I came to Buk Sing at age 40, with no martial arts background, just a desire to learn Kung Fu. From…read moreDay 1, Master Shane made me feel welcome and made it clear that martial arts is for anyone who wants to learn. His classes push me out of my comfort zone in the best ways - I am stronger and more confident, and eager to keep learning. Each level brings new challenges, both physical and mental, and there's a great sense of family in the classes - everyone supports each other to reach their goals. It's the first and only fitness program I've kept up with for almost 2 years, and I'm hoping to keep it going for many years to come. I highly recommend Buk Sing to anyone interested in learning Kung Fu.

Trained here many years ago. Had the honor of being trained by Grandmaster Vince Lacey and of…read morecourse Sifu Shane whom by far is very masterful in the arts. If I didn't move to the Sacramento area, my children would be going here. Take care Shane. It's been a long time but feels like yesterday. Learned so much from you and I'm teaching my 9 year old son now.

MY martial arts has been a great institution for my son's learning he has been going here for…read morealmost 3 months and has seen a vast difference in his behaviour and his skills. Few reasons why I recommend this place : 1. he is professional and pushes kids to the limits, with having mixed kids in groups he has a curriculum setup that teaches kids at his level of workout/skills. 2. He has a belt test/review every week to keep kids encouraged . 3. not. only focus on kids workout but also on behaviour skills. 4. Have multiple slots to pick. I would say all kids should atleast to keep them calm and learn discipline.

After having our 5yr old daughter take a few classes here, my husband and I decided to pull her out…read morefor many reasons: -Children are not grouped together per skill level. Our white belt kindergartener was mixed with kids more than twice her age with colored belts. As a result, she had a hard time keeping up with exercises and warm ups. The class would always be on hold until our little one would catch up on a certain routine. Some of the older kids would either look annoyed or laugh while our child would be put on the spot. The instructor would just stand there in awkward silence and would not even walk her through routines. -The instructor would rarely show examples of what he wanted a child to do. He would have them practice by saying the name of kick/punch type and expected them to perform on command. How is a newly enrolled 5year old supposed to succeed with this type of teaching method? -Instructor also made step by step instructions (no pictures) of routines that were laminated and placed on the floor. Children would do rotations and practice on their own while he just stood and observed. As a reminder, my child was 5years old at the time and had just started kindergarten. As intelligent as I know my daughter is, she is not capable of reading lengthy paragraphs. -In one class (the FINAL class), my daughter was obviously having a hard time and was holding in her tears. The instructor said out loud, "Are you going to cry? It looks like you are." Dead silence filled the room as all the students stared at her. My brave little girl managed to keep her cool even though her eyes were watery. She managed to finish off the last few minutes of class with dignity. But the Mama Bear in me just wanted to slap the instructor in the face. He's lucky that I was carrying a sleeping baby in my arms, because I would have. He's even luckier they my husband had work that day because all hell would have broken loose! -Two weeks after her last class, the instructor called my phone to check up on my daughter since he noticed she stopped showing up.I told him that she was unhappy there and that we found a new MMA center for her. He did not even ask what the problem was or even offer to give me a refund (following month was prepaid). At that point, I didn't care about the wasted money. I just wanted my child to be free of his horrible school. Overall, I do not recommend this school/instructor for children of any age or level. The instructor/owner seems to be very lazy and grumpy towards the children. I always questioned his credibility since he never really showed examples in the 6 classes that we attended. I wouldn't be surprised if he bought a phony black belt and scammed people of his credentials. A CHILD WOULD BE BETTER OFF LEARNING TAE KWON DO FROM YOUTUBE. Please ask yourself why there aren't any recent positive reviews on this guy before you make the horrible mistake of having him traumatize your child's interest in martial arts. Granted, the cost of his program is more affordable than other local schools.... which is still not worth it. About a year has past, and my daughter is THRIVING at her new MMA school where instructors make learning fun and engaging. They are exemplary at their art and display expertise and knowledge in all forms of MMA including Tae Kwon Do, Jujitsu, Eskrima, Krav Maga, etc. I am pleased to say that she will be testing for her orange-advanced belt next month. I plan to write an awesome review for this school in the near future. Stay tuned...

Great class. High energy and very patient teachers for all levels. They take the time to answer…read morequestions demonstrate and focus students to achieve their best.

it's a great place to learn selfdefense and meet other. I have made some friends while I have been…read morethere. it's a great place to send kids.

I absolutely love being a part of the dragon rhythm kung fu family. My two sons and myself have…read morejoined the dragon rhythm family. The Shifu's here are extremely dedicated and committed to their students. They pay such close attention to detail and are always assisting and helping the students to perfect their form. This school is filled with talented people and I highly advise anyone who is looking for a school to transform their child to a disciplined, focused and centered human being. My two kids have so much confidence in themselves. I myself has noticed such a difference in my fitness level. Thank you Shifu's for all your hard work. God bless you!!

The Masters here are great! Currently my 5yo son goes here and he is enjoying the lessons. The…read morelessons are very creative. They mix up the trainings to keep it interesting for the kids but they also maintain consistency so that he can learn at his own comfortable pace. They help every child learn at the pace that they are comfortable with.

Enable your child to learn from the best and enroll them in Zhang Kung Fu Institute! Led by Master…read moreSteven Zhang (Zhang Shifu), children will learn basic skills for flexibility, balance, strength, agility, discipline, self-defense, and weapon proficiency. His experience in various forms of kung fu is unmatched and invaluable to the development of the next generation of kung fu practitioners. There are two tracks of development: traditional belt progression and competition/demo team. Most students will likely start in the traditional belt progression track which consists of learning and performing routines involving various weapons (e.g., fists, sword, staff, daggers, spear, whip chain). Upon gaining proficiency through training, each child will be asked to perform their routine and be assessed for a belt promotion. From one class a week or more, each student should be able to naturally progress (even better if they practice some at home). For the students whom are dedicated to the art and desire to further advance their technique and skills, they may be invited to join the competition/demo team. This subgroup will participate in additional classes to prepare for regional, national, and international competitions and events. In addition to weapon mastery and competition routines, the demo squad will expand on their acrobatics and stances. What distinguishes Zhang Kung Fu Institute from other schools is that a lot of the emphasis is placed on building up the fundamentals which support all forms and routines later on. This is especially important when your child is starting young. Zhang Shifu is routinely invited to judge some of the more well established competitions and has an eye for what will maximize a performance's score. Furthermore, the routines are made available through their website for current students to support at-home training. And most important for us busy parents is that the team is very good at communicating with parents on progress, updates, potential competition and performance opportunities, etc. They make it easy to support our kids' growth and development in the sport. Typical classes start with some warm ups and then the skill or routine of the day. Sprinkled in throughout the class will be fun games that help the students harness a skill or technique natively. For example, they may have sword fighting as an exercise to teach better weapon control and footwork, light sparring with gloves to promote evasive maneuvers and blocking, or line exercises to train agility and strength. In addition to Zhang Shifu, there will be a few student teachers (typically high school students who have trained for years under Zhang Shifu) who will help with the classes. The student-teacher ratio is pretty good - probably about 4-6 students per teacher. Also they have summer classes so if you're looking to give it a try or build a skill, these are great options. Inquire about trial classes too. Typically, they take kids about 4.5 years old and up. My child has been studying under Zhang Shifu for nearly 2 years now and has made leaps and bounds thanks to Zhang Shifu's attention to the fundamentals and encouragement to improve.

