Fantastic teachers and lots of patience with younger students. I've never seen my kids (ages 6, 9) more focused, and I love that they can be in the same class! read more

2 years in. My son stuck with it and made great progress. It not only teaches him self defense, but confidence, discipline and coordination. This place is becoming a place he loves coming to. Shout out to all the ShiFus! read more

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My three children have been going here for almost five years now, progressing from white belt to yellow, yellow-black, green, green-black, purple, purple-black, and now blue belt. We move up a color each year--it could be faster, but I don't want to rush it because I find the sparring sessions very helpful. The kids love it, and the instructors are fun and well-structured. Highly recommended! read more

USA Kung Fu Studio - Tai Chi Near Me - Alameda, California

Love, love, LOVE this place! My 4 year old has been going for over a year now - and never missed a class! She can be a bit shy sometimes but the teachers are so lovely and patient with her and she has forgotten about her shyness after 5 minutes tops. I am always amazed about how well those young guys work with the small children. She can't wait for the next class and sometimes even asks me on the way home when we will go again :-D read more

My child has been taking Kung Fu lessons here for almost five years and we absolutely love it! The owner is incredibly skilled and caring (and has a great sense of humor) and hires junior instructors who are outstanding. The test to move up a belt is the real deal: students must defend themselves (one of the instructors attempts to "attack" them and they must respond by using one of the self defense moves they've learned), perform the memorized routine associated with the belt color/level they are testing for, and break a board in half (in different ways depending on the level). Additionally, I love the fact that when students test for the next belt, parents complete a form that asks them to rate how their child is doing with regard to chores, attitude, respect, discipline, etc. Each child must stand up in front of the other students who are testing (and the parents watching) as the Sifu (teacher or master) reviews their form aloud. If a parent marks that their child "needs improvement" in an area, a Sifu asks them to stay after to discuss how to improve. Although the public aspect of this review might sound a bit intimidating, it's done in a loving and often humorous way that provides each child with a gentle push in the right direction while acknowledging the child for what they are doing well. So along with teaching important self defense skills, coordination, and discipline, this school focuses on students' character development and responsibility to their community and families. Watching the positive effect this journey has had on my child has been a joy and made me want to learn Kung Fu myself! It has also given me some peace of mind because I know that my child is learning how to defend themselves in powerful ways should the need ever arise. (And in Kung Fu the emphasis is on defense; students are taught never to be the aggressor.) read more

I was there to see my nephew practicing his kung fu. He is a white belt working his way to a yellow. The coaches are patient with handling the kids. The coach that was teaching his group was nice and funny. It helped to entertain the kids so their attention is still on the practice. The session is 45 minutes. The parents sit behind a window to watch their kids practice. A large place for many different levels to practice in one place. read more

Highly organized, overwhelming positive and energetic. As a coach of little ones myself, it's incredibly difficult to keep them engaged for more than 10 mins at a time. The instructors at USA Kung Fu do that and then some. They know all of the students names. They give praise and compliments, reinforcing confidence at all ages. My friend told us for two years it was worth the trek from Berkeley/Albany area and she wasn't wrong. My top 3 fav things are organized, little down time in between drills and value (under $200 per month for unlimited sessions). Bonus, they check temps at the door and all instructors wear masks. read more

USA Kung Fu Studio - Stretching - Tai Chi Near Me - Alameda, California

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Posting an update from the man himself for full transparency: "Your rhetoric is excellent. If you remember, I did pull you aside to the desk. In so doing, I was met with your aggression and hatred. Another sifu told me that you were telling him how much you hate me, and that is clear in your less than charitable review. I hope you will one day learn to grow beyond your anger and hatred of me and others, for it will not serve you well. -Sifu Dan" Make what you will of that! read more

Sifu Sam and his instructors are awesome. My 3 year old is in the Little Tiger class currently (for 3-5 year olds). I LOVE the instructors! They are so good with kids, including as young as mine. They're so animated and fun and still very knowledgeable and absolutely good at what they do. The class schedules are flexible which is nice. Their studio is nice and big and spacious. My son was able to do a few classes there between shelter in place orders. They're doing a great job with conducting classes at Lincoln Park too. I referred my neighbor and would happily refer anyone, very happy with Sifu Sam and his studio. :) read more

