I want to say something about my teacher, whose name I know in English as Patty Li. I've been taking 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 read more

Are you a parent looking to encourage your kids (especially Chinese-American kids) to start martial arts? 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. read more

Sifu Patti is legit, and the community here is awesome. Just a bit of background: I started wushu when I was a kid and stopped after college. After taking a 5 year break, I hesitated to pick it up again. Most wushu places around the bay caters to students who are under 18, and that is not the crowd for me. I found Wushu West on Yelp and decided to check it out. On my very first class, the team welcomed me with open arms. This community has a nice mix of advance to beginner practitioners. I personally enjoy being able to train with other working professionals/adults. Sifu Patti is motivating and works with all of her student. She takes the time to warm up with us and she still demonstrates a ton of wushu moves! This is just my second month (tuition is month by month), but I imagine I will be coming back for the foreseeable future. If you want to try wushu for the first time, or if you want to pick it up again, you should definitely drop to check it out. read more

Patti Li is an excellent Taiji and ChiKung teacher. I have been attending a class mostly made up of older people like myself since February and she is awesome at working with us, always patient and encouraging. I have gotten so much benefit from studying these ancient arts with her, including better balance, stength, and flexibility, all of them especially important for older folks. And her classes are fun, too! read more

I started training with Sifu Patti about 2 months ago, after 4.5 years of practicing wushu in collegiate clubs. In just this short amount of time, I've been seriously whipped into shape. She is a great teacher, she gets to know all her students, knows how to encourage each of us and help us push our limits. And personally, it is amazing to have such a strong female role model. I wish I'd been training with Sifu long ago! The classes are as tough as you want them to be - for beginners she will offer modifications and obviously help you out with the movements. For more experienced students, she works with you to achieve your goals. Classes are run efficiently with thorough warm up.and stretching, then basics, jumps, and forms. Every class is a bit different, but always a full body workout. The carpet is godsend. My teammates are all wonderful, encouraging, and motivating people to work alongside. I highly recommend trying out wushu west both for adults and children, whether you are new or experienced at Wushu. read more

I have been training with Wushu West under Shifu Patty for 5 months now. Her studio is very spacious with tall ceiling and she has a full old style Wushu carpet, which is perfect for jumping and running sections and forms. I have trained at a number of schools over the years and in my opinion her school offers a very good balance between conditioning and the technical aspects of Wushu. Even for advanced USA Team athletes, Shifu Patty is able to push you to improve further on all the important pillars of Wushu. You not only get the strong technical instructions OG Beijing Wushu style but you also pushed through conditioning (and full forms). Whether you are a beginner or and advanced athlete, she is able to tailor her instructions appropriately for you to help you improve faster and more efficiently. read more

When and where are classes with Patti Li? Her website is down. She is awesome and amazing.

nicest lady, toughest work out. for the uninitiated, Wushu is an umbrella term for all martial-based sports coming out of China, with added emphasis on athleticism and performance. In short, it combines Chinese martial arts with Chinese circus arts, and the result is a series of highly stylized routines that draw influences from martial arts, acrobatics, and dances past and present. Sifu Hao Zhi Hua has a teaching method that's both brand-new and 500 years old. Her curriculum frequently tailors to each student's own strengths and weaknesses, and has the ability to seemingly draw from an insane pool of moves and traditions. I've frequently witnessed her pulling out esoteric forms and techniques on the spot for her athletes as they craft their routines. At the same time, she and her assistant coaches consistently update their training regiments to keep up with the most cutting edge methods. The school has a special focus on conditioning. It seeks to build lean muscles for fast and fluid movements, and it takes the focus extremely seriously. However, I've never seen sifu Hao demand anything with force - she's one of those teachers who pushes her students through edification rather than authoritarianism. She lets her illustrious past speak for herself, and is ready to kid herself at any moment's notice. The student body is as eclectic as the Bay itself. It's curiously free of the stereotypes that populate American martial arts schools; you won't find too many testosterone-driven bros, or creepy dudes in desperate need of cultural identity, or quasi-religious practitioners here. I guess when you have a nice lady who trains tough, the rest just kinda takes care of itself. read more

