I wanted to take a Qi Gong class and made several efforts to inquire about instruction. No one ever got back to me. Very disappointed.

I highly recommend this Shaolin Kung Fu studio. My son started there when he was 5 and now he is 17 - a black belt and part-time instructor with Master Yan. I recently told Master Yan's wife, Joanna, that Master Yan helped me become a better father simply by watching his classes. Master Yan is a true master from the Shaolin Temple in China - something that I found out later on my own as Master Yan is very modest. I am so grateful for all Master Yan has done for my son and me. It's amazing that a true master from China teaches here in Alameda. And it's more affordable than any other martial arts place that I have found. Thank you. read more

I have attended this shop for about 9 years. My son just recently completed his black belt. By far this was the best experience I have ever had in my life. Observing the interactions within training even enhanced my experience as a father. I definitely recommend this for anyone wanting to see positive growth within the children. read more

International Chi Institute - Wendyira Seraphin Charlton-Davis - Qi Gong Near Me - Alameda, California

I'm so glad we found the International Chi Institute! My sons have been in the summer camp program and they are LOVING it. They wake up on the weekends asking if they can go to kung fu. They would rather be there than doing anything else, including watching screens, which is the highest praise from them. Master Yan is not just awesome at kung fu, but completely engages the kids; he is an amazing teacher. One of my kiddos is neurodivergent, tends to shy away from socializing, and usually likes to sit still and read rather than "exercising," but he is having the time of his life, moving and playing and learning kung fu, all while developing coordination, persistence, and gaining confidence. The summer camp is the best deal in town, includes yummy lunch, and for part of the day the kids do cool art projects, as well. Our family is looking forward to continuing on with kung fu at the International Chi Institute well beyond this summer. read more

Master Yan got one start, Master Chang got 5 starts. We have been taking my son to Kung fu class from 6/21/14 to 6/2/15, we goes around 5 times a week, you can tell my son is serious learning. for the beginning Mr.Yan was wonderful, when my son Evan was at white / yellow belt, he always said, good job Evan, but when Evan goes to yellow black, it was taking 3 month to get promoted, Evan was petty good with every step. I spoke to Mr.Yan about why he couldn't take test to get promoted ? He said because Evan EYE's CONTACT not mean enough!!! The school separates class by belt's color, two blue belt kids came to yellow black belt class twice, so I had questions to Mr.Yan, he was mad and said : "you can't copy them with fake excuse, your son don't need to have any belt test if you like to stay this class schedule, and you are the only one parent with a lot of questions ". I was shock and couldn't take his response, I sent him text about here in USA we have right to have questions and opinions. After that I never talk to him. and he never talk to my son either. it has been 6 month long. I have been watching Mr.Yan and found what different treats with his favor student or not favor student. I definitely won't recommend my friends kids come to Mr.Yan, my son didn't built confidence but built fear of Kung fu. He got third place at competition for his hard work. We glad we found good Kung Fu school at Pleasanton and San Leandro, now we are looking Master with warmly heart , rebuild my son's confident with Kung Fu. This year, they have new master Chang, he is great, my son like him very much, he got 5 starts. read more

Master Yan is an Extraordinary teacher from China. One of the best of the best and former elite touring martial artist with vast depth and a wonderful personality as well. read more

My son has been in the class for over one year. So surprised he can keep doing for so long.. He had tried another Kungfu class but could only keep a few months and quit. Master Yan is very good at teaching children.. He understands the children's feeling and appropriately teach when he sees their wrong and chat with them like a friend.. I like that he is not only teaching them Kingfu but also teaching them manner and attitudes! He also communicate with parents sincerely and try to meet our needs at our concerning of children. And his wife Joanna is also nice and helpful to us parents.. Surely recommend this class to people who want to improve their children's physical strength and attitudes achievement.. And they have classes for adults too. Awesome! read more

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Master Yao teaches Qi Gong - the basis of Chinese healing, Kung Fu and more. He is a superb teacher and his presence is inspiring. When I first started taking Qi Gong over a year ago it was primarily for awareness and energy but I was also overcoming a back problem and was definitely interested in regaining all of my former vitality and easy of physicality. I now feel better than I did a decade ago! Master Yao is a teacher that has tremendous depth and he is also a Kung Fu master at a level that very few reach. I also now take Tai Chi classes twice a week from Master Yan. He is also a superb teacher and I believe he is the type of teacher that few will ever meet. His skill level put him at one time in the top 10 in all of China - but that says nothing about his skill as a teacher. I have had quite a few high level coaches in other physical endeavors but Master Yan has an easy way about him while bringing attention to small details without hovering or pushing. He is the best teacher of this type I have had the privilege to work with. I have seen him teaching adults and children and his style is the same for both - it is really something to experience. I wanted to add one more thing - neither of these teachers uses yelling to raise attention or give emphasis (or make themselves feel or appear bigger). read more

My son have been in this school for over a year, and he likes it! We sent him there just for fun, but turns out a amazing experience for him. I still remember he couldn't stoping talking about the lesson he learned the first day, and he is thrilled to be one of the students. Master Yan is a fantastic teacher, easy to follow according to my son, professional in the kung fu stuff, and super nice to kids. Send your kids there, you'll be surprised by their changes. And yes, I recommend this school to kids and adults who are interested in kung fu. read more

I started taking Kung fu classes here one year ago. I started as a complete beginner with no previous experience. I've gone consistently 1-3 times a week and its amazing how much I have learned and improved! Master Yan is a true Master. He is extremely knowledgable and a fantastic teacher. The classes are serious and fun at the same time. And the work-out is incredible. It's a combination of aerobic activity, lots of strength and flexibility training, and mental focus. Doing Kung fu regularly has improved my endurance, my flexibility, my mental sharpness, and my overall mood. I always feel fantastic after I leave class. Highly recommend this school for both beginners and others with a martial arts background. read more

Master Yan is amazing with children. More patience than I could ever possess! He trained and lived in a Shaolin Temple in China and has been in the states for 6 years. Parents and children like him a lot. I am relieved we chose International Chi Institute. Not only are we supporting a Webster Street business but the program is not a combat style training with older kids being aggressive towards younger ones. (Parents with kids at other studios in town complain about the fighting and aggression there.) He does a girls-only class on Saturday mornings which is great. Support Master Yan! Your kid will love him. read more

Master Yan recently started offering Tai Chi classes on Saturday and Sunday between 9am and 10am. It had been a long time since I studied but took the opportunity to try getting back into it. Master Yan has proved to be an excellent teacher, balancing both the meditative aspects of Tai Chi with its martial roots. The hour long classes usually start with a good set of stretching and warm up exercises followed by some light Qi Gong before moving into the actually Tai Chi. The classes place just that little bit of extra demand on you each time to help push you onwards and make you improve. I would heartily recommend joining to anyone interested in exploring Tai Chi. read more

My husband and I love Master Ding's Tai Chi Class. He is a fantastic teacher . People in this institute are super friendly. We enjoyed every single minute here for 10 months now and DEFINITELY we will stay and grow up together with this wonderful place. Since June 2016, Master Ding divided Tai Chi class to 8am-9am and 9am-10am. This way he devoted more time with each individual student. Tai Chi makes us physically strong and mentally happy. The more we pratice the more we feel. Highly recommend this institute to everyone! Never be more sure about it! read more

I send my son here for Kung fu lesson. Master Yan is great. He is very skilled, polite, patient and good with both children and adults. Highly recommended! read more

I have never taken Tai Chi before. I talked to Master Yan and he made me feel comfortable in taking the class. He is very helpful and patient. I have taken martial arts before and it is a bit difficult for me to slow things down. Tai Chi is a great workout and takes great focus. I loved it so much the first time, I signed up for the entire year. read more

Having grown up all his life with his Kung Fu at Shaolin Temple in Songshan, China since his childhood as a student, as a teacher, as a national troupe performer and as a many gold medalist, he teaches his students with great discipline but child friendly manners. No flashy kick boxing kung fu to please children, but this is a real kung fu practice which requires certain postures such as low horse stance and bow stance to master each belt form. This is not a combating kung fu at all, and very disciplinary martial **arts**. Really they are indeed artistic in forms and movement. Of course, children don't really think that way. In response to the negative review below regarding the teacher, I truly feel sorry that the child and parent left with unhappy experience. But I can say proudly that Master Yan is fabulous teacher in his teaching. Sometimes adults or parents judge or expect things and that influences children's experience, and I think it is important to trust your teacher and communicate with your teacher. A few years ago it used to take 5-6 months or longer to get a new belt test depending on which level each child was, and occasionally it was frustrating for parents or children, but Master Yan had good reasons. Nowadays, it seems that he changed his tactics in how soon each student gets a belt test. And that is fine. Teacher is observing closely and doing his best in his teachings. If you are frustrated with his teaching, communicate until you get answered but do not expect what you want for your child. And yes, Master Chang is fabulous, too. Being an adult Kung Fu student myself, I can tell each Master Yan and Master Chang has each own virtue. Master Chang is a great addition in teaching more aggressive training etc., but Master Yan is very skillful in teaching every little minute step of movement in a way each student can understand. I think this comes from Master Yan's background of teaching hundreds of children at Shaolin Temple in China. This is really clear for me because I take lessons from both teachers, not just watching my child's lesson. For adults, I recommend this instead of Yoga! The practice involves "chi" - breathing in and out deeply as you move. It was a new discovery for me. read more