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It's a very professional martial arts school, it's very spacious and the kids can learn a lot of different things here. Disciplined, brave, strong, the teachers are also very hard to teach the children, I am really lucky to find such a good studio. read more

USA Kung Fu Studio - July 4th parade - Tai Chi Near Me - Alameda, California

Sifu August is still my kid's favorite. He's alway fun, engaging, and hilarious. My kid almost lose interest in kung fu after 2 years, but thanks to August, she still thinks it's fun. read more

10 stars! This is such a delayed post of praise and appreciation for USA Kung Fu. We've been coming here for half a year and it's seriously one of the best decisions we've ever made. Our kid loves it. It's also been a miracle worker in terms of building confidence as well as strength and balance. The Sifu teachers are amazing (I don't know how they know all the kids' names as well as how to get them to engage so well). The director Sifu Sam is not only a legit kung fu master but has an incredible gift of training and motivating kids that is gentle while instilling that martial arts discipline. And honestly just watching the classes is so much fun - the teachers make it entertaining for the families watching as well as the kids themselves. We ended up bringing our other little kids to the classes and Sifu Sam started a toy bin for them to play with while there. Incredible. It's a magical place. read more

We had a great experience at another school on the island the previous year, but switched to USA Kung Fu Studio because it seemed just so much more fun-- and we were right! My son loves it here and has really developed well as a result of his training. "Sifu Sam" who runs the place is absolutely wonderful, full of humor and dedication and this energy permeates the whole place. A really good value for the money. read more

USA Kung Fu Studio - Learning staff technique at Purple Belt. - Tai Chi Near Me - Alameda, California

Great structured courses to build up skills mentally and physically. Motivated and fun setting to bring kids a long journey! Strongly recommended! read more

My 6yo son, who will quickly zone out at the first sign of a boring activity, LOVES these classes. All of the sifus make the classes and environment engaging, challenging, and fun. He feels so much pride when he finishes a class! Classes are currently outdoors for covid (bonus of sunshine and fresh air!) read more

This is a great place in my opinion. There's no parking lot so you'll have to find street parking. But it's not located in the main part of park street so it's never too crowded. Usually I'll always find parking relatively close. I take the kickboxing class at night and I love love love the class. The class is taught by two guys, but usually you'll only see one on a day. They switch off I guess. They really give you an intense workout and life-long lessons as well. I feel more confidence walking on the streets at night by myself now. Whereas, before I started the class I was scared all the time. The other thing I really like about this studio is that they have classes for both children and adults. So if you're like me, you don't want to mixed into a class of kids if your an adult. So I really appreciate how they separate them so I don't feel so awkward. I would recommend this place for all. I'm sure you'll have a great time. read more

I highly recommend USA Kung Fu over at 1828 Park Street. The owner is Si Fu Sam and he is fantastic with children. Him and Si Fu Danny really know how to make the kids learn in a fun way but also the kids are pushed to the limit but not over the limit. My daughter started when she was 3.3 years old and has been going for several months now. She loves the teachers and the classes. I hadn't realized my daughter could do so much till she joined the class. She has also become so much stronger. Kung fu also helps teach discipline, confidence, respect, endurance, self-esteem, and much more that help a person as they get older. Not only that, my daughter has learned some mandarin from the class too, as they sometimes count in mandarin, etc. We really enjoy watching her as much as love the teaching style that Si Fu Sam and Si Fu Danny has. They also have a very low teacher student ratio... about one teacher for 2-3 students in our class. This way your child get a lot of individual attention. They have a really nice huge studio with lots of room to run. He will also give you a free one week class to see if your child is ready or not. I can't say enough wonderful things about USA Kung Fu and the teachers. My daughter has gotten really strong from the class. Just the other day my daughter and another girl was running and they collided (by accident). My daughter was like a wall that didn't even budge and the other girl litterally bounced of my daughter and skidded to the ground. Yesterday, a little boy in school tried to push my daughter down the steps and he couldn't do it... he ended up falling down the steps himself. I was amazed at Krystal (my daughter) when I saw it. our class is once a week and she might not be able to memorize all the moves (as she is still 3 years old) and not willing to practice at home... but she seems to have gotten something else that is much more from it. We love it. And frankly, Kung Fu is not just about knowing the moves, it's about the culture too. If there are a lot of chinese in this school learning kung fu, then there really is something more to it. read more