I have come back to wushu after a 3 year hiatus, and I was grateful indeed to have discovered Patti Li (Hao Zhi Hua) as a teacher (hereafter Laoshi). Laoshi has an impeccable pedigree of professional training; as a member of the fabled Beijing Wushu Team, she is unsurpassed in awards, accolades, and honors among her peers. A person might be the most knowledgable or the most successful, but without excellence in teaching, it's a talent left unshared. Laoshi, thankfully, is a sort of person whose love of the art of wushu is communicated beautifully to all levels, from the beginner's first day, to the more experienced practitioner's more advanced understanding. She pays close attention to her students at all times (i can attest to this), offering kindly yet advanced instruction, coaching her students at their own pace, yet pushing them to excel and ultimately meet not only their own but her professional standards as well. She has a compendious knowledge in the vast array of forms and tools of the wushu trade: competition level forms, basic techniques, advanced combinations, internal (tai ji, bagua, etc.) and external styles (changquan, etc.), short weapons (sword, broadsword, etc.) and long weapons (staff, spear, etc.), to name only a few. Laoshi is a professional with the knowledge, the desire, and the willingness to help me achieve my potential in an art form that i love. Modern Chinese Wushu is an art of rare value; a discipline of the body rooted in the mind and spirit. As a martial art (with the emphasis on art) and yet complete with practical application to the perceptive student, it is an art unrivaled in the expression of one's personal human experience. Its movements, a sort of physical grammar and syntax, -a vocabulary of gesture- could be compared to a symphony, a ballet, or poetry. It tells a story, one of balance, striving, contention and victory, and lays bare the heart, mind, and soul of its practitioner. Because of all this, I've found that i can't live without it. I'm grateful to study the art, and grateful to have found a teacher to help me explore the art, my self-expression, and my personal development. read more

If you're looking for a place that will still teach you the proper way to Traditional to Modern Chinese Martial Arts, Wushu West is it. Note, they do NOT emphasize the fighting aspect of the art, rather the ability for one to imrove their skills in Kicking, Punching, speed and agility...Of course you'll get to move like Jet Li does in his Shaolin Monk Flilcks if you practice enough. Sifu Hao Zhihua (Patti Li) Is among the elite in teaching Chinese martial arts in America. She is the most decorated female Martial Arts competitor as one of the original members of the famed Beijing Wushu team. Her and Jet Li were amon the group who have been trained under Wu Bin and Li Junfeng. Wushu West provides top notch instruction on most major WUshu Styles, and weapons training as well. Most of her students have excelled in their abilities through her guidance...some include being a performer in Cirque du Soleil's "KA" and also winning national martial arts championships over the 20 years of her teaching. If you were someone who's been beat up and wants to learn martial arts to take revenge or over-compensate for you insecurities, than this is not the place for you...in fact those cases, martial arts training is not the IMMEDIATE solution. If you want to take your body to new potential, enjoy learning something new, and of course look cool being able to do em, than this IS the place! read more

Disclaimer: I am a longtime student (three years and counting). However, this is because of her constant dedication to her students and the extremely high quality of her instruction. She is literally one of the greatest, most awarded martial artists in Chinese history, as well as a close friend and former teammate of Jet Li. I think it would be hard to add a review that is positive if you left, since you continue somewhere you really like. That's like writing a review for a restaurant you like, but never going back there. Anyway, I just wanted to disclaim that I still train there occasionally, though I also go to other martial arts classes around the bay area. Learning under Sifu Patti has been a great joy and honor. I came to her school as a near-elite level athlete considering audition for Cirque du Soleil. I have extensive experience in many martial arts and acrobatic styles, but no one has been as wonderful a coach as her. I found Wushu West after watching "KA" in Las Vegas, and was curious about the performers and their styles. I knew a little about wushu, having been a Jet Li fan for many years. Numerous acrobats learn a little wushu to add "flavor" to their style. Realizing she was literally right down the road, I headed in to train. I'm not going to lie- wushu is really difficult. I've grown more in physical strength, flexibility and mental fortitude than I ever did in any style of fighting or acrobatic training, and I've trained many times in China and Thailand. I'm faster, stronger and more coordinated than I ever thought I could be. The most important part though, is the discipline I've learned. It doesn't come from force, like a traditional school that has a uniform and code of conduct for superior teachers or classmates. You're split up into two groups- beginning/intermediate, and advanced. You don't need a belt ranking system, because you know where you are in the line up based on your skill. You can't advance in wushu until you become stronger, faster or more flexible. It's not a matter of learning a new form or memorizing movements in mandarin Chinese, simply getting better. You show up consistently, you jmprove. Simple equation. I can't say enough about the amazing instruction and friendship that you develop in this school. Plus, you get to play with swords and spears, which is pretty tight. Because of training under her, I've learned mandarin Chinese, travelled to China numerous times, and met movie people like Jet Li and director John Woo, as well as a host of writers, photography directors and actors in both the US and Chinese movie industries. I've made close friends with amazing people that have made my life richer than I ever though. I love this wushu, and I love training at this school. read more

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I've trained here for three and a half years now, and it is amazing here. If you want to train in wushu, there is nowhere else in the Berkeley area where you'll find a better coach. Patti is one of the best coaches I've ever had (and I've trained in quite a few places) and she really pushes everyone to the best that they can be. The other students and assistant coaches are half the reason I keep coming back. Honestly, they've become like a family to me. Patti can do pretty much any style you can think of and coach them all, in addition to choreographing new forms for you. The carpets here are China carpet, and they make a huge difference in working on basics and ESPECIALLY jumps. If you've ever been curious or wanted to try wushu or any kind of martial arts, I can't think of a better place to start (and continue) than here. read more

