Recommendations for Kung Fu programs for foreigners vary depending on your learning objectives, your personal martial arts experience, and whether the program emphasizes practical training. Ideally, it should be combined with cultural programs and be conducted in a quiet, peaceful location.
A genuine Kung Fu school should include sparring sessions to test your skills. Some schools, such as those at Shaolin Temple, offer only physical conditioning and routine exercises, which are meant for tourists and not genuine Kung Fu. Furthermore, practicing Shaolin Kung Fu requires a significant investment of time; otherwise, it’s a waste of time.
Practically speaking, foreigners may only spend a few months in China, so the best recommendations are martial arts styles like Wing Chun, Tai Chi, or Ba Duan Jin. While these programs are shorter, once mastered, they offer lifelong benefits.
Why Wing Chun, Tai Chi and Ba Duan Jin Are The Best Recommended?
Wing Chun, Tai Chi, and Ba Duan Jin are the best recommended kung fu programs for foreigners because they are the easiest to learn and are most suitable for people who are learning kung fu for the first time. At the same time, they can also exercise the body, experience different Kung Fu cultures, and have practical combat functions.
When foreigners first come into contact with Chinese Kung Fu, Wing Chun, Tai Chi and Ba Duan Jin are the most representative, and they each offer unique benefits in different aspects.
Wing Chun
Wing Chun is an especially recommended kung fu program for foreigners seeking practical combat training. Wing Chun doesn’t rely on individual strength but instead utilizes scientific principles such as human mechanics, leverage, and triangular structure.
Wing Chun’s combat principle is to exploit the opponent’s weaknesses, achieving victory over the strong with the weak. It is a martial art that relies heavily on physical logic, making it particularly suitable for women or those with fragile constitutions. Furthermore, Wing Chun’s flexible training areas and narrow range of motion make it ideal for practice in confined spaces like offices or homes.
Many countries’ military, police, and special forces have made Wing Chun a compulsory course, primarily for combat and defense purposes. Learning Wing Chun allows one to deeply appreciate the philosophical principles and Chinese wisdom inherent in “stopping war is the best way to achieve martial arts.”
Tai Chi Chuan
Tai Chi is a highly recommended kung fu program for those seeking physical and mental well-being and health. Through its soothing, flowing movements and breathing patterns, Tai Chi effectively helps practitioners relieve stress and find inner peace.
Extensive practice has shown that Tai Chi can effectively improve balance, strengthen muscles, and prevent falls in the elderly and has been recommended by authoritative organizations such as the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Tai Chi’s slow, powerful movements are gentle on joints, making it suitable for people of all ages and fitness levels.
More importantly, Tai Chi is deeply rooted in traditional Chinese philosophy, offering a unique oriental cultural experience.
Ba Duan Jin
Ba Duan Jin is the top choice for foreigners seeking easy-to-learn and highly effective health practices. Composed of eight graceful movements, Ba Duan Jin is also known as the “Longevity Exercise.”
With its simple, gentle, and continuous movements, Ba Duan Jin requires minimal space, making it suitable for people of all ages. Even beginners can quickly master and experience its benefits. Practicing Ba Duan Jin harmonizes internal organs, unclogs meridians, strengthens muscles and bones, and enhances resistance. It is particularly suitable for seasonal changes or when temperatures drop.
For foreigners visiting China for the first time and experiencing traditional Chinese culture, Ba Duan Jin is the perfect choice. It allows them to experience the wisdom of Traditional Chinese Medicine at a minimal cost and experience the physical and mental well-being brought about by the flow of Qi and blood.
Best Recommendations for Kung Fu Program and School
The key to choosing the most recommended kung fu school for foreigners is authentic traditions, practical training, and a comprehensive cultural experience.
In addition, you should clearly consider your learning goals, whether it’s to master a martial art, experience a short cultural experience, or pursue health and wellness. For foreigners unfamiliar with Chinese, choosing an institution that offers English instruction or translation services is crucial. It’s recommended to proactively inquire about the school’s language support before enrolling. Regarding location and environment, whether studying in a traditional and peaceful countryside or in a bustling city offers different living and cultural experiences.
Wing Chun Kung Fu Programs and Schools
Kunyu Mountain Shaolin Martial Arts Academy
This academy is an ideal choice for foreigners seeking an immersive experience in traditional Chinese martial arts. Located within the Kunyu Mountain National Nature Reserve in Shandong Province, the academy offers a beautiful natural environment perfect for peaceful martial arts practice.
Kunyu Mountain Shaolin Martial Arts Academy offers a variety of martial arts courses, including Shaolin, Wing Chun, Tai Chi, and Mantis Quan, integrated with traditional cultural learning such as calligraphy, massage, and acupuncture. With its extensive international influence, the academy fosters a vibrant international martial arts atmosphere. Under the guidance of professional instructors, foreigners can learn the core techniques of Wing Chun and gain a deep understanding of the Confucian philosophy and national spirit of Chinese martial arts.
Contact Kunyu Mountain Shaolin Martial Arts Academy
International Wing Tsun Association
Wing Tsun is an authoritative, standardized promotion system with a large presence in over 60 countries and regions worldwide. It prioritizes practical combat and systematic instruction. WT’s “One-Stroke Defeat” technique is even a required course for military and police forces in many countries.
The Wing Tsun Wing Chun system boasts a comprehensive academy and instructor promotion system, including levels 1-12 for students. The school offers a blend of online and offline learning through its “Wing Chun Era” platform, offering classes in Kung Fu, professional development, and coaching, supporting students’ progression from student to professional instructor.
WT provides a clear and professional development path for Wing Chun students and instructors worldwide.
Contact International Wing Tsun Association
Qufu Shaolin Kung Fu School
Qufu Shaolin Kung Fu School’s Wing Chun classes are taught by Coach Zhang Wei, a third-generation direct descendant of Ip Man’s Wing Chun. This school’s Wing Chun is truly authentic. Coach Zhang Wei is also an inheritor of Kunlun Quan, a municipal intangible cultural heritage, and has also trained Wensheng Quan and Tai Chi Push Hands.
The school offers full-time professional Wing Chun training, with courses designed for international students ranging from one- to four-week introductory courses to two- to five-year advanced professional development. Furthermore, the school has extensive experience hosting international students, having trained students from over 60 countries worldwide, helping foreign students overcome language and cultural barriers.
Qufu Shaolin Kung Fu School is located in Qufu, Shandong, the hometown of Confucius. Learning Kung Fu here is more than just learning the moves; it’s an immersive experience in Chinