I was invited to try a class at this traditional Kung Fu school by fellow yelper Antonio S. It was my first time trying any martial arts of any kind so I was a little nervous and didn't know what to expect. There is a lovely old sign outside but no address on the door so I did feel a bit like I was being introduced to a Chinatown secret. The studio is on the 3rd floor, and is comprised of a bright open room with a traditional Buddhist shrine and a tidy collection of training weapons and old photos and relevant art lining the walls. Everything feels clean and well cared for. The back room is a casual lounge with a rag tag collection of futons and chalkboards and friendly people teasing each other in easy franglais. I met the teacher, a latin gentleman named Pierre with a red belt who has a kind laugh, easy welcoming manner, and a challenging and philosophical but still somehow playful approach to teaching. This school and it's students and teachers all made one thing very clear, this space and this tradition of Wing Chun is not a gym. Classes begin with respect shown to each other and end with 15 minutes of lecture on the philosophy and history of this branch of kung fu that traces its lineage back 1500 years directly to Wing Chun and the Shaolin Temple. The training was difficult, 2 minutes of plank is pretty hard core and that's just one of a series of physically demanding postures that require precision and extreme determination. But the whole attitude, from every single student and teacher, was one of welcome and kindness and respect for you wherever you are at. I learned that kung fu is a study of humanism and compassion and courage: the courage to face challenges that seem impossible, and the compassion to be gentle with the weak. I really loved the experience and look forward to going back. Apparently everyone is welcome to try their first introductory class for free so if you are interested in a kind of physical practice that goes way deeper than bulking up, definitely get in touch with these kind folks. read more

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I have been practicing traditional Wing Chun for a few years now and wanted to try the training here. I loved Pierre's way of training, as it strikes a great balance between techniques, physical conditioning as well as exchanges of technique. read more

Shaolin Wing Chun Nam Anh - Yin Yang - Chinese Martial Arts Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

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I came here for a trial class and was quite impressed. I used to take kick-boxing and tae kwon do and kung fu was completely different. Not just the stances and techniques but the conditioning was intense. Some people prefer getting straight into fighting but I found the way that they train is the best way. It starts with a somewhat religious ceremony of gratitude and respect. Then it follows with proper stretching for about 20 minutes. Stretching before and after a workout is so vital and I find that people rarely do it correctly, that's how injuries happen. But no injuries that day, despite one of the most intense conditioning workouts I have done in a long time. Then the real challenge begins, its about 1.5 hours long. You must hold your stances at all times and you go through a series of exercises, including the "plank snake." Everyone lines up in plank position and the person at the end must crawl under all the human planks, only to begin forming the next plank line. You do this as the line "snakes" across the room. Its about 15-20 minutes of planking. Pretty intense for a first class. And that's only the beginning. Oh and be warned, they stick to tradition so even grabbing a sip of water or putting on chapstick is NOT allowed. You must breathe through your nose to allow your saliva to hydrate your mouth. That is something that scared me a little, I panic if I don't have water or lipbalm. But hey, it's just part of the training, suck it up :) I had an injury so I couldn't do some of the exercises but they were accommodating. They gave me squats to do instead. I honestly loved this class and would happily join. Only that, at the moment i'm getting back into kickboxing and the difference in techniques can be counterproductive to learn at the same time. If you are learning another martial art, I wouldn't recommend this. But if you are skilled at another martial art, this will be a very fun challenge for you. I plan on joining next year. read more