There haven't been many recent reviews, especially about tai chi specifically, so I wanted to share my experience :) I've been taking tai chi classes here for about a month, and so far it's been amazing. Somehow at the end of every class, I feel happy, energized and relaxed all at once. I took tai chi about 10 years ago (Wu style short form) so I'm familiar with some of the basic concepts and stances, but it's been a long time... so it's been great to get back into it. Sigung Carrie and Sigung Jennings are the best. They're patient, professional, funny and warm. They have a lot of wisdom to share, and they really help you to learn all the details of the form as you go through it. Each class is one hour, and there are two classes per week. We spend the first ~25 minutes of each class doing warm-up exercises (which really help you to focus and connect with your body), and then the next ~35 minutes learning the next part of the form. I feel that everything progresses at a good pace, so I have enough time to practice each move / stance before moving on to the learning the next one. One thing to note is that White Lotus shares a big open space (in the JAM facility) with other tumbling / parkour / tricking classes that are going on at the same time. When I first came in to observe a tai chi class, I was a little concerned because the other class that was going on on the other side of the room was pretty loud so I thought it would be distracting. But honestly, once I joined the tai chi class and started doing the exercises and focusing on the form, I found that I barely noticed the other class happening next to us. Maybe others would be deterred by it because they'd prefer a quiet and meditative space, but I don't find it to be a major issue since I can just kind of "zone in" on whatever we're practicing. Anyway, if you're looking to learn tai chi I think this is a great place to do it! I had tried other "tai chi" classes at yoga studios in the SFV and found that they were really just yoga classes with a few random tai chi moves sprinkled in, which wasn't what I was looking for. At White Lotus, you will learn the "48 Forms of Taiji." It's a great way to build strength, balance and flexibility (and improve your mental health, too, in my experience). Come check it out if you're interested... everyone is super friendly :) read more

I was taken here one night during open gym by a friend who does stunt work. Fantastic gym with a variety of equipment you won't find just anywhere else. My first impression of this place is very positive, it's like a giant playground for ninjas! ;) It might be a little intimidating at the beginning, with everyone flipping and flying everywhere but there is so much room to move around it's crazy liberating. First I worked on my punches, nice how they have little doughnuts around the punching bags for uppercuts. Then watched some of the guys do some freerunning, the moves they do are so sick! The fact that they are 6-pack fit with no shirts on has absolutely NOTHING to do with my staring *ahem* observance. =p It seems like most of the people here are courteous and friendly a few Bboys even taught me some moves. I learned some basic top rock, up rock, 6 step and baby freeze. The wall of mirrors help with self-adjustment of poses and let me know how goofy I look with my arm wave. =) At the end I tried out the spring floor, jumped on the various mats they have and flopped about on the trampoline. The only gymnastic move I could do is an awkward cartwheel to my right. My uncoordinated jumps across the large blocks were landed with heavy face plants and belly-flops. The large trampoline was thrilling with how easy it was to catch so much air. I didn't even try out the scaffolding they set up because my most recent attempt at a pull-up just had me hanging with my feel dangling for a few seconds. o_O; Despite all my shortcomings as an athlete, working out at White Lotus was pure fun and had me laughing and grinning like a kid in a candy store. I have to say the $5 fee for open gym was well spent, you can't even buy a bag of popcorn at the movies for that price. Funniest use of White Lotus: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VA4LcLvdNWk&feature=iv&annotation_id=annotation_759745 read more

I try to drive 60 miles once a month to work out or train at this place. It's such a fun place. Most of the time I end up playing around with Parkour/freerunning equipment. Other times I sit and watch B-Boys & Girls practice there routines! If I'm there early enough I"ll watch their Tai-Chi/Kung Fu class before I do my workout. I love their open floor and the line of heavy bags! There's enough space to do everything I want. I start off with a 10 min. jumprope, 10-15 mins. of shadow boxing, then about 1hr. of hitting the heavy bags, if i have a partner some grappling or escrima (stick) sparring. Then the fun begins if I'm not too tireed. Sping floor, trampoline, a wall run and foam obstacle & pad for flips & trix! plus, kewl energetic music is always playin' to help keep you goin!!! 5500+ Square Feet 42 x 42 ft. Olympic Palmer Spring Floor 2 Separate Padded Training Floors Hanging Heavy Bag Section Trampoline & Mini Tramp Grip Tape Wall and Incline Wall for wall flips Pads, Mats, Traditional Weapons, and other equipment You just might see dancers from America's Best Dance Crew! read more

Been a student for one year now, and I love it. Never took a martial art before but I have a background in dance. Carrie Wong and the other instructors will kick your @** in all the right ways. I love Kung Fu! read more

it is a family. most of the teachers are very inclusive, patient and experienced. i would highly recommend this place.

