I want to say something about my teacher, whose name I know in English as Patty Li. I've been…read moretaking the Friday taiji class at the Berkeley YMCA for about a month and a half My name is Rick, and I have neuropathy in my hands and feet, but Patty who I met at the Y suggested that I come to the Friday Taiji class. I use a walker for balance, and sometimes need to lean against the wall so I don't just tumble over But Patty invited me and I came. Since I started the class I have noticed a marked improvement in my balance, my strength and my ability to focus my breath and my attention in my body Patty is an incredible teacher, a master of her arts, who has been doing martial arts, since she was a child in Beijing. I didn't know any of this when she invited me to class. Most people when they see me and my walker write me off as being unable to do things, but Patty didn't see any of that, she just saw another human being with a willingness to learn, I think she's incredibly perceptive person. So I started coming to the class and have only missed once in about two months I've been going to the Y every other day for swimming and some weight training, but Friday has become my favorite day I do the taiji class at 10 AM, and then I follow it up with a swim It was very clear to me from the beginning that Patty is an incredibly disciplined person, but what I really love about her, is her grace, and the humor with which she teaches... in other words she makes it really fun. Regardless of different peoples capability in class, she works with each of us so that we can become stronger, more balanced, and more able to practice this beautiful moving meditative art form She is a treasure, and I am blessed to have her as my teacher, and the YMCA is blessed to have her as part of this community 老师，谢谢 Thank you teacher

Are you a parent looking to encourage your kids (especially Chinese-American kids) to start martial…read morearts? Have cash to spare? Great! Are you an adult who learned some wushu as a child, fell out of practice through your teens, and want to pick it back up as an adult? Try a drop-in class for $35, and then see if you want to continue here. In my case, after two classes, I found another school to practice with. I hesitated leaving a poor review because why bother with all these 5 star reviews stacked against me? But I remember why I use Yelp: to consult legit reviews before I spend money on any establishment. Hence, I feel the need to pen this review, especially if there are fellow adults considering wushu here. That one review that says Wushu West takes adults seriously and caters to them too? Maybe that used to be the case, but from my experience, not anymore. Flashback time! My brother and I were wee elementary students enrolled in Wushu West. I remember enjoying the class. For unknown reasons, my parents stopped enrolling us. However, that experience (along with kung fu class in Chinese school) built the foundations of kung fu stances, kicks, and flexibility that I have carried on to this day. My biggest regret was that I never advanced far enough to work with weapons. Fast-forward to present day. I am a young professional who can do pullups & deadlifts. For several years, I kept eyeing Wushu West through the internet, promising myself I'd go back. Stars aligned, and I made my first visit back with a drop-in class. The class was filled with kids younger than me. Where were the adult students that were said to be attending this class too? For a good half hour, Shifu Patti (mind you, I'm only calling her Shifu out of respect) lead the class through warmups, which frankly feel like a huge waste of time, something that should be done before class starts. It's just jogging, jumping jacks, some kicks, and LOTS of stretching and counting in Chinese. I'm here to learn, not to do warmups that I can do by myself. Even when you're doing wushu exercises (various kicks, spins, stances, etc), Shifu doesn't lead them. It's her kid students leading the exercises. They go so fast, I can't keep up with forms and sequences I'm supposed to maintain and follow, so I flounder along while watching with a mix of admiration for the kids, and frustration that I can't keep up nor am I taught properly on how to keep up. Yes, the cool student leader will stop and walk through it with you a few times at most, but then it's on to the next cool move...that I can't keep up with. Meanwhile, Shifu sits on the sidelines. I came back one more time to see if it was an improvement from the first class. The oldest student I saw here was a man, but everyone else was a kid, with the eldest one maybe in high school. My gripes: 1) Shifu does NOT take into consideration my experience and skill level. I am either doing kiddie exercises or floundering with being unable to keep up with advanced moves. 2) My second visit here, I was assisting moving furniture, when my shin slammed into a wooden part of a furniture. It hurt like a MF-er, to the point that I felt the impact down to my shin bone. I had a deep cut on my shin. Although it clotted quickly, it swelled up to a huge bump. Shifu kept repeating, "It's just skin, you'll be fine," when I told her that I could feel the pain in my bone too. Way to be sensitive. 3. Shifu had me sign a release form after I was hurt. Whenever I sign anything, I take a photo of it on my phone so that I can have the form for my records. Shifu Patti gave me attitude and said, "We don't do that here, you don't need this record." I explained I do this whenever I sign a form. She said, "Why do you need a copy of this record? It's no one's business." Excuse me, this is MY BUSINESS. As a customer, it's my absolute right to take a photo of anything I sign for my records. She gave me major attitude. I really could not believe I had to argue for a copy of my records. 4. When I said bye to her (after she had a conversation with a kid's parents and nicely said bye to them), she wouldn't look at me and then barked that I can't pay drop-in prices anymore, I have to commit to a monthly plan if I wanted to continue here. I simply asked her to remind me of pricing, and she just waved me off, snapping, "You already took a photo, isn't that what you took that for?" Bless San T for his Yelp review from 2013, when he said, and I quote: "when it comes to business and money, she is downright horrible. and cheap...the way you run your business is part of the practice.  And you can't ignore a shady businessperson no matter how great of a teacher they are." I wonder how many other people have left with a bad experience, and just don't want to write Yelp reviews. Maybe my parents took me and my brother out of this class because of their experience with Shifu Patti. I'll never know.

