I've been training here for about three months now and I highly recommend it. Everyone here is so helpful and very friendly! Shifu Zhou is an awesome instructor. If you have questions, everyone is eager to help. The location is tucked away in between several car dealerships so it can be easy to miss, but usually there is a sign out by the road advertising the free trial class. I really wish more people knew about it! It's my favorite part of the week. :) read more

It is with great pleasure I write this recommendation for Shifu Zhou. For the past many years, I have been looking for some form of exercise that focused on mind and body wellness. I searched and searched and tried many Yoga and martial arts teachers. Most people I met are either out there to purely make money, or even with the best of intentions, are clueless and not properly trained to be masters. Finally ran into Shifu Zhou about a year ago and I consider it my extremely good luck. In the plethora of martial arts teachers, Shifu Zhou, stands above all like a titan. He is a truly authentic Kungfu and Qi-Gong master who came to Seattle on a mission to teach the mysterious and powerful arts of Shaolin. I go to the academy 5 times a week and learn both Kungfu and Qi-Gong. My health has improved tremendously. My allergies are significantly down. My gut issues are under control. And I have found a life-long sport to play. When I was doing hot yoga, I was having at-least one muscle or joint injury a month. Frankly I was expecting lot more injuries while playing Shaolin. Interestingly enough, and knock on wood, I have had zero major injuries since I started. A lot of credit goes to Shifu Zhou. He knows each of his student's condition intimately. He is very patient and kind and takes extra pre-cautions to make sure that people are safe while practicing. I absolutely recommend Shifu Zhou without reservation to anyone who wants to improve their health and learn a life-long skill of Shaolin Kungfu. read more

This is a great martial arts school. My girlfriend and I have been doing some "extensive" research into traditional martial arts schools around our area and this school has exceeded our expectations by far. I have trained in other martial arts, such as, Tae Kwon Do, Wushu/Taichi, Shotokan Karate, and Judo - so I've been around the block a few times. On the outside it may not look like much, but quality of instruction is fantastic. If your looking for a blackbelt school (Fast, easy and quick promotions. Schools that are more focused on money rather then producing good students) - look elsewhere. If your looking to learn real Shaolin Kungfu then you have found the place. There's less focus on sashes/belts/badges/etc and more focus on learning the art. Master Zhou, the owner and head instructor of the school, was a 34th generation Shaolin Monk and is the real deal. Two-finger pushups and handstand? Check. Throwing a needle through glass? Check. Badass Moves? Check. Haha, in all seriousness he's passionate about martial arts and teaching it. He's very focused on proper technique and meaning behind the movements - so that its not what I call "empty movement". Many Chinese martial arts schools teach what is called "sports" kungfu/wushu where they are more focused on the visuals rather then the practical applications. You'll learn the cool moves and how to use it. Trust me on this. Give it a try. You won't regret it. :) Also.... does anyone see the Jet Li resemblance or is just me? :D read more

I love the adult wellness class. It's not tai chi, but it's not martial arts. The first two months I didn't really feel much of a workout, but then one day it just clicked and I started to perspire a lot. I guess i was finally doing the exercises properly so my entire system was working. The classes are relatively small ( usually no more than 10), so there is one on one coaching. This is one of the primary reasons why I prefer this studio over the 4-5 places I visited around Bellevue Redmond. The instructor speaks mainly mandarin, although he knows a little English. English speakers don't be shy, there are PLENTY of bi-lingual folks who can interpret. In fact he has quite a few students that dont speak one iota of mandarin, and they do just fine. His technique is beautiful. I've gone to studios where advanced students teach the beginner classes, and in my opinion their technique still looks rigid and sloppy. I won't spend money to have a student teach me. Master is extremely proficient and it shows because I feel a physical difference when he corrects my movements. His teaching style for adults is very effective. He first teaches you the motions, then he goes back and fine tunes everything (breathing, holding positions, etc). I really like the guy a lot. I've only gone for 3months, so I don't know what classes are like for more advanced students. If ur looking for Bloodsport style training, based on my experience, this isn't the place for you. But I have noticed that Master does adapt his level of criticism based on each students' personal expectations and their ability to execute instructions. If you're wondering how this shaolin style academy differs from others, I went through that too. What I learned after visiting the different studios, is that they teach the same forms-literally. The difference is the instructor's style, the studio's philosophy, atmosphere and what you want. This studio is about personal development and not necessarily competition, rankings, and advancing in belt colors. read more