I love this place! My 4 year old son started going there about 3 months ago and he is loving it! All the SiFus there are patient and are very good with kids. Their way of teaching is funny and yet able to bring out the potentials in kids. I have fun just watching them conduct classes. I am glad we came to this kung fu school, love Sifu Deng, Sifu Jiang, and Sifu Zhang. read more

Great! My son (4) started going here and as other reviewers have stated they are very good with the kids. They know the right balance of motivating and guiding the younger students - keeping it light while also focusing on the training. My son actually started focusing more on school, chores, etc in part from his training here - and its been a great outlet to get his exercise and energy out while also reaching towards a goal. This is an activity he actually anticipates going to and moving up the belt ranks. He benefited so much I actually signed up myself! For us grown-ups they provide the 'tough love' motivation/balance to keep you pressing forward while learning self-defense and getting a good workout at the same time. Not really a gym person personally - but training here has really had a big impact on me getting and staying in shape. USA Kung Fu Studio has been great and my son and I are looking forward to the long road ahead to black belt under the watchful eyes of Sifu Deng, Sifu Jiang, and Sifu Zhang. read more

My 8 year old son has been going here since he was 6 and I can say without reservation he loves it. The Sifu's are all incredible athlete's but the most important thing to me is they are dedicated to the kids. Seriously I don't know how they do it but it is clear these guys love what they do and they are really good at it. My son is a more confident and disciplined person since he started at USA Kung Fu Studio. I have recommended the studio to friends and they have commented on the cost. First, it is no more expensive than any other comparable activity. Second, your kid is learning a skill that will be applicable in many parts of their lives in the form of self-control, confidence, assertiveness. Finally, your kid is truly going to love it and will be motivated to go. There has not been a single time that my son has complained about going, in fact the opposite is true. In a nutshell you would be lucky to have your kid learn from this group of incredible professionals that actually love kids and know how to establish relationships with each one based on mutual respect. read more

We have a 4 year old in the Little Tigers program and are really impressed with this place. We started our son here when he was 3.5 as a way to build confidence around older kids and as a way to work out energy and aggression in a healthy way. It worked! He's much more comfortable around other kids and less aggressive in general. He doesn't always feel like going but once he's there he has a blast. This is a very well run program where they do a great job of balancing fun and silliness with lots of structure, rules and respect. A great mix for the little kids. The student/teacher ratio in the Little Tigers program is pretty amazing. It fluctuates depending on how many students show up but it's always around 2-4 students per teacher with 3-4 teachers running the class. The program is really varied and it seems like the teachers really enjoy what they are doing and are very skilled at keeping kids engaged. Not always an easy thing with kids of this age. We really can't say enough good stuff about USA Kung Fu Studio. read more

My son loves his Kung fu and sifus. They work and train hard and are awesome with kiddos. Thank you Sifu Danny, Zheng and Sam! read more

USA Kung Fu Studio - Parker receiving new belt at ceremony - Tai Chi Near Me - Alameda, California

1. This is the only place on the island that offers adult lessons, as far as I know. I tried their adult class once and it was a great experience. 2. They combined adult and children since there wasn't enough adult to make a full class. I had one-on-one training with the Sifu since I was the only adult in the class. 3. The Sifu was very patient and knowledgeable. I learned a few basic blocking and attacking moves in an hour. It is a great place to practice and strengthen your skills. Discipline is definitely needed if you want to improve and get that Black Belt, and the Sifus will try their best to help you achieving that goal. read more

My daughter is 6 years old and started going here when she was 4. The instructors emphasize fun over learning, which seems to result in more learning. After seeing a video of my daughter's recent belt test, her best friend signed up and enjoys it. She had attended another martial arts program and had a bad experience. The school stresses respect and academics too. They have about 400 students, and I doubt that any of them cause any headaches. The facility is decent enough, and very well-equipped. They have gloves and headgear for sparring for 30 kids. The kids don't hit each other, so there's no danger. It's pretty impressive to see a few dozen children with full equipment at the same time. read more

Both, my son and I take Kung Fu classes. Teachers are great. The best? You choose your days and they let you make up the classes that you miss. read more

