It is a little-known fact that Bruce Lee was not just a kung fu master but a champion cha cha dancer as well. For anyone who has ever thought of following in Lee’s footsteps, Penny Gulliver from the Gay and Lesbian Martial Arts Club is offering the perfect opportunity to learn kung fu, kickboxing and even same-sex couple salsa dancing in a very inclusive environment.

Gulliver, who started the martial arts club in 1997, comes from a background in self-defence, though she characterises herself as a frustrated comedian who uses charisma to get people to do what I want.

Her students compete in regular tournaments and, although the club may be small, Gulliver says we definitely perform at an above-average level.

You don’t have to compete if you don’t want to. Not everyone likes competing and it’s fine for people to come and just have a bit of a kick around if they like but I do like to encourage my students to set themselves goals.

Alex Ariti and Delilah Slack are two students who have blossomed under Gulliver’s guidance. Both transsexuals, Ariti recently won in the Open Beginners/Intermediate division of the International Sport Kickboxing Association tournaments, while Slack took out the Open Weapons division at the Australian Martial Arts Association tournament.

Gulliver says there is a great advantage to GLBT people taking part in martial arts. Irrespective of the practical benefits of knowing how to defend yourself, martial arts offers a means for training your mind to achieve.

It’s a worthwhile thing to take part in something like martial arts, where you can get engaged with the community through something that is healthy, that promotes self-esteem and wellbeing and is not related to sex, drugs and rock’n'roll, she said.

The six-week introductory kickboxing course is more than reasonably priced at $60, and Gulliver throws in free kung fu classes alongside so that interested parties can sample both worlds before picking a side. For those who might not be interested in learning ways to injure others, there is the other option of taking up salsa classes which are offered every Friday night.

Whatever your choice though, Gulliver assures all tentative newcomers that the classes are filled with laughter and a supportive attitude.