I've been training Chen style Taiji with Sifu Hao Zhi Hua (Patti Li) for 10 months now. I spent about 10 years trying all kinds of different martial arts and dance styles, including other taiji classes, but nothing has come even close to Wushu West. Sifu Patti has such an inspiring attitude and charisma. Her Chen style is phenomenal to watch, and she spends time every class giving individual tips to everyone. That kind of attention from a world-renowned master makes this a one of a kind experience. Classes are approachable for all ages and abilities, and also intense and well structured. It's a dream come true if you're looking for the best taiji or Wushu experience. read more

Because I've been a student here for almost 3 years, this review may not be unbiased. This class has been the only consistent activity I have done since about 8 or 9 years. Currently I am learning Baguazhang (8 trigram palm) along with wushu (straightsword in particular). For me, due to traveler's illness (working abroad with questionable water sources), domestic flu, then severe allergies and other conditions occurring one after the other for the past year, Sifu Patti has been flexible in tailoring my activities to fit my physical level. Of course, I don't like the fact that I have not been as strong as before, but I can still practice consistently and deepen my learning. For me, Baguazhang has been a way of tuning into my energy flow and feeling silent power that can translate into purposeful motion. On days that I am feeling stronger, I can do the more physically demanding wushu and straightsword activities. It has been helpful that Sifu Patti is willing to adapt to my physical conditions, balancing discipline and fun. Sifu is flexible to students, yet demands discipline and focus to the task at hand. This attitude is refreshing since in our modern culture here, in my humble opinion, mediocrity abounds without judgment. And no judgment on that, but I personally find a penchant for improving oneself via hard work and dedication to be refreshing. The students themselves are quite supportive of each other, and the class feels like a community. read more

I love this class. Wonderful teaching, help, and techniques. Either shiffu or kids help. One kid that looked to be under 10 thought be moves with the broad sword that I wouldn't expect him to have the patience to do. Definitely a need-to-do. read more

I signed up for yelp specifically to review Wushu West. Every time that I go, I consider it one of the best decisions I've made that week. Doing Tai Chi and Qi Gong always helps me feel more centered, more healthy, and generally like a better person. Shifu Patti is a hidden gem-incredible knowledge of the forms and their subtleties, the feel & flavor of tai chi, both martial arts and health applications, AND she does it all with an incredibly vibrant energy and spirit. To me, she's not just doing the moves, she embodies what tai chi is as an art. The class community is great, I've been going for three years now. When I first got started, the senior students helped give me guidance, everyone is very supportive. There's a big range from total beginners to experienced martial artists, young and old. I feel Patti is skillful in working with a wide range of students, giving everyone enough challenge and support to grow. I try to make it out whenever I can. read more

Whether you are a Wushu novice or have national team aspirations, Wushu West is the best place to practice Wushu in the United States. The classes are taught by Sifu Hao Zhi Hua, who is renowned as one of China's best National All-Around Wushu Champions. Sifu Hao Zhi Hua has been teaching traditional and contemporary wushu, taiji quan, and bagua zhang in the San Francisco Bay Area for over 20 years. Wushu West creates a great and fun environment to practice Wushu, students are pushed at their own pace and individual attention is paid, to everyone by Sifu Patti. Furthermore, their are advanced students who help with the classes to make sure that no one is left behind. Since I started practicing at Wushu West, I have made great improvements with my flexibility, dexterity and agility. I highly recommend Wushu West as the place to practice Wushu. read more

I recently attended an open house for Wushu West, and came away so impressed that I immediately signed up for both wushu and taiji classes. I'm working on increasing my physical fitness and confidence, and Sifu Patti and my fellow classmates have been a big help. The environment is warm and welcome, from both the kids and adults in the classes. Everyone is very supportive and eager to share what they've learned with a newbie like me who has never practiced martial arts before. The level of instruction is very high quality, too. I'm unlearning bad habits and replacing them with good ones after just a few weeks of class, and I can already feel a difference in both my fitness and how comfortable I feel being active. Training is intense in a good way--it's always something I can achieve and never unfair. The kindness and skill level of everyone around me makes it easy to push myself harder than I have before. I'm very impressed. read more