My 8 1/2 yr old has been attending classes with Sifu Sam for 3 years now. I love and appreciate the time well spent on the children at this school. Not only with learning the art of martial arts but the discipline, confidence and direction they offer each child. read more

This review is for the children's kung fu program. The teachers (Sifus) are top notch martial artists. They combine a serious depth of skill with a deep love of children. I have watched them laughing and playing with white belts (4-8 years old) and seen the amazing beauty and skill of their black belt students. They inspire the kids to work hard and have fun. They also have more energy than all of the kids put together and never seem to tire of the repetition of the most basic skills. I have heard many parents in the waiting area say that they have seen amazing improvements in their children's attitude at home and in they school work. They attribute the changes to the work at the kung fu school. Another great Alameda resource for parents and cultural learning. read more

Our 4 year old son has started attending kung fu classes at this place, and he loves it (and we do too)! The instructors are all enthusiastic and passionate, and they provide a very positive and inviting place for the kids to learn. We knew this was the right class for our son when we went to meet Sifu Sam for the first time, and he picked up our son and threw him in the air to welcome him. It was pretty funny, but our son knew he was in caring hands since he wasn't afraid at all at being greeted by this gregarious man. My son listens, learns, and laughs in his classes and that's the best kind of class for him to be in. read more

I have never yelped before but here I am because I want to make clear that USA Kung Fu is a great place. If you scroll through the reviews, it is painfully obvious that someone has made multiple false accounts to give USA Kung Fu bad reviews. In reading them, their bitterness and immaturity really show, the comments are not level headed but more out of spite and anger. Please disregard those one stars. The truth is, that USA Kung Fu has had a long reputation of great reviews on yelp. I am a parent who sends two of her children here. There are numerous reasons why this place is so great. The instructors are phenomenal. They take such a genuine interest in the kids, get them motivated and keep them trying their best. It is great that there is emphasis on students doing well in school, at home, as well as in kung fu. I am so pleased with this place that I started taking classes as well. The instructors are great with the grown-ups too. They get us motivated and push us and encourage us and keep us smiling. I think it is a sign of good teaching if you can maintain that balance. Thank you. read more

New Class at USA Kung Fu Studio: They have recently added an adults class (7-star Traditional Northern Praying Mantis) for ages 13 and up which I have joined. This class is geared for both male and females teens and adults. The instructors come from the lineage of Grandmaster Brendan Lai and they focus not only on the traditional basics but also incorporate modern kickboxing style. The thing I like about this class is that they have a very well rounded curriculum which is very practical. I studied Tai Kwon Do for several years before Mantis and was unhappy with the overall program as it was too focused on point sparring rather than more practical aspects. This class incorporates a lot of applications and conditioning (3-star exercises, etc) in conjunction with forms. The Sifus demonstrate practical aspects of the forms to tie everything together. I just can't get enough of this class! Classes for this style are held 3 days a week Sunday from 8-9:30 am, Monday and Wednesday from 8:15-9:45 pm. In addition to the above: I have 2 kids who go here for the kids kung fu and they love it. My girls are 9 and 5 and they started with the USA Kung Fu Studio at ages 5 and 3.5 respectively. This place is by far the most kid friendly place I've seen. They make it fun to learn and keep it interesting for the kids. We recently enrolled the older one in their Wushu competition class in order to take her skills to the next level. Love this class and this studio!!! read more

We just started our kids (3 & 5) at USA Fung Fu Studio and they both love it even after insisting that they did not want to do martial arts at all. We've started a bunch of other kid activities around Alameda and by far this is this one that puts the biggest smiles on both their faces. The Sifus are all better than the next and I'm always impressed by the energy and dedication they have to teaching their students and making the lessons truly fun and rewarding. No matter how large or small the class is, the Sifus all do a great job at keeping all the kids engaged and present. Really terrific program for kids, I can't imagine that any other studio can do it better than these guys. They really know how to work with kids and what kids respond to. read more

Okay, this may be too soon to give 5 stars considering we just started there and my 4 year old son has only taken 3 classes, but I love the confidence and joy our kid has from taking their classes. The sifus are really funny and energetic and make the class fun for beginners. read more

