New gym-clinic run by New Zealand fighter has array of talent previously unseen in Sai Kung

^{Andrew Wong Kee is a boxing and ju-jitsu champion. On the wall of the gym are some of the medals he has won.}

New Zealander Andrew Wong Kee has assembled an impressive team of fighters, sports stars and health experts for his new Sai Kung gymnasium. Called the CNS (Central Nervous System) Wellness Performance Clinic, it is located opposite the Zeugma kebab shop in the first floor with a harbour view where a hairdressing salon used to be. Andrew greets HONG KONG BUZZ at the door. He has the gnarled, protruding knuckles of a fighter and looks like if he got into a scrap with a brick wall you’d feel sorry for the brick wall.

Here are the qualifications and backgrounds of Andrew and his team:

• ANDREW himself: Now 43, he grew up in a family of fighters and practiced martial arts from the age of six. At 12 he was New Zealand amateur boxing champion and was No. 3 in the world for kyokushin karate. At 37 Andrew was World Brazilian ju-jitsu champion and he has represented Hong Kong at rugby sevens.

• YAN CHAU: Andrew’s co-investor in the gym is the Australian physiotherapist and acupuncturist Yan Chau, who has opened a clinic at the site of JB Mage’s former wine shop and the ex-carpet store on Po Tung Rd.

^{Brindy Mason, teenage world ju-jitsu champion, gets her boss in a headlock.}

• BRINDY MASON: Still a teenager, Brindy holds several World Brazilian ju-jitsu titles won in championship bouts in the U.S. Brindy’s specialty is choking her opponents until they surrender and she proceeded to demonstrate this on her new boss whose face turned scarlet as we watched. She is a coach for children and teenagers at the gym.

• KYLE SULLIVAN has represented Hong Kong at Rugby Sevens. Kyle is a coach in the gym, too. Born and raised in Hong Kong, Kyle aims to coach others to the same levels of success he reached as a professional rugby player. He is certified as an Active IQ Level 2 gym instructor and Level 3 coach in personal training as well as holding qualifications in World Rugby Level 1 in coaching, strength and conditioning.

• DR KEN CHU is a nutritionist available by appointment through Andrew’s gym-clinic. A naturopathic doctor, Ken uses a mix of clinical nutrition, homeopathy and herbal medicine to address the causes of a patient’s concerns.  Ken guides his patients on a holistic journey towell-being.  He has sub-specialties in sports medicine, paediatrics, and gastroenterology. Ken graduated in 2006 from the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine and has further education in advanced clinical nutrition and homeopathy.  Before coming to Hong Kong, Ken ran a 10-practitioner, multidisciplinary clinic in Canada.  Ken has experience managing high-level athletes, including some of Canada’s finest Olympians and amateur MMA athletes.

• GLEN HEYBURGH is a South African-born sports psychiatrist also available through Andrew’s business.

^{Bindy tries to deck Andrew on the tatami mat.}

Andrew explained the classes that will be offered at the expensively fitted out gym-clinic once the Government relaxes covid-19 restrictions, now expected next week. Children and adults will undergo fitness training through ju-jitsu and boxing classes. There will be training for fat loss,  greater strength and rejuvenation through breathing classes and posture recalibration. Andrew showed a computerised programme that assesses poor posture then maps out remedies to recalibrate posture for better health. There will also be classes in Chinese energetics resolving pain, stress and discomfort plus breathing lessons to raise energy and improve sleep.

^{Andrew’s new gym, opening fully this week as the government lifts restrictions, overlooks the minibus terminal and Sai Kung harbour.}

Serious fighting will be staged at times on the gym’s black tatami mats. Andrew aims to build a motivated team of kids to compete around Asia and onto world championships. In ju-jitsu sparring the objective is to force your opponent to submit through choking or joint locks. Suits about town will be invited to take up white collar boxing. They will be trained for six months, then fight for real at black tie events with family and friends watching. Andrew said he coached a Samoan boxer Farani Tavui to a standard where he qualified to compete in the Beijing Olympics.

Andrew’s Sai Kung gym-clinic is only a couple of months old. It is pristine in its newness and obviously a lot of money has been invested in the décor and brand-new equipment. Previously Andrew ran the Jab gym in Crawford House, Queen’s Rd, Central for 15 years. Recently he decided to move with his wife and three-year-old son to Sai Kung for a healthy lifestyle.

To make an appointment for health and fitness training assessment with Andrew or his coaches or health experts call 9574 8523. The clinic’s email address is cnsperformance.clinic@gmail.com