Martial arts expert called to UK bench

The 37-year-old lawyer is a sixth-degree black belt

Martial arts expert called to UK bench
A UK barrister who’s a martial arts expert has been appointed as an immigration judge in London.

Siew Ying Loke will commence as an immigration judge of the first-tier tribunal at the Immigration and Asylum Chamber on 14 May.

The UK judiciary’s announcement, however, did not disclose that Loke is a sixth-degree black belt in Tang Sou Dao Ren Yi Wu Kwan, a discipline founded by her father, MK Loke. When not advising the Attorney-General’s Office on criminal and public law matters, the 37-year-old lawyer teaches the martial art.

The martial art combines the sophistication of ancient Chinese Shaolin tradition with modern teaching methods, the martial arts organisation says. The practical self-defence system will teach followers to evade more powerful opponents but strike back at will and snap back with powerful blocks and strike to attackers’ vulnerable points with close- or long-range techniques, among other things.

Loke said in her profile that she began training at a very young age.

“I don’t really remember much about my early lessons, except I probably wasn’t a model student. I recall being given press-ups and bunny hops regularly. My father had to constantly tell me to keep still and to keep quiet even more,” she said.


Related stories:
London lawyer clinches martial arts crown in Britain
Five Minutes With… David Taylor

Recent articles & video

Former Constantine Cannon and Robins Kaplan lawyers launch antitrust law firm

International Bar Association releases report on AI’s impact and ethical governance in law

US district court orders Iraq to pay former legal counsel for unpaid services

King & Spalding seeks dismissal of lawsuit over its diversity job program

Harvard Law reports decline in students of colour after Supreme Court's affirmative action ban

UK legal sector criticized for gaps in anti-money laundering supervision

Most Read Articles

Greenwashing action leads to $12.9m fine, dubbed as the 'highest yet'

Mills Oakley adds Tamara Heng, Jennie-Lee Schloffer, Tina Tomaszewski as partners

Dentons hires employment and safety partner Jackie Hamilton, two special counsel

Law Council of Australia recognises positive duty to fight sexual harassment