I might considered a little biased, since I have been training at this school for a long time, but I think I am in a good position to review Wushu West since I probably have as much experience with it as anyone else you might run across. Over 19 years of wushu, and having lived in China for 8 years training with a variety of professional athletes and teams in Shanghai, Beijing and other places, as well as having experience at several of the other top wushu schools in the U.S., I have to say that Wushu West holds a very special place in my heart and mind. First, the instruction is really quite good. Hao Zhi Hua's credentials are unmatched so I won't really go in to details about that. You can check the website for information on her accomplishments with Wushu. What I really appreciate is a strong focus on fundamentals. The flashy, jumpy stuff is only as good as your basics, and if you can't do a decent horse stance (ma bu) then trying to pull off a 720 twist isn't going to help you at all. Every class has a strong focus on basic techniques before moving on to forms. Second, the atmosphere of the school is really one of family. Everyone gets along and I have always felt encouraged and inspired by the other students at the school. I have been to some schools where it is all about the egos and the politics, and fortunately this isn't the case at Wushu West. Having a single main instructor probably helps with that, as you always have a person to default to should there be any issues, but beyond that a spirit of teamwork, camaraderie and mutual appreciation is always fostered in class that makes you feel included and inspired, rather than excluded by clique-ish students. Like any school, I'm sure there are aspects of Wushu West that wouldn't appeal to all people. You can't please all of the people all of the time, after all. But for me, Wushu West is and always will be, my original wushu home. Whether I'm training in other schools in the U.S. or training with the professionals in China, I always consider Wushu West to be my home-base for wushu. I should also mention that I never really appreciated who Hao Zhi Hua was until I had the experience of living and training in China. EVERY coach I ever had, whether it was Cao Wei Ming, the Nanquan King of Shanghai, Yang Laoshi, the head coach of the Shandong Wushu Team, Jet Li the actor, or anyone in between, has been immensely impressed when I say that Hao Zhi Hua is my wushu coach. Wushu coaches in China don't mind telling you if they think someone is sub-par (believe me, I've heard it about lots of people) but with her, even if they don't at first know she is my coach, I only hear statements of respect and appreciation. She isn't the sort of person to tell you these things herself, and it took a while for me to realize what sort of status she held in the wushu world, but I thought it was worth mentioning so that you understand just how lucky we are to have someone of her caliber teaching wushu in the Bay Area. read more

I'm a new student of Wushu, and I've only been working with Shifu Patti (Hao Zhi Hua) since January, but I can't say enough about how skilled, kind, rigorous, and excellent a teacher she is. She will push you as far as you are willing to go, and there is no limit to how much you can learn if you apply yourself. Wushu has challenged my flexibility, strength, coordination, grace, and mental faculties. Patti has a lifetime of experience, and getting to train with her is truly an honor and a gift. Her accomplishments as a martial artist put her in a league of her own, google her or check out her wikipedia page https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hao_Zhihua She takes a real personal interest in all of her students. She has senior students who help train, but she is really the center of the school. However, I learn a ton by watching her students. Everyone from kids to adults who have worked with her for years are inspiring to watch. read more

I began hearing about Sifu Patti while I was training Muay Thai & Boxing @ a gym in Oakland. One of my training partners would constantly rave about this amazing master from China that lived in the East Bay. Initially, I blew him off, as I was satisfied with my training at the time. What I wasn't taking into account was the fact that the Muay Thai training was aggravating my knees dramatically. At first I thought it was something that I could work thru. Unfortunately, the pain and swelling became worse and worse until I had to quit Muay Thai. I thought that I could make do with just boxing, but at this point my knees were tender to any physical activity outside of swimming. I began to get depressed at the idea that physical activity was becoming so limited. A couple months of acupuncture and chiropractic work helped to ease the pain, but I wasn't in good shape anymore. This is when I finally went out on a limb and decided to take Sifu Patti's class as another one of my friends suggested I check it out. Now, I've been an athlete my entire life. I've trained Capoeira, Qi Kung, Tae Kwon Do amongst other martial arts, but I was not prepared for the intense workout of Wushu! After the first class I was incredibly sore, but in a good way. I knew that if I continued on, that my legs would be both strong and supple. The variety of constant stretching paired with stance-work, aerobics, and strength building exercises was new to me, but immediately seemed therapeutic. After about 4 months, my legs continued improving, but would still swell up. At this point, I asked Sifu about her Tai Chi class. She warmly invited me to try it out. One taste of Chen Style Tai Chi and I knew I had found my martial home. The subtle elegance and power of the Chen style intrigued my mind, healed my body, and empowered my spirit. Since I started Tai Chi my knees have stopped swelling! It is unbelievable in some ways. These exercises are designed in a way that Western "exercise" has yet to contemplate. I feel as if I'm both rehabilitating, and strengthening my body. I am so thankful for this art form in my life, I've caught my second wind. In addition to the actual curriculum, Sifu Patti is a wonderful human being. She is courageous and fearless, pushing her students to embrace their true potential. Her class is not easy, but is designed to push each student individually to the best of their ability. I also love the fact that the wushu class ranges from 4-48 years in age, while tai chi is from 30-76! Finally, if you want a great workout, and have the desire to discover latent potential within yourself, do yourself a favor and check out Wushu West. Sifu Patti is a living and breathing catalog of martial knowledge, with something for every different skill level and age. I know I've said a great deal already, but I can't say enough good things about her and the school. Training here has literally changed my life! read more