Both of my children have been practicing at Zhang Kungfu Institute for a long time, and they both…read morelove it. Every instructor is very professional, extremely friendly, and patient with the children. The classes are divided into different levels of professional training. The training not only focuses on Kungfu movements but also exercises the children's bodies and builds their confidence. In addition to the primary curriculum, the children also have many opportunities to participate in performances and competitions, providing them with more opportunities to showcase their talents. I am very grateful for the patient guidance of each instructor, and my children truly enjoy their kung fu classes. Student Feedback ( if I can make 10 stars): Suitable for ages four and above, enjoyable, professional movements, physical exercise, and making good friends. Teacher Evaluation (if I can make 10 stars): Professional guidance, patience, and friendliness with children. Parent Feedback (if I can make 10 stars): Excellent communication with the instructors, transparent and prompt responses to any questions. I highly recommend Zhang Kungfu Institute. The children will learn and enjoy themselves there.

Grandmaster Take Yun Kim's training was a very positive influence in my life, I enrolled for 3yrs…read moreback when they were in Milpitas. Unfortunately I had to quit due to my car accident/injury and my move out of the area. But let me tell you, I've been to most of the independent schools in the area and found no other school that could compare. But the expression YMMV definitely applies here, I've read a few negative feedbacks here and I'm sorry that it didn't work for you, and some folks complained about them being pricey and upsell $$. Even back then they were more costly than other schools but I realized after my first 3 months that the training was worth every penny. What I learned there was far more profound than kicks and punches, it helped me overcome adversity in life and ability to push through obstacles. I think it was undervalued for what you learned. So if you are considering joining, don't base your opinion on just a few visits, dedicate yourself to it for at least 3 months before you decide.

This is one of the few (if not only) studios in the East Bay that offers classes in PARKOUR. Yes,…read moreyou heard me right, ladies and gents. I said parkour. Now, what is parkour, do you ask? Well, I'm sure many of you have seen the movie, Casino Royale, and remember the spectacular scene at the beginning, with James Bond chasing the bombmaking baddie over, under, and through the expansive landscape. A select few of you may have even witnessed the jaw-dropping French actioner, Banlieue (District B) 13. THAT is parkour, my friends. For a better definition, we must quote Wikipedia. "Parkour (the art of displacement) is an activity with the aim of moving from one point to another as efficiently and quickly as possible, using principally the abilities of the human body. It is meant to help one overcome obstacles, which can be anything in the surrounding environment--from branches and rocks to rails and concrete walls--and can be practiced in both rural and urban areas." For years, I have been honing my skill on the streets and the local parks, with no professional guidance, and virtually no safety equipment in the event that I make a mistake. I have perfected this craft as best to my abilities given the limited resources, and thankfully, have not sustained any major injuries. However, wanting to take it to the next level, I was elated to find this spot that offers a clean, safe environment for this aspiring urban ninja. The class is taught by martial arts master extraordinaire, and all around bad @$$, Palmer, who is well versed in gymnastics, tricking, tae kwon do, and of course, parkour. Come check it out every Saturday afternoon from 3 to 6 pm, and you will be tearing up this vast concrete jungle we call the Bay Area before long, just like these guys (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmVsa1SFgfU). And ladies (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-Mqq0Z7eg0) are always welcome as well!

Ichimura-Sensei and his team of amazing instructors are simply amazing. You can see and feel their…read morededication to make every student get better in their techniques and themselves. Sure, they may be tough at times but martial arts is a discipline and it's exactly what you need to get better in Kendo.