Wonderful, Fantastic, Amazing. I have never loved the program my children were in this much. its not only a great learning experience for my Boys but great Support For the parents. Si Fu Sam Wouldn't let my son get his belt till his grade were A's B's And C's with few C's I was so happy not to be the only one telling my son that it is so Important to Go to School and give it every thing I love this place read more

Friendly Si Fus who take themselves lightly to keep the kids feel at ease while learning good self defense, discipline and focus. At te same time, they also enforce discipline and respect inside and outside the class time. It's no surprise for the kids to see many classmates and friends coming here. Oh, WiFi access (while waiting for the kids) is a great bonus. read more

My 7year old son has been going here for 1 1/2 years and still loves it. He didn't have the focus for soccer or other organized sports but at USA Kung Fu they keep the classes moving, and upbeat which keeps him engaged. The Sifus are all talented, confident young men which is exactly the kind of role models I wanted for my son. My son is high energy and can be distracted, but they all keep him on task in a gentle but firm way. There are always 4 to 5 Sifus working with the class so they break the class up into small groups. I like this because my son gets experience with different teachers. The unexpected thing I love about the program is that they build humor into their teaching. They pretend to dramatically fall when the kids are practicing a move on them or they will swing a kid around dramatically when showing a move. My son is constantly giggling with the sifus. The program may be a little more $$ than others but they offer 2 classes each day 7 days/week per level and you can pick and choose when you go. So, if my son can't make the day we usually go he just goes a different day during that week. This is very convenient and means he rarely misses. The program is very organized and starts and ends right on time. Sifu Sam is there pretty much every day and knows all of his families. My son also attended the summer camp and had a great experience. There is an academic component that I appreciated. Overall, this is one of the best programs for kids our family has experienced. read more

Yo, this is where my son comes to learn to punch and kick other little children (with the utmost respect, of course). Yo, this is the place for martial arts instruction for the little ones (and grown folk, too) that is deeply rooted in tradition, positive, values-based, and innovating a multicultural approach that is real Bay business. Plus, your shorty will be breaking boards, son. For reals. SIGN YOUR SEED UP NOW. read more

Great program! Both my boys have attended for several years.They are very, very good with the kids - they can be very serious but still funny/goofy and fun. The Sifus have impressive skills and are really nice, friendly people. I think they achieve a difficult balance between teaching skills, having fun, and instilling self-discipline. What they teach goes beyond kung-fu. They really instill a sense of responsibility and respect. Bad behavior is addressed and not tolerated. As a parent (paying the bills), we love that you can make up classes as it suits your schedule. It's pretty much an honor system. If you miss a bunch, just make it up when it works for you - no need to schedule ahead, no limit on only making up a certain number of classes, etc. We pay for the kids twice a week, there's an option to go once a week. read more

When I was searching for classes in Women's Self Defense in the Bay Area, this school came up. When I contacted them I found out that they no longer offer any self-defense classes of this type. When I asked why they didn't update their website to reflect their current offerings I was offered a free trial in their kung-fu program, or a kickboxing class. Anyway, I was a little peeved that their website is offering things they actually do not have. This is bogus! read more

USA Kung Fu Studio is a great option if your child (or you) are interested in Martial Art. Our son (7 years old) has been going for almost a year and greatly enjoys it (goes 2 days a week). The Sifus (teachers) are great with the kids and teach solid skills in a fun way. The kids enjoy it and so do the Sifu's. The Sifu's are all experienced and from that, they are well qualified as teachers. From the student's standpoint, they work hard, are challenged and have fun. Highly recommend USA Kung Fu Studio (Alameda is our location) read more

Saturday was the first class for my kids and their cousins. My 5-yr old is very shy. He was so nervous that he refused to participate and practically locked his knees when they tried to take him to the training floor. Sifu Danny came to the rescue! He took my son and started to show him the back of the room and spent the whole time talking, joking, playing until my son finally started to respond and smile! From there, the rest of the class was filled with laughter and excitement. All my kids and their cousins enjoyed the experience. My niece, who was skeptical, was surprised by how much she loved it! The studio is big, clean, and well structured. The Sifus are experienced teachers who are excellent with kids. They really know how to make the kids have fun and this keeps them motivated. I have heard great things about this place from other parents and now I can testify it myself: this is a very good Kung Fu school. I am so pleased with what I saw, it inspired me to write my first yelp review! read more