Disclaimer: I have been a student for 3 years now, and come for just about every class I can. I first came to WushuWest 3 years ago because of a largely psychosomatic weakness I was trying to overcome. To be honest, I was the weakest physically in my life at that time (lost lots of weight inadvertently) and disappointed that I could not be stronger ASAP. When I entered WushuWest, Sifu Patti was able to customize the practice for my level and my needs. She knows how to help the physical body have more stamina and internal strength. When I was already judging myself that I was weak, Sifu was able to really support my physical and mental training. No judgment anywhere--a healing environment for me. I've been so appreciative of her teaching skills and constant encouragement. Students can definitely chat with Sifu about any health conditions or the class itself, she is very willing to help students. As a woman, I feel that wushu and taiji training gives a lot of inner confidence, strength, and beauty. I believe that in our culture today, this inner mental, psychological strength is fast disappearing with the constant instant gratification and distractions of social media and fast-paced technology. This class allows you to just focus completely on you and your strength, your limits, and your goals. With this grounded energy, I have definitely been able to take this into my personal life and set very healthy boundaries in work and play--making my own life more fulfilling. I see others around me who are less grounded, and thus are less able to take care of their health. It may not show in 1 year or 5, but the cumulative effects of not caring for yourself is, I think, self-evident in the health bills we see today. Take care of yourself, be quiet enough to hear your wisdom. I feel that especially for women, WushuWest is a grounded, healthy, supportive way to cultivate our inner strength. read more

I'm not so sure that you can find a better person to learn contemporary Wushu from outside of China. Patti Li (Hao Zhi Hua) is quite literally a legend in the Wushu world (and BY NO MEANS WHATSOEVER self proclaimed). As a former 3 time women's all around champion she learned under the guidance of Li Jun Feng and Wu Bin. As a member of the Beijing Wushu Team (along with Li Lianjie aka Jet Li among others), she was able to learn styles from the original families themselves. Some of the styles she is familiar with are Qangquan (long fist), a little Nanquan, Bagua Zhang, Chen style Taichi Chuan, Tongbei, among others as well as a wide array of weapons including broadsword, double broadsword (her specialty), straight sword, double straight sword, staff, daggers, emei knives, and more. I must say that it was truly an honor to learn under Patti. read more

I had a blackbelt 20 years ago. HAD being the operative word. Over the 20 years since then, I put on more than a few extra pounds and I have struggled to take it off. I tried gym memberships, diets, etc. My body seems to want to hold on to that extra and my workouts were uninspired. I decided to get back in shape venturing back into the world of martial arts. I've always liked Wushu, but I never learned much because my original style was Cuong Nhu. I wanted to learn something new, so decided to look into Wushu. I decided to search out schools that could deal with adults. So many martial arts schools cater to the kids and the whole belt progression thing, but I'm past that and I wanted a school that allowed me to learn at my own pace. She does teach children in the same class as well, but they aren't separated out into kids classes vs adult classes. The training facility is in at the Brotherhood Finnish Hall which has really nice high ceilings and a rather large space for working out. We roll out nice thick training carpets imported from China and those work nicely for my gimpy knees. There are no gis and belts for training. You wear work out clothing that allows you to stretch and be comfortable in. You do need some Wushu shoes though because the standard fitness shoe will not flex in the directions you need to be flexing. I consider the workout somewhat atypical of what you find in a lot of martial arts dojos. The focus isn't on drilling kicks, punches and kata continuously which you find elsewhere. Instead the workout starts out with a lot of conditioning and stretching. We work on cardio and flexibility before we even touch anything remotely Wushu like. Class starts with some type of cardio - either running, sprinting, jump rope, use medicine balls, ankle weights etc. I sometimes modify it with rapid walking if my knee is bothering me. Wushu is very explosive and requires lots of stamina and flexibility to really look great. The beginner class typically goes like this: After an hour or more of conditioning and stretching (thank god for the stretching), we work on the basic Wushu moves, kicks, strikes, punches, body turns, and combinations. In the Advanced class, they also do conditioning and stretching, but then they focus on their individual specialties as well as drills. Wushu isn't about sparring or throwing someone or drilling self defense moves. If that's what you are looking for, find another style. I won't go into all of Patti's qualifications, since it's already been done and you can find that information on the Wushu West website. Instead I'll say that her style of teaching is very supportive, but she also knows how and when to push. As I mentioned above, I have gimpy knees and she wants students to adjust the workouts as necessary which is great because it makes me want to keep coming back to class. I don't get discouraged when I can't frog jump 10 feet. Sifu Patti and her helper teachers also seems to have a good feel of when to give more detail to help you perfect a move or whether you need to just get the basic movement down. When you are learning something new, too much information can actually hinder you. Get the basic movement down and then perfect the positioning and body mechanics later. I love the variety of Wushu weapons that the advanced students are using and hope to get into that eventually. Results so far? I've only been going to Wushu West for 2.5 months and so far I've already lost 10 pounds which is still just a fraction of what I need to lose to be at my ideal weight. My chronic back pain hasn't flared up since I've been stretching more. I've enjoyed the training so far! read more

