I started attending Tukong Martial Arts this past summer and have been training for about four…read moremonths now. I wasn't sure what to expect coming in, but since the very first day, all the instructors, as well as my fellow student peers have been incredibly welcoming and encouraging. The school holds itself and its instruction to a high standard. It is evident that all the instructors at the school have a true passion for martial arts, and I thoroughly enjoy Master Ali's style of teaching. As an avid learner, the instructors' enthusiasm and expertise make it easy to not only learn something new every class, but also enjoy the training as well! There is so much knowledge and room for growth in Tukong - whether you're looking for self-defense techniques, weapons work, or philosophical teachings you can find it all here at the dojang. If you're looking to not only grow as a martial artist, but also join a family of warriors, I highly recommend trying out Tukong Martial Arts!

I have been training with Grandmaster Yi for over eight years now and my day feels incomplete…read morewithout training at the Dojang. One can distinctly notice the wealth of the curriculum. Grandmaster has a very traditional style of teaching but you will notice a very family-oriented environment for learning. Grandmaster Yi teaches compassion and philosophy along with the martial arts techniques. Without the philosophy, one can be a good fighter but not a warrior.

I've been going to this school for about three years, since the "bad old days." (just kidding)…read more So they just moved out of the room they were renting at the AACC, the one where you had to be careful not to crash into the glass display cases and the kids would track dirt on the floor so during class your shoes couldn't grip. The new location is fantastic! Easily triple the amount of room we had at the AACC and we don't have to worry about banging into anything breakable now. The ceiling is much higher so I don't worry so much about hitting it when I practice staff forms. There are also now stretch bars along the back wall and storage for all the things we didn't use to be able to have before: kick shields, targets, etc. And now that we're not on the tile anymore its a lot less intimidating to practice jumping techniques and break falls in the advanced and contemporary classes. The instruction is still the same as always. The material comes from Shi Xing Ying, a Shaolin Temple trained monk who now lives in Houston. The Austin school is taught by his student, Scott Pettengill, and Austin students who visit Houston can attend class there with the monk at no extra charge. I've mainly focused on the Contemporary Wushu they teach there. The only other game in town for Contemporary Wushu, I think, is David Scott's school and the UT Wushu club if you're a student there. Chris Tong (studied under Jeff Bolts, Madame Wang Jurong, and the monk Shi Xing Ying) is the contemporary wushu coach at ISWCATX and for the UT wushu club. If you come and take traditional classes he's a steal at just $30 in addition to the regular tuition, but if you take only the contemporary classes the rates are still more than competitive (especially considering how few people teach true contemporary) with everything else out there. His classes are still fairly small, I guess because they start later--around 7pm-- which makes it even more of a bargain since they end up almost being private lessons. Although I guess if I write this and it sounds inviting then maybe they won't be so small and then if I want a private I'd actually have to pay for it...but the more the merrier? I used to feel like such a klutz as a kid, I was a terrible basketball player, but I've developed so much more balance and coordination since taking Kung Fu, especially the contemporary class. I'm always spent and exhausted by the end of class. Its a great workout in a relaxed atmosphere from instructors whose pedigree can't be questioned.

My kid has been attending this school for a few months and we've been really happy. The instructors…read moreare very good and actually give out quality instructions. We tried another school before and the instructor never spent much time helping the kids who weren't doing certain forms or movements right how to do them properly. The instructors here will work with a student one-on-one if they see that the kid is struggling with something. They are patient but ask the kids for their efforts. They are strict with the kids (no goofing off!) but are friendly and fun at the same time. It's a very low key operation at a reasonable price. The instructor/student ratio can vary but most of the time it's 3-5 students per instructor.

Before we stumbled onto Master Yang's TKD, we had been shopping around and taking my 5-year-old son…read moreto various trial classes. When we met with Master Higgins for his trial last year, we sensed immediately that this place was clearly the winner. Master Higgins was professional, a phenomenal instructor and amazing with kids. We have also been impressed by how they have quickly adapted to the virtual platform during this pandemic as they have offered private lessons online to ensure that our son was learning his form and self-defense correctly, which helped him to advance through two belt levels so far. It's been over a year since we started here, and it's been fantastic experience. We have told many of our friends about this place and will continue to do so.