Great place to learn authentic Shaolin kung fu, Sifu Zhou is very talented and is the real deal when it comes authentic Shaolin kung fu. He has an extensive background and many pictures of his time in China when he was at the Shaolin temple, has a lot of respect amongst the Chinese community around here as well. The classes are very good, challenging but keep you pushing to be better and better (great work out). Students learn everything from empty hand forms - weapon forms (Bo staff, nunchucks, sword, and more). Self defense techniques are taught as well, and are done in repetition so you have no doubt in your mind what to do when it happens. Each class is slightly different, you won't find yourself doing the same monotonous class everyday like some places around here. One day you might be doing more aerobic type things the next your climbing ropes and doing more condition, and then your working more on sparring techniques and throws. The amount of knowledge Sifu Zhou has is amazing. Great place for kids and adults and even the elderly in the adult wellness class. read more

I registered my 8 yr. old son and after almost 2 months, we can tell he really likes it and enjoy being one of Master Zhou's student.

We signed our 3 1/2 daughter up for a trial class. First off the class started 15 min late... second no one helped her at all! The teacher had three other helpers but my daughter was left out there with no one explaining anything. She had no clue and wasn't having any fun. My husband and her left after ten minutes. read more

Great way of staying in shape. I've been studying for 6 years and I can definitely say that I am very happy with the level I've achieved. If nothing else, it is a great boost in self-confidence. read more

My son has been going to the studio for the past six months. He absolutely loves the classes. We started Kung Fu in the summer as something fun to try, but he loves the classes so much and we are now signed up for regular twice weekly plan. The studio has classes six days a week that would fit in our schedule. read more

This is an amazing school! My boyfriend and I have been going here for a few months and it is great! We had taken our time to find a good school, and let me tell you there are not very many good schools out there like this one. A lot of the schools we checked out were "black belt school" they would have a lot of black belts but the black belts looked horrible. And don't think we are judging the school without know anything we both have taken martial arts before, I myself have gotten a black belt in Tae Kwon Do. And I feel like I have taken more from this school in the last few months that I have been here; then I did in the two years it took to attain my black belt in Tae Kwon Do . Master Zhou is the real deal! He was a 34th generation monk!!! He really knows his stuff and doesn't hold anything back, he teaches you everything he knows, cuz he really wants to pass on his knowledge of martial arts and for his students to be good. I will say I was worried about the language barrier since he doesn't speak much English (and I don't know any Chinese) but I'm able to understand him really great. At first I didn't understand but you can really just pick it up from watching him and he really tries to explain it. Now I've picked up some of the sayings so I know what he is talking about when he says them. Master Zhou is not about just passing students to make a buck he really wants you to learn. A lot of school have no substance but Master Zhou is making sure he teaches the essence of his martial arts. I guarantee if you stick with it for 3 months you will not regret it! So sign up, get healthy and learn to really defend yourself!!! read more

My stepson at the age of 25 died in 2011 by a drunk driver, then my son at the age of 25 died 10 months latter in a diving accident working for the Washington State Department of natural resource. My Heart was broken. So I sent a letter to Lei Zhou. I never expected to hear anything back from him, but I got a phone call what broken English not once but twice well that ended up with private lessons every Friday for a few years. He is the most patient teacher I've ever had, and has a spirit of peace around him. In my letter I said I wanted to learn the ancient wisdom of the Shaolin Temple which is "Qigong" it was great, the only reason why I stopped going is, I live in Puyallup and the class is in Bellevue that's 34 miles of the worst traffic I've ever seen and it only got worse with the road construction on HWY 167 but Lei Zhou is a True Shaolin Monk people don't understand the knowledge he has, I think he was around 9 years old when he accepted and started living at the Shaolin Temple with the monks. That's what the TV Series with David Carradine call Kung Fu that was aired in the 70's was about a half Chinese and half America priest from the Shaolin Temple (when they should of called him a Monk) was wanted for killing the emperor's nephew in the 1800's and a bounty put on his head so left China and went to America and he often would think back to his training at The Shaolin Temple when he was a boy and his Master Po gave him the name grasshopper that show was a Blockbuster. But Master Lei is the real deal. read more