For years I have been thinking about learning Tai Chi. Imagine my surprise when I finally began doing research on options in the east bay area to find that there was a world-class expert teaching just a few blocks from my house! ANY level of fitness can benefit The class can be adjusted to "meet you" at your fitness level. By this I mean, the classes consist of people at all different levels of fitness and expertise with Tai Chi. But somehow, the "expert" uber-fit folks are panting and sweating almost as hard as us less fit folks. So don't be afraid to try it - everyone can benefit from these classes! But there is no doubt the classes are an amazing workout. Patti focuses as much on conditioning and strength as she does teaching the forms. I was coming off of long term illness as well as a hip injury and wondered if I would ever feel confident and strong again. After just a few months, I have regained so much strength! Mental benefits Tai Chi is an amazing practice that I find very soothing and relaxing (while I am sweating!). There is something very beautiful in this mindful martial art practice. My life can be kind of hectic, running my own business and all the responsibilities that contains. However, going to class always helps my mind relax and eliminates that frazzled feeling. Having been a meditator for many years, I am grateful to add this as an addition to my personal practice. Expert Instruction Patti herself is not only an amazing expert in many forms of these martial arts but also an encouraging and thoughtful teacher. She has a beautiful, calm strength that carries each member of the class. I commented to a friend that it would be hard to ever go to another teacher, once you have been instructed by one of the true masters... How did I get so lucky?!?! Community I would be remiss if I did not mention the amazing community that Patti has built and continues to encourage. In a society where life feels a bit fragmented and there is a sense of everyone being out for themselves, Patti encourages a feeling of community and support. Additionally, she has nurtured a "cadre" of senior students who are extremely friendly and helpful. Lifelong practice I started in July, so it has only been a few short months since I started taking classes but I can already see a long path of continuous learning and benefits from working with Patti. There is so much to learn and I see this as a lifelong practice for me. read more

shhh... i'll tell you a secret: my biggest goal in life is to be old and healthy. yeah, yeah, there's definitely more idealistic goals i can have: fame, untold riches, space travel... and believe you me, i have these goals! darnit, someday they will be mine. oh, yes. they will be mine. ...but the old and healthy thing seems like it should really be the main one. five years ago, i got diagnosed with rsi and the worker's comp folks shook their heads and shipped me off to physical therapy. having to go to physical therapy every week made me realize that goal number one was slipping away. something had to be done, or i'd be old, busted and cranky. i dabbled a bit in tai chi in college and figured, what the hell, see if it helps. internet in hand, i searched high and low and after a boatload of research, i finally found a fantastic tai chi instructor in patti li (sifu hao zhi hua). not only does patti originate from some of the finest martial arts tutelage in china (jet li being one of her classmates she grew up with at the renown shichihai sports school in beijing) but she's a great instructor who wants nothing but to have happy, healthy students. with five years of tai chi training under patti behind me (including one summer learning tai chi with patti in china), and hopefully many, many more years with her ahead of me, i hope to reach my goal with flying colors. read more

If I could give 10 stars I would patty has to be the most talented taiji master in the universe , she's very patient and really goes into depth of why some exercises will benefit your overall well being and flexibility , this classes will teach you tricks that are not just good for your momentary health , body and mind but you can carry these tricks in your pocket for the rest of your life all you gotta do is follow her and she will guide you to get better , truly an amazing teacher . read more

Well, it's been almost six months after my initial review. During this time I've come to know the school better and started to really appreciate the sheer quality of the instruction offered here. Sifu Patti is an inspiration. She is not only a master of her craft (and has the medals to prove it), but a gifted teacher as well. She provides all her students with motivation, energy, challenges to overcome and encouragement to continue. Under her teaching I've seen myself grow stronger, faster, more coordinated, and more flexible. Every single training session challenged my limits and helped me grow past them, physically and mentally. I'm getting closer and closer to my physical fitness goals - and even setting new ones; maybe I'll get my leg split all the way down by the end of the year. It is worthwhile to note that there have been several new children students who, in this short period of time, have all greatly developed in discipline, focus, agility, and strength. If I were a parent I would bring my kids here with no hesitation - it's worth it. The training sessions happen in a informal and friendly yet no-nonsense atmosphere that encourages working hard. More than half the time is spent on warmup, stretching, and physical conditioning, with the rest of the time spent on wushu basics, techniques and forms. Even though it's an intense, tiring, sweaty workout, I've yet to see an injury happen - this should tell you something about how well-designed the training is. Starting wushu puts you on a path that is difficult, but immensely rewarding. If you want to be in the best shape of your life, there's no better place to do it than Wushu West. read more