We have been taking our daughter here since 2016. We started out at the round rock location and…read moretransfered here since it was closer. My daughter is now a black belt and continuing classes. They have great out of school activities like kicking for miracles.

Michael from Shaolin Martial Arts is an incredible teacher with passion that absolutely pours out…read moreduring his lessons. I was a first time martial arts student last month and he led me at my level while sharing his passion of Shaolin-do through basic techniques (my level) while giving me a glimpse of potential through postings in his studio as well as showing a few himself that he continues to master. He also shared tidbits of Shaolin-do and Chinese history which was completely fascinating! He is the most passionate professional I have ever worked with in any field. If you are looking for a teacher, mentor, workout, friend, life balance, then I would put my trust and energy into Michael and Shaolin Martial Arts. He will take a personal interest in guiding you to what you want to accomplish and where you want to be. I could not recommend him more.

Outstanding school, Master Mike is an excellent teacher. Open for training in person or via zoom,…read morewith material that is life changing for adults and kids. I've been a student of Shaolin-Do since 2009, and am glad to call the Lakeway location my home school now. Strong program for adults, kids, and tai chi. The location is great, I highly recommend.

We have been coming to this location (NW Austin/Research Blvd) for 4 months now & in that short…read moretime there has be a significant change in not only all of our daughters' confidence levels but also in their focus & accountability at home and school. They always look forward to class & wish they were coming more than twice a week, this alone speaks volumes to the awesomeness of these instructors. It is like winning the golden ticket to find ANYTHING that all of my girls even agree upon more or less love. The instructors here don't just talk the talk, they truly walk the walk & are fully vested in the well being of their students. We had originally bought Groupons for the girls to try the school out, especially with the needs of our oldest who is visually impaired, and it was the best decision. Our daughter is the first blind student Mr. Maldonado or Ms. Azzarito has taught and it didn't deter them in the least. She received a lot of initial one on one time until she felt comfortable & confident enough with her basic forms & moves to join in the main class. They continue to find adaptions as needed for her but expect no less than any other student in class Mr. Maldonado is amazing with his students both big & small, he is quick with praise while still teaching with a firm hand. His upbeat energy resounds with the class & is highly contagious. Ms. Azzarito is incredible, she has a passion for working with people and goes above & beyond with the kids. We had an issue arise with one of our girls and Ms. Azzarito sat down with her to not only help her see how her choices & actions impact her directly but also those around her. They discussed cause & effect, better choices and Ms. Azzarito held her accountable, following up with her & making sure she has the support to help continue making smarter decisions. Ms. Bardin never fails to have a smile for you & has the patience of a saint. My 8 year old loves to ask a million questions & Ms. Bardin always answers every single one. Thank you!

Mr. Maldonado and Ms. Azzarito are wonderful teachers and really care about their students. You can…read moretell because they remember their names (way better than I could), make sure that all new students feel welcomed and accepted, and they make the kids feel good about themselves and their abilities. They make classes fun, but maintain discipline, and I am constantly amazed at how well they are able to work with all different personalities of kids. I could go on and on about their self-defense techniques, their concern with behavior in class AND at home, and the many times when I see the little students all the way from toddler to school aged reciting the Tiger pledge and speaking confidently and in unison. It really does choke me up to hear it sometimes. :) I hesitate posting TOO good a review because I want to keep them all to myself, but they truly are wonderful people, and the more kids that learn from them, the better this world will be!

master won & master park are such incredible and caring masters and people. its a real pleasure…read morebeing able to learn from them and be apart of their tkd family!

I highly recommend WWTT! My 10 year old tried 3 other sports in the past and they never clicked…read more Taekwondo has given him an achievable curriculum that has built strength, discipline and respect. The Master trainers at WWTT (who are Olympic medalists by the way) are engaging, dynamic and fun. There is no time to get bored. If your kid is obsessed with video games like mine, these classes will hold their attention & challenge them. In fact, the advancements from one belt to the next are like gaming achievements that they work towards however they are learning a top notch TKD curriculum along their journey. The location itself is very spacious & clean. We are so grateful for Master Park, Master Won & the office Manager Angela who together run a professional operation. We can't say enough about Won's White Tiger! Photo of my son breaking 3 boards.

