Attending Sifu Torres'/ Dr. Torres's 6 Healing Sounds workshops is one of the best investments a…read moreperson can make. If you have never attended one, the next time he offers it GO! GO! GO! This workshop introduces you to the postures, breathing, and healing sounds of the body's meridians that correspond to each organ. We learned how this practice can help and alleviate illnesses of the different organs. Sifu/Dr. Torres explained how in Chinese Medicine each organ and sound correlates to the different seasons and and elements of nature. We also discussed the different positive and negative emotions associated with the organs, as well as, the different senses and tastes. He even discussed the different foods that can be eaten to nourish each organ. I always enjoy this workshop. This is my 3rd or 4th time attending, but every time I attend, I always learn something new and I enjoy being able to practice with other participants. If you are looking for a new type of meditation to add to your repertoire, then this is for you. I am hoping that Dr. Torres/Sifu Torres will continue offering this very beneficial workshop.

I am now going on my 10th month of being part of this great school. Sifu Torres and all of my…read morekungfu brothers and sisters have welcomed me, helped me, been super supportive and encouraging. I have become a lot stronger and more agile than I've been in a very looong time; It feels amazing. I have now earned my green/gold sash and am continuing to learn and grow. The classes are still tough and demanding of your body, but I can actually get through them a lot better than when I started. I also attend regular acupuncture sessions which compliment my training. They keep me healthy and strong. I still highly recommend this school to come learn very traditional Northern 7 Star Praying Mantis. I guarantee if you put in the effort you will understand. do it!

You won't find better and more authentic Kung Fu place than Illinois Shaolin Kung Fu, for both,…read morekids and adults Kung Fu training. I've been training there for a year and a half together with my teenage son, and we both love it. We love authenticity of the place, love Master Chen and Sean and their style of teaching, love learning Forms and working with different weapons /staff, sword, broad sword, nunchucks, spear, even bull whip - we both love working with all of these, and I am a female/. To train with real Shaolin Master, captain of Shaolin Temple Performance Team side to side and to watch him going over the movements is unforgettable experience. Don't get me wrong, it's a hard work /that what kung fu means, hard work/, the warm up is like a bootcamp , cool down is another one , but you will definitely get in shape you've never been in and maybe loose few pounds. I also love flexible schedule, they have classes for every level almost every day, weekends too, you even have 2 options. I love parents train together with kids, we practice together with my son at home and test together, we have fun together. I also take Tai Chi class there and I highly recommend trying this one too. I can't speak of this place and quality of Master Chen's training highly enough. Thank you Illinois Shaolin Kung Fu Academy for this opportunity!

I was a former student at this school and I really enjoyed being in the class for the first few…read moremonths although I did started to gain anxiety over the belt tests and trying not to mess up all the time which was a problem for me. Although Kung Fu did helped me to learn some self defense, but it's mostly motion movements. I would recommend who is really into martial arts but I'm personally into more self defense techniques which wasn't shown up in Kung Fu.

A nice shaolin temple that teaches authentic martial arts from the mountains in China.read more

They offer kung fu, qigong, and sanda classes. Both of the masters (shifu) are really nice and…read moreaccomodating. Kids who take classes here are amazing!

We had a terrible experience here. I got tied up at work, and so was a few minutes late dropping my…read more5yr old child off for class in the park. Because of this, the instructor decided to single out my child and punish them in front of the entire class. I mean, how is it a 5yr old child's fault for being late? Why would an adult do this? Because my son was new to this class and singled out for discipline, he became extremely embarrassed and ran to hide behind a nearby tree. The instructor immediately called me back into the class and explained to me, again, in front of the whole class, that she cannot abide kids running into the road (he went nowhere near the road) and so was kicking him out. I was shocked. What kind of adult needs to lord authority over children this way? Had she pulled me aside to talk about being late, fine. But punishing my child? On his 3rd day?! I'm left feeling like the people in charge here don't know how to handle small children. Take yours here at your own risk.