I've been training at Wushu West for several months now and it is far and away better than I could've hoped for. Sifu Patti is a phenomenal teacher who takes the time to give one on one for each and every student throughout the class. She's a strict teacher, but keeps every class fun. I came into the class knowing nothing and am already very proud and confident of the progress I've made thanks to not only Sifu Patti, but the more experienced students (both older and younger than myself). Everyone in the class is exceptionally friendly, welcoming, and helpful. One of the best things about Wushu West is being trained by the best. Sifu Patti comes from the golden age of Wushu in China, trained with the best master in the world and has won many gold medals. It really doesn't get better than this in America. read more

I have two boys, 12 and 10, who have just started at Wushu West under the teaching of Shifu Patti Li famously known as Hao Zhi Hua. They have been training here for less than two months and the progress has been absolutely astounding. They have taken some Tae-kwon-do lessons previously (beginner level) and even Wushu on and off over a year ago. They have always had an interest in Wushu but never have I seen the focus, determination and excitement which they now share for this class. Admittedly, I have seen their fatigued faces during class and wondered if they would throw in the towel and give up as the class can be quite challenging with some intensive cardio training, stamina building exercises in addition to all the Wushu basics. Surprisingly, when given the opportunity to take a break from Wushu class on hectic school days or when they are not feeling 100%, they have opted to go to class and not miss the opportunity to learn something new from Patti. If you are reading this, you most likely have already gone to the Wushu West website and/or read many other write-ups on Patti and her credentials and accomplishments. One may be a great talent and performer, but not everyone can teach. Patti has the unique gift of both worlds - She is an amazing talent who is an extraordinary teacher! She challenges and demands the best effort from all her students and knows how to bring out the best in them. I am most impressed with how she is able to intertwine both discipline and FUN into her classroom. Her straight-on constructive critiques are equally inspirational to her kind words of encouragement. I know my boys are in great hands with Patti, her assistant teachers and the friendly community of Wushu fellow students. They are challenged daily to expand their mental, emotional and physical toughness in an honest and supportive environment. Wushu West may not be for everyone, but if you are serious about learning this style of martial arts and are disciplined enough to follow the rigorous demands, I believe this is the best instruction one can receive. read more

My wife and I just started taking a Tai Chi class with the instructor Patti. We are both very much beginners and neither one of us has ever done anything like this before, but we are getting older and need to start moving more to stay healthy. This class is much more than we both could have hoped for. Patti says she teaches the "Chen" style of Tai Chi and throws in a mix of Aerobics a Chi Gong exercises. This means that every class is very different from each other. I know, Tai Chi is about doing the same thing over and over, but not with Patti. Right now we are learning the basic movements, the basic forms, how to move in circles and build strength. This all makes learning fun and enjoyable and a GREAT workout. Patti teaches you and pushes you and makes it fun all at the same time. So I say, if you are looking for a good beginning instructor and want to learn Tai Chi to help improve your health, please try out this class. I'm 60lbs over weight and I fit right in. ANYONE can do this. read more

As a nonforce chiropractor who integrates Eastern and Western healing protocols, I am always looking for ways my patients may maximize their healing potential. Sifu Hao Zhi Hua (Patti Li) and her Wushu West School of martial arts is an excellent compliment to all Western healing protocols. Patti's Chen style of Taiji, combines aerobic conditioning together with standing meditation and stretching exercises to help patients from 4 years old to 90 years old improve their breathing, balance and endurance. After just one month of training with Patti, my mind is more clear, I have more endurance and my sleep is more sound. Combining marital arts discipline with gentle encouragement helps me push my body to a level I would not achieve without Patti's guidance. Try Patti's Chen style Taiji and find out for yourself how good you can feel. read more

Wushu West offers much more than just exercise. The school and Master Li offer superior training, loyalty, integrity, and lifelong friendship and learning. Go for the martial arts, stay for the community and commitment to yourself and the others that you train with. I can't live a week without practicing Taiji with Master Li. She is incredible, inspiring, tenacious, and empowering. I leave every class feeling rejuvenated, relaxed, refreshed and ready to tackle all of life's challenges. So come check it out! You, your spirit and your health will be glad you did. read more

Wushu West is really great. I did it for 3 years starting in 8th grade, before wushu I had really bad back posture and was as stiff as a board. Not only did it help me stay in shape but it allowed me to really loosen up and stand up straight. Wushu West has a really good atmosphere to be around, every one there really helps you do your best and makes you push your self farther then you thought you could go. It is a great place to go for community, exercise and discipline read more