Maybe you'll have a better experience, i hope so. I found…read morethere to be too much yang over powering the space like airsucked out the room

Wudang West cultural heritage center is a community that I have been a part of since about 2012…read more They have provided me with many different resources of knowledge that have allowed me to feel healthier more confident and safer and more comfortable in my own body. The knowledge available through the founder of David Wei and his wife Najia are immense. There are many other people apart of the Community that help make it what it is. Everybody is so receiving and inviting and supportive. Be sure to check out the website www.wudangwest.com

For those interested in an incredible exposure and training from someone who has been training and…read morecoaching in such stylesas Boxing, Jeet Kune Do with an emphasis on what works practically, you'll find no better instruction through this man. Don't let the fact it's run out of his garage fool or disillusioned you in the least. You'll find no better instruction or experience than through Felix Macias Jr. If it's an easy "belt"progression is not what you're looking for, but incredibly (almost unbelievably) experienced, practical instruction is, start here. Be like water.

I have only been a training for 6 months, and have to say. I've been a avid martial arts parctioner…read morefor 47 years and raised. In the bay area, this is the place to learn how to protect your self with all the support and self confidence from the Head Instructor ( Felix Macias Jr.) Great outlook, fun and patient , and the second instrutor Sifu Tom. It's the real thing for street life situations in self defense that you dont get from any of the other schools. It works, and there just producing nothing but pure fighters ....men. and women,,,,come one come all,,,,,you wont be sorry......J.J. Mondays, Wednesday, days or evenings

I've been training here for about a year and a half, and by now it's hard to imagine it not being…read morepart of my week (which kinda sucks because after leaving my old job in the East Bay I'm gonna have a much longer trip to get to the school, lol). I had tried a few different martial arts classes before and never stuck with any of them because they were either too expensive, too regimented, or too hostile. East-West Wing Chun is none of those things. $60/mo gets you into all the class sessions you want, no BS. There are no belts and no uniforms; the class is set up such that Jasan guides you through the curriculum at your own pace, and along the way you're able to practice with and learn from every other student regardless of level. The atmosphere and the people are very welcoming and friendly; music is playing and people are chatting during class, and there are occasional fun extracurriculars like movie nights, class picture day, and a white elephant party. Also, self defense applications aside, it's good exercise (and easy to keep up due to being fun and engaging), and if you have a desk job the drills will improve your posture and help keep you from getting carpal tunnel. I only wish I'd discovered this place sooner!

Sifu Jason is an amazing instructor, great community, the curriculum is easy to follow but also…read morechallenging. Feels like second family

As I'm closing in on my first year at the school, I felt it a good time to convey how happy I am to…read morehave joined. The community of students here has been very welcome among both newcomers, veterans, and returners. I gotta start with my teacher, Sifu Philip Wong. It's easy enough to see his credentials, as there are many and well-published. What I did want to capture is how he interacts with the class I'm in. We have a spectrum of students across different ages and martial arts experience levels and he makes sure to get the best out all of us. He finds ways to get us to push ourselves a little more each day and is very present to ensure our forms are correct. And he genuinely cares about his students as people, able to connect with anyone from a variety of backgrounds. The facilities and gear are high-quality and up-to-date. There's plenty of sparring gear for different purposes; whether it's hand-held for punches or kicks, or padded dummies, it's great to have something for every need. And my thanks the top-of-the-line floor mats the school uses can't be expressed enough. As I'm pushing 50, making sure that the mats can provide me traction when we warm up, stability when we strike, and cushion when we practice falls is very important to me. I can feel safe, not worry about injury, and focus on the exercises. And bonus points for the workout playlist that makes me feel like a kid again.