My daughter has been a student in Sifu Paula's kungfu programs since she was 4 1/2 years old,…read morealmost 7 years now. I am a martial artist myself and I can say that there is no place that I would rather send my daughter for training. This is a great program. Top-notch Shaolin martial arts training, but - more importantly - I have seen my daughter grow in strength and confidence as a result of this program. The belt promotions in this school are not given away, students have to work hard for them! My daughter has learned how to push herself to achieve more than she thought possible and she's already learned that to achieve anything worthwhile, she's going to have to work for it. Those are great life lessons that I hope will stay with her forever. I highly recommend Healthkick Kung Fu!

I have been going to classes here since 2018. The teacher is phenomenal. I feel so much better…read moreafter every single class I attend. The new space at 1118 N. Ashland is large, airy and peaceful/relaxing. Monthly cost is very very affordable. The more you go, the cheaper it is. Learn tai chi form, sword forms, knife forms, chi gung and much more.

I was recommended to try Tai Chi as a way to relieve stress, help with physical balance and…read morestrength, and for overall health. I've been coming here a couple months, and cannot say enough about the class structure and instructor. Since I'm a way beginner, I wasn't sure what to expect. However, this workout is different from classes I've taken for yoga, Zumba and most cardio-type class structures, since I didn't have to just "pick up" where the class was at. The class instructor (Stirling) is excellent, and takes time to show you each move and guides you every step of the way. He is very thorough, non-critical, peaceful, skilled and patient. It's a class you can take at any level and not feel lost or behind. If you're advanced, Stirling has been doing Tai Chi since the 70s and is skilled in the various forms, such as sword form. He has a lot of students that are at advanced levels and can also provide instruction. If you're a beginner like me, the practice is so fascinating and you don't necessarily need practice/knowledge to start, since you will definitely learn and "feel" when the moves are correct. There are a lot of underlying principals when it comes to perfecting the form - learning these has had a huge impact on my progress. Learning how each move can be used in combat is so empowering! Benefits I've gotten: A lot of energy as opposed to lethargic, physical and mental balance and strength, reduced stress/increased calmness, greater ability to focus, and stronger legs, arms and core

We've been taking Tai Chi with Heritage Tai Chi and Kung Fu for 6 years, and the experience has…read morebeen great! Master Troy and Gloria teach the Heritage style of Tai Chi, which goes all the way back to Zho Bao town in the 1600's, and focuses on Tai Chi for health. Master Troy knows and has practiced other styles, and will occasionally explain how a move is done differently in the Yang style, for instance. Or the Cheng Man-ch'ing style. This is one of the ways he keeps things interesting, and I find it also helps to understand and appreciate the nuances of our style. The COVID lockdown and social distancing requirements have been a problem for everybody, but Master Troy and Gloria have done a great job of adapting. They quickly figured out how much could be done over Zoom, and how best to adapt their classes to it, so as to still keep things interactive: not just a Tai Chi video lesson. Now they are transitioning back to in-person instruction with hybrid classes: with both some attending in-person and some participating remotely, as one wishes. I can't imagine anyone handling this any better.

Still coming here and still liking it. They have added a two person class to focus one what is…read moretypically called push hands (they call the class two person energy work, because you really should not be pushing). Also a very good class, and the two person work really benefits the solo form quite a lot

Yelp Review I…read moreactually met Sifu Nearing way before I joined the school. After our initial meeting I knew that this was the school I wanted to join. I wanted to make sure that I could dedicate my time to train, study and learn Wing Chun. Through the years it has been a honor to be apart of this school. He and everyone in the school is dedicated to turn out the best in each member. Sifu Nearing makes it a point to get to know each student in order to develop, motivate and inspire you on and off the mat. If you're looking to learn Wing Chun, train hard and not afraid to be challenged and inspired, this is the school for you.