I'd like to take this opportunity to say that WuShu West has the most positive and inspiring atmosphere for learning that I've experienced. Shifu Hao Zhi Hua has style that's truly 'poetry in motion' in addition giving you the feeling that you can do so much more. Another aspect of the positive atmosphere is that other students are both polite and very encouraging. The students who help instruct are very clear and helpful. I feel that finding Wushu West to be a real breath of fresh air. Wushu is also very special in that it's such a nice mix of aerobics, stretching, workout at the same time studying grace and style. read more

I have just begun taking Tai Chi classes with Patti and I am totally into it! The workout is tough - challenging in the best possible ways. My classes have a very eclectic mix of people - experienced and new, older and younger, men and women. All of the students are supportive and fun to be around. The training itself is really amazing. Very empowering for women. Already after just a few classes I feel much more balanced physically and mentally. I find the class energizing and at the same time when we begin linking the different elements together that we have been practicing it's like meditation. Strength and beauty. Patti is a great instructor with a fun humorous side and she is an amazing athlete! Check out her web page: www.wushuwest.com read more

The tai chi taught here is Chen style, which is not the slow-motion geriatric style that comes to most people's minds when they think of tai chi. Every session is a great workout and they are very welcoming and supportive towards newcomers. read more

Master Patty is amazing. Hands down, probably one of the best teachers you will find, ever. She's really talented and seems to care about challenging her students but in a gentle way, not beyond their limits. I'm really impressed by Patty and how she's such a great teacher. That being said, when it comes to business and money, she is downright horrible. and cheap. I went to her studio for two months and she raised the price two times on me since I was there. Notice how there are never any prices posted on the website? Yup, that's for a reason. The first time I walked in her studio, her prices were $160/month for unlimited classes. The next time I asked her about her prices, three weeks later, she said it was $180/month unlimited. It's $25 for a single class, which is high. But get this: if you only go to class one time per week, the cost is $115/month, not $100/month! How does that work? Usually businesses will reward you if you commit to the studio, and give you a cheaper price. If you tell her you only want to attend once a week and not three times/week, she will give you a dirty look and totally vibe you. Also, if you miss a class, there are no makeup sessions, because as she states, "I'm always here. I still pay rent." Patty has been in business apparently for 15 years. She should have about 400 to 500 students by now. But she doesn't. She only has a fraction of that. I'm positive it's because she doesn't know how to run a business. Such a shame, as I really felt a difference in her martial arts classes, but 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. read more

2 things: I don't ever write reviews on yelp and I have never done wushu ever! I have been at Wushu West for almost 1 year now and training under Shifu Patti Li (Hao Zhi Hua) has been one of the best experiences of my life so far. I decided to start Wushu mainly on a whim and after searching yelp for a place to learn, I found Wushu West. I knew that from my first class that Shifu Patti is not just extremely knowledgeable but is also very good at understanding how to push you just enough so that you can keep improving no matter what experience you bring to the class. She cares very much about all her students and wants everyone try their best, push themselves to be better every class and still have fun. One year later, she has supported me and worked with me so much that I will be competing in an up coming Wushu competition. She instills a sense of confidence and work ethic that is extremely refreshing and I feel healthier and more centered in life in general. Definitely check out her classes and you won't regret it. read more

I have been going to Wushu West for almost 18 years. Almost all that time has been in the wushu class, but recently I've been half switching to the Tai Chi class. First, you can't really find a better martial artist. You can look up Patti's accomplishments elsewhere, so I'll just say that she was the best in the world during her competition career. Just imagine taking a basketball class with Michael Jordan, which isn't possible. Since Wushu is relatively unknown, that IS possible in wushu. Patti understands wushu and tai chi not only technically, but at a deep level to where it just come out of her naturally and automatically. Coming from an earlier generation, she also has great "old-school" style. In recent years, many wushu athletes tend to look robotic, performing ever more complicated jumping techniques. Patti can teach those too, of course, but has a emphasis on great fundamentals and spirit that are really what make a great wushu performance great. Another thing that might be different from other schools is that it's really her school and she's there teaching. She's not some wushu celebrity with her name on the school but the classes are taught by someone else. While senior students help out with some aspects of the class, Patti is there every time teaching, whether you're a 6 year old beginner, a 30 year old beginner, or the next big thing. She always tries to promote a supportive, family atmosphere in class. Right now the class also has a great group of kids who have fun and do a great job. As someone who's kind of over the hill now for wushu, it's great to watch them progress so quickly. The wushu class is an amazing workout. It will definitely get you in shape or keep you there. As I mentioned, I also recently started attending the tai chi class, and that is an amazing workout as well, but of a different nature. Patti's also an amazing tai chi teacher, and I think she may even have more fun doing that. It's such a great way to reduce stress and keep in shape in a totally safe and therapeutic way. I always leave leave the tai chi class feeling great. read more