wing Chun allows smaller, weaker persons to gain an advantage against larger, stronger attackers and turn the attack to his/her advantage.

"Wing Chun also has a calming effect on body and mind," says Wu. "It helps ease irritation and achieve tranquillity."

Practitioners observe good manners and press their hands together in a gesture of gratitude to and respect for their teacher when the session ends.

Wing Chun isn't just a physical defense or way to harden and strengthen the body. It is conducive to patience, discipline, courage, compassion and confidence.

And it's a window on Chinese culture.

Butterfly knives and wooden dummies

The Wing Chun training system includes three empty hand movements, a wooden dummy representing an opponent and two weapons - a long pole and butterfly knives.