First of all a little background on me for perspective...I am a second degree black belt (Nidan)…read morein Isshinryu Karate. I studied for 10 years, and taught for my last 3 years. I joined Philip Nearing School of Wing Chun with the hopes that I would find a seasoned instructor who had a total grasp of the art, but had the common sense to address the modern world of martial arts. I was not looking for a school in the ground and pound. I have been so pleasantly surprised that not only have my expectations been met, but far exceeded. I have never trained under a better instructor. He is multi-faceted, charismatic, and good at what he does. I really enjoy every class. The students are diverse, welcoming like a family, and ready to learn. This is one of the gems of the martial arts community. I would highly recommend you observe a class if you are truly looking for something to integrate into your life, something that is effective, challenging, and fun. All fitness levels should feel comfortable in the class as there is a beauty in the art in and of itself that lends itself quite well to anyone willing to invest time and effort into their mind, body and spirit. As you can tell, I can not say enough great things about this school. Phil is a fantastic master of his art, and is very capable of teaching that to others. Sincerely, Marty

Somewhat recently, I was asked what I have gained from practicing Ving Tsun with Matt Johnson over…read morethe last 10 years. I could state the obvious- self defense techniques, fitness, confidence, etc. But, upon further reflection I came up with so much more than that. Originally, I started learning and practicing Ving Tsun for self defense purposes. That is still my primary goal. But, I did not realize there was so much more to it than that. Of course, first, you have to learn how to throw a punch and block. But, what I learned after obtaining some of the skill was surprising to me. It's not as much about "How" to throw a punch as it is about "When." Or, rather, when not to, which is most of the time. Knowing the skill of kung fu, actually, puts you in a much stronger position that enables you to NOT use the physical attributes of it. You don't, actually, get into "fights" where you have to use blocks and strikes. You walk different. You look different. On a primal level you put out "signals" that you are not a victim and the "predators" sense that and stay away. Kung fu has, also, made me more compassionate. When I'm practicing regularly, I find I have more patience and tolerance in frustrating situations. I think this is because my tools are sharp and I feel a responsibility to not unleash them unnecessarily. I'm very fortunate to have found a school that fosters this positive kind of mindset. My original purpose of learning to defend myself remains. But, the additional perks were unexpected and are even more valuable than what I thought I was going to gain from this school. If you're even just a smidge curious about this, I encourage you to come and check out the school for yourself. You have nothing to lose and more to gain than you realize.

Excellent school with a great environment. Great teacher and traditional martial arts training in…read morethe Ving Tsun style of Kung Fu with roots in Hong Kong at the Ving Tsun Athletic Association.

The school offers different programs for all levels. Master Song and Master Shi are great examples…read moreof what martial artists can become as they truly love their students and selflessly dedicated to their craft. Our son has been studying here for over a year and his experience has been excellent. I would highly recommend this school. S. Wang

I don't understand why there is no review for Shifu Song. He volunteer his Monday to teach class in…read moreChicago and for over three years we learn a lot from him. He is strict but he doesn't mess around. His workout are intense but if it doesn't challenge you it is not changing you. I went to a Kung Fu competition this year for the first time and all of his students are amazing and outstanding. He is the real deal Chinese Kung Fu Master. If you ever get to train with him, it is a blessing. If you are out his way, you won't regret going to any of his class and he works well training with the kids. In the end, it is sad to see him leave us in Chicago, we wish him the best because the best is what he is.

This a great gym, and the experience has been amazing. Clean facilities, knowledgeable…read moreinstructors, wonderful community, and the owner is incredible. Classes for kids and adults makes it easy for the entire family to reach their fitness goals. Our daughter came here to become a faster athlete and it has been amazing watching her succeed on her journey. Her instructors are willing to meet her where she's at and help her achieve her athletic goals. We are so happy to be a part of the POW! family and look forward to many more years of fitness and fun.

We sent our very reserved son to their summer camp this year and he Loved it and keeps wanting to…read morego back! He is speaking so much more as his confidence has soared. As parents, we loved the structure, the ratio of staff to kids, and that the children were held accountable for their actions. The size of the space was great so that all the kids were able to be watched at all times. All of the staff were solid and sweet. We wish they had an after school program too!