White Lotus is the most amazing place to study Kung Fu, the commitment and passion of the instructors is so strong-it's truly inspiring. We learn the traditional forms as well as modern and dynamic fighting techniques all the while getting a great workout. Every class is a challenge and I love it! I checked out many martial arts schools in L.A. and when I walked in to White Lotus and spoke to Sigung Carrie I knew right away this was the place. I wanted to find a studio where my daughter could study as well and they have a great kid's class (Sigung Carrie and Sigung Jennings are fantastic with the kids!). If you are considering learning Kung Fu, I strongly recommend coming to White Lotus, it has a very welcoming and family atmosphere where you will be supported and encouraged on your journey in this amazing (and practical) art. read more

I've been to several schools and systems in my life, but I've never felt more at home than I do at White Lotus. The teachers and my fellow students are like my second family. This is a real martial arts school where the true value of what you learn comes not from your rank, but from your dedication and respect for the community at White Lotus and the art itself. If you want to experience the richness, the spirituality, and the discipline the true martial arts have to offer, this is the place. read more

I'm so happy that I chose this place for my son to start learning kungfu. My son loves going there and he doesn't want to miss any class at all. The instructors are amazing and talented. read more

White Lotus was a big part of my life. This place is just awesome. Thank you Sifu Wong. Much respect.

Came here for open gym for $5. Heavy bags and lots of space. Mainly came here to hit the heavy bags. Only issue I have with this place is the heavy bag area. Wish there was more room to circle around the heavy bags. Other than that, great staff and ample parking. Definitely coming back again. read more

Great training facility. A lot of known faces in the industry train here. Teachers are amazing and is run by a well respected family.

If you want to learn Kung fu I suggest you find a different school. This place is a forms only dance style routine or p90x style class. Not real kung fu. You will not learn how to defend yourself. They reviews are written by themselves. They pasted the same info within two reviews, "5500 Sq foot..." They do not teach kung fu. They taught one punch which turns out to be from the style Wing Chun called the Wing Chun Vertical Punch. Doug Wong claimed this punch is his invention and he renamed it a circle punch. He claimed the energy is downward because he doesn't want to chase the opponent across the room. I asked, "how do I throw a punch but direct the energy downward do I scrape my knuckles down the opponents chest instead of punching through the target?" He just stared at me and refused to answer me or have a discussion. He also said the circle punch cannot be defended against. Beware of teachers that speak in absolutes. Every move has a counter. There is no such thing as an indefensible attack. Grandmaster my foot. I can rent a space and hang a sign and call myself a grandmaster too. He claims he can use anything as a weapon even a stick of gum, but he was serious. How do you use a stick of gum or a cotton ball as a weapon? Get real. This school only teaches forms they do not teach the techniques. The forms are like a dance routine or aerobic exercise routine except the fighting techniques are contained within the form. You need your teacher to show you how to apply the techniques and then show you where he got the techniques within the form. I put up with this place for 9 months learning 3 forms. I kept waiting and waiting and wondering, what does this form mean? How do I apply it to fighting? They wont show you. You just keep advancing from one form to the next without learning the explanation of the form. The school is a commercial enterprise only. You're like cattle to them. Show up, shut up, do the form, go home. On the positive side if you're looking to get in shape the forms training will do that. You will sweat and work hard. As far as the students they claim are high level they don't know how to fight. When they say they've competed they have, in forms competition and they better win its all they do. Wong tells stories how he had to stay in horse stance until the stick of incense finished and that they would practice some technique by poking out the eyes of rabbits. That's unnecessary and sick and I doubt it. I've seen those Saturday morning Kung fu movies too. Wong grew up in L.A. he didn't struggle at the Shaolin temple for 20 years-he paid his fees at Ark Yuey Wongs famous kung fu school and they taught him. He wont pass it on. This Kung Fu school is not good. His student/teachers Phil and Tom are nice guys with patience. Doug and his wife Carrie don't care. Doug has a huge ego and wont talk to his students. If you think training at a place where celebrities have trained that is if you think Kevin Sorbo and few others are celebrities, go for it. How much instruction do you get for a $5 open session-none. Open session is a carpeted warehouse with a few heavy bags big deal. read more

People don't realize that in the middle of the valley there is a place where you can actually learn from Kung Fu masters. You can learn traditional forms, weapons, fighting, chi gung, tai chi, iron palm, massage, and more. The only limit is you. When you join you become part of the family and they treat you as so. The workouts are progressive so you are always getting better at everything you do. If you truly want to better yourself, this is the place. It takes a lot of hard work and dedication to be a skilled martial artist. If you like pushing yourself way beyond what you thought you could do, they are there waiting.... read more

I attended this studio approx. 20 years ago when I lived in the San Fernando Valley. I can only say they were/are EXCELLENT AND EXCEPTIONAL. As a overweight woman who thought I couldn't- they told me I could and worked with me. Unfortunately I gave up on myself before they gave up on me. I now have children and wish I was closer to the area to have my children train there. The staff Master Wong and his wife Carrie are fantastic as well as Sifu Phil and Tom. When I came the children were little son approx. 6 and daughter was approx. 2 and she was already doing push ups. This place is amazing and I highly recommend it to everyone wanting to learn.' read more

The fact that I'm willing to drive 45 minutes to this place in the morning twice a week should say a lot about it already. Out of all the martial arts gyms in Southern California, I don't think there is one that makes the most out of its space like White Lotus does. Whether you train for combat, sport, or for performance, White Lotus has something for you in its spacious open training area, sporting several heavy bags for bag work, a large spring floor for tricks and tumbling, a trampoline and mini tramps, weapons, pads and focus mitts, and mats and foam pits along with other equipment for parkour and freerunning. Along with a wide variety of different martial arts classes, the main attraction is the open gym hours which are run during the mornings and evenings which are an affordable $5 for 3 hours. During these hours, several experienced stuntmen and freerunners are always there training. Everyone for the most part is friendly and willing to help each other, making out for a very productive training environment. read more