After prepaying for a month, I walked away after two weeks. While I definitely need the exercise…read moreand I love Tai Chi with a passion, this school consists of one unacceptable teacher and his followers. He has very anti-American views and doesn't hesitate to say China or Chinese people are superior. That by itself wouldn't have driven me off as quickly as the rest of his behavior. He uses typical personality cult techniques of pitting students against each other, alternating praise and humiliation, etc. He railed against me personally, even attacking my balance which is poor due to a car accident, for ten minutes for asking one very appropriate simple question during his designated Q&A time when I was trying to learn a move. I was frankly stunned and waited until I got away from the situation to think through what had happened. I stepped back and looked at my experience in his classes as if I was an observer and realized what was happening. He claims to have the secret to longevity (Chinese alchemy approach) that he will share with a select few. Everybody else is a fraud according to him; he is the only true source of this occult knowledge. In the classes that I attended, he attacked Yoga, other Tai Chi instructors, former students, other forms of Tai Chi, America, etc. The only "good" according to his own statements is himself and those that follow him. He even talked about specific martial artists that he was sure he could beat up -- never had a tai chi instructor do that! Stay away from this school. There are way too many decent people and choices in the Tai Chi community to subject yourself to abusive behavior. Before coming to Austin, I have had the privilege of having world class teachers including the man who was the head of the Yang tradition at that time.

I have been a student of Jingyu Gu's for over 11 years. Previously, I studied Yang and Chen styles…read moreof tai chi in New Orleans, and prior to that, White Crane Kung Fu. What impressed me from the beginning was Dr Gu's emphasis on precision. He is careful to explain that you should not exceed your body's capabilities, but that you should do the form as precisely as possible within those capabilities. He doesn't talk much about philosophy or energy; he says that you must learn the form first, and that can take decades. Not just learning the moves, but training the body and the mind to unite and execute the form smoothly with perfect concentration. You are learning a comprehensive method of movement that is radically different from what most of us have learned previously. It is also incredibly efficient, especially when you learn to relax simultaneously. All this takes diligence, patience and time. While at times Dr Gu makes claims that seem incredible, I have experienced incredible changes in my physiology and psychology in the years I have studied with him. My body is more able to withstand extreme heat and cold, although not as well as Dr. Gu. I no longer experience intrusive thoughts or mood swings and can enjoy seated meditation, which has always been a challenge for me. And I have seen Dr Gu grapple with a man half his age for 30 minutes (informally) and stay relaxed and polite the entire time, while his challenger was exhausted by the end. Having been diagnosed at high risk for a heart attack, I perform cardiac stress tests annually on a treadmill. These are very intense cardio exercise sessions. I do not regularly perform cardio exercise, yet I regularly "pass" my tests with more than average scores for someone my age. This gives credibility to Dr Gu's claim that tai ji practice is as good or superior to cardio workouts. I happily tell new students that Dr Gu is the kind of teacher I never thought I would find--someone who truly understands the Tao and its application in tai ji chuan. The classes are very affordable, and if you are truly interested in learning and attend regularly, you may experience similar benefits.

I have been training Jeet Kune Do with Ray for a year now. The instructors and fellow students make…read moreit a fun learning environment. Ray trained under Dan Inosanto, who trained under Bruce Lee. There are now four instructors in most classes, so there is a lot of individual help with techniques, striking form, etc. I highly recommend trying a class.

I have been taking MMA classes with Sifu Jeff Parra for a little while now and can say that he is…read morereally excellent. Jeff teaches a mixture of Jeet Kun Do, Ju Jitsu, Boxing, Muy Thai, and other art forms that yields a very practical and effective style of fighting. On day one I learned a combination boxing technique and a few kicks which I was instantly able to transfer to a heavy bag. By my second class I had purchased some 16oz boxing gloves which I use for working the heavy bag. I already feel more confident and love the ability to channel my stress to a great sport. Sifu Jeff is very humble, patient, kind, and encouraging instructor and I can't recommend Parra Academny enough.