This year is my second year learning Kendo from Ichimura Sensei. I never expected that I'd be…read moreenjoying this for so long. I learned that there is a Kendo class running through City. I hesitated to register due to my overwhelming work schedule. My wife saw me being too stressed out with workload and burnout and then kept encouraging me to join the class. I gave it a try expecting to learn for two months. That decision totally changed my life. Without Ichimura Sensei, I wouldn't have continued Kendo until now. He is such a man of immense integrity. He is not only an exceptional teacher but an amazing mentor to me. His teaching principles are unique and he always directs and encourages us to improve and train harder. As a result of my hard work out, my health is much better and I am able to control the stress at work as well. The best part of the class is that I never realized how much I can really do. I'm not exactly physically fit but this class motivates me to be better. I never thought that I was strong enough or fast enough and the class motivates me to always do better. It affects my work, further, my whole daily life. A year later, I enrolled my little son since he had shown interests on Kendo and jealous of me wearing uniform and mask. I used to spend little time with him due to my work, so I just took him to my class to spend time together. At his very first day, he LOVED Ichimura Sensei's class more than I did. He's learned etiquette and proper posture. He's gained a lot of confidence since he started Kendo. My son and I try to practice together whenever we meet at night or weekend. He is happy to be with me and it motivates me to practice harder to teach him. Kendo has truly helped develop strong father-son relationship. There are a few guys who always bring their sons to the class like me. My son became friends with those kids. Our little kids are always happy to get together at practice. It can really help strengthen a father and son bond. I can't imagine my life without Kendo. I highly recommend Ichimura sensei's class to anyone.

They are great with kids and they teach well and the benefits in regards to the discipline are top…read morenotch! I would highly recommend them for young ones!

Looking for a great Chinese martial arts experience for your young ones? Legend Kung Fu Academy…read morewill incorporate training self defense, discipline, and traditional wushu techniques for kids as young as 5. Give their trail class a go and see for yourself! We have been attending the academy for about 2 years now and have been satisfied with our experience so far. There are some painpoints but they aren't unique to Legend. Legend follows a traditional belt promotion structure where students will start from a white belt, then continue to promote to yellow, yellow black, green, green black, purple, purple black, blue, blue black, brown, brown black, red, red black, red double black, black, black red, then finally black double red. Each promotion requires with an increasing amount of skills and typically a new series of hand and weapon forms and sequences. Promotions are typically held once a month and students deemed ready are invited to participate. The promotion events are quite interesting as each student will take the floor to perform their sequence, gain feedback from the instructors, and compete at times for higher ranks (for small little prizes like medals, trophies, sweets or toys). It's a wonderful experience for the students to build confidence and surround themselves with other like-minded students driven toward the same goal of moving up to the next level. For students who are looking to participate in local, national, and international competitions for kung fu or wushu will have the opportunity to elevate themselves into Legend's competition team. This group focuses on building skills and techniques necessary to compete at a high level against other schools. Students in this team would also typically have additional classes that may be longer than the normal non-competitive group. The class structure for the typical student can be challenging to master the techniques without regular practice outside of class. Each class is about 45 minutes long and over half of it is spent on warm ups, stretches, games designed to improve footwork and speed, and fundamental skills like jumping, rolling, blocking, kicking and punching. The remainder of the time is split among all the different sequences. To add, the class ratio can sometimes be abysmal but other times can be fair. Realistically, your child may get 2 to 3 minutes of dedicated instruction for their routine. If only attending class once a week, practice for that routine will need to be heavily subsidized by outside training in order retain the knowledge and promote incremental improvements. It's mostly recommended to attend twice a week for best results but the cost can rack up quickly. An alternative to growth is to sign up for their summer camps which tend to focus solely on their routine for a whole week. By the end of the week, theoretically the student should have enough experience to get promoted to the next level. They have full and half day programs during the summer so check them out! One thing Legend does do really well is incorporate fun into their programs. The kids certainly have a great time and have ample opportunities to bond with their classmates and instructors. The academy also participates in local community events and performs at local schools to promote the art of wushu so there are plenty of opportunities for your child to get exposure in a public performance setting. In addition, given that a few of the instructors (Shifu Li and Shifu Zhou) speak Mandarin fluently, upon request, they may be able to provide instruction in Mandarin for your Mandarin learners. Otherwise English will be used. Overall, if you're looking for a well balanced physical activity for your child with the opportunity to learn some self protection and body control, Legend Kung Fu Academy is a great institute to consider!