Sifu Zhang is, IMHO, the very best Beijing-style martial artist in the Bay Area. She is extremely…read moreknowledgeable in so many forms of Wushu. But also able to demonstrate correctly and exactly.

I absolutely love Yau Kunk Moon Kung Fu Sport Association and seeing them at events like Chinese…read moreNew Year !!!! There dragons are the absolute BEST ! I can't wait to see them again at another event. I hope to sponsor them for my next event. https://www.kqed.org/news/11976974/crowds-and-dragons-pack-chinatown-for-san-franciscos-chinese-new-year-parade

Yau Kung Moon (YKM) is originally from Hong Kong, but in San Francisco, you can't NOT notice them…read morewhen they are performing on the streets in Chinatown or at the Chinese New Year Parade. YKM sports the Yellow shirt, Yellow pants, red sash and traditional striped red and gold leggings. YKM's students hail from the various family associations around the San Francisco Bay Area. Students learn the Southern Shaolin style martial arts and practice Nam Si Buk Mo lion dance style. I have yet to work with them, but have competed against the YKM students at various martial arts tournaments. Their sportsmanship, friendliness and positive attitude is what attracted me to them. Through mingling at various events, I've made some great friends. YKM is like one of the hidden gems in San Francisco Chinatown along with Leung's White Crane and Hung Sing School.

The two shifus put up with a lot especially from the younger kids but they're patient and…read morestructured. Also handsome according to my mother in law. Decent price and if you can make earlier weekday or late weekend classes it's not too crowded. Sometimes in the summer it's like 4 kids in a class. They basically do like 15 mins of conditioning/warm up and then the rest of class practicing motions. My younger one hates repeating the motions and just wants to punch things but he does a pretty good job.

Amazing shifus that teach exceptionally, very clean place and pretty big. The uniforms and shoes…read morefit very well with many sizes and the payment plan is really nice.

True mastery and discipline at this studio…read more. We have moved an hour away and will continue to do this drive 3x weekly because once you find teachers who care so much about their students you will never be happy elsewhere. I am so impressed and thankful for the staff here. They are INCREDIBLE!!!

Whether you want to become more flexible, improve health, find inner peace, or become a kungfu…read moremaster this is the place to do it. No place in Sacramento or the surrounding areas are more legit. The two teachers are Shaolin warrior monks from China. We are talking 34th generation Shaolin monks. They are intense, highly skilled, and as real as it gets! They are also probably the nicest people you will meet and they are incredibly great with kids. It doesn't matter your skill level, they will work with you to achieve your goals. I have been coming here for about a month, and I highly recommend you check this place out as well.

At first, me and my boys stopped by and watched their students practice. My boys felt intimidated…read moreand even said "Dad, they are way a lot better" referring in comparison to their old kungfu school at Merridian Ave. I am so very glad that I moved my sons from another Kung-fu school for three years to Shaolin KungFu Zhen with no regrets. I see the huge changes of my older son within two mos at Shaolin KungFu Zhen. My eldest is now more focused with good listening skills. Their Sifus are very helpful, patient, and always encouraging their students. The students are constantly moving...... Unlike before, my sons always reason out just not to attend at their old kungfu school, but now both are so happy and always eager to attend to their class at Shaolin KungFu Zhen. I highly recommend Shaolin KungFu Zhen. Stop by and check the school!

This place is amazing - Everytime I watch a class I want to sign up…read more It makes the kids want to practice, even at home and the master is fantastic! From 5-6 years old up to adults they have a spot for everyone - and everyone learns at their own pace. Many times the older students are set as models for the younger and it REALLY WORKS. My daughter has learned so much and loves it here. Thank you!

Best gift I've ever received. My daughter took the teen class and I will be signing my…read moregranddaughter up for the teen class as well. The impact and lessons are still with me decades later. Don't let finances hold you back, they can help with that. The confidence and empowerment you receive is priceless, powerful, and permanent. This is a life-changing experience.

Just did the 6 hour Day Long Intro class. I have zero complaints. It was trauma-informed, well…read moreorganized, well-run, practical training. And we had fun! It reminded me of a day at summer camp. Definitely coming back for the more advanced classes.