My daughter has been taking kung fu classes for a year now and she loves it. We love the sense of responsibility and accomplishment that the course has given her. The instructors are both Shaolin and are very skilled and patient. read more

Master Yan is a legit Kung Fu master. He is experienced in teaching students of all ages and is expert in adjusting his teaching style to fit his audience. Master Yan is especially great with children. I appreciate that Master Yan doesn't only teach Kung Fu skills, but also teaches the attributes associated with art and study of Kung Fu including respect, appreciation for learning, courage, and how to use the study of Kung Fu to improve everyday life. I highly recommend studying with him. read more

I love going to Tai Chi Saturday and Sunday mornings. The teacher is fantastic and is the real deal! You can tell that his class is very authentic compared to some other classes that I have seen in the area. The atmosphere is also very friendly and inviting. He is very patient and offers great instruction. In the past 10 months, I have learned Yang 8 form, 24 form, and 42 competition form. Going to class every weekend with my wife is a highlight of my weekends. I highly recommend it. The Tai chi class is affordable ($300 a year for 2 hours a week), fun, and a great workout. read more

we have sent our younger brother to many martial arts schools since age 5. Although he did learn the very basic postures, and was able to occasionally entertain the family with some "ong-ong-ha-ha" at home, he never mastered a complete set of kungfu techniques. As he was deeply interested in becoming as skilled as the masters in movies, we found Master Yan out of surprise. At first sight, Master Yan did not have the buddha belly many other "Shaolin monk masters" had in the studios we've previously visited. Master Yan's teaching style was demanding in attention, discipline, and physical endurance. We were very glad to finally meet a teacher who reinforces him to take things seriously, and take responsibility for his own actions. Shortly after 3 weeks, my brother already mastered one complete set of techniques, quickly moving onto another. Not only that, he was able to expand his attention span in school, be more focused at homework , and definitely seemed more eager to attend the kungfu classes because he was actually learning something. In comparison to the other flashy kungfu masters, Master Yan wasn't much of a "talker", he truly teaches and reinforces the practice for each of his student. In this studio, we can envision the phrase: practice makes perfect. we will definitely recommend this studio and Master Yan to our friends read more

Master Yan really cares that you're getting it. I take Tai Chi on Saturday and Sunday mornings and love the personal attention he pays to every student. He's almost "conducting" your moves with his gestures and breathing; "enjoy yourself," he told me. It's mind blowing to think that someone of his caliber is so accessible to begining students. read more

Having trained with Shaolin monks a few years ago in England, I'm very impressed with Master Yan's ability and teaching. Although the training is demanding he sets a good balanced pace. Highly recommended to anyone interested in learning Shaolin forms. read more

I initially checked out this place because it's close to where I live... and I have to say that the kung fu lessons with Master Yan are awesome! The one hour lessons are a great workout and I'm learning some kick ass moves. Master Yan pushes you, but not in a way that feels unrealistic or painful. Students warm up as a group, and then work on individual moves. I've never been into exercise, but I look forward to my twice a week lessons here!! It's really motivated me to get into shape and improve my posture. Master Yan is fantastic (and he looks straight out of a kung fu movie). read more

My son has been taking Kung Fu here for a total of 4 years. Master Yan is an amazing teacher. He is well known and accomplished in the Kung Fu world, and is in a lot of the Kung Fu magazines my son subscribes to. But more importantly, he is patient and seems to know just how to guide each child, with what they need. My son started Kung Fu class to learn body awareness and some self control, because in elementary school he was having trouble sitting still and paying attention. This class truly helped him in his classes, and I was surprised how many other areas of his life Kung Fu has influenced him in a positive way. He has made a great group of friends. Is learning about being humble and respectful, and feels proud of himself with each new belt he gets. Master Yan does make each child earn his belt, and it is not always easy, and I agree it should be that way. I highly recommend Master Yan's school to anyone. We feel so lucky to be part of it. read more

i have been sent to many martial arts schools since age 5. Although i did learn the very basic postures, and was able to occasionally entertain the family with some "ong-kia-ha-ha" at home, i never mastered a complete set of kungfu techniques.with master yan's help i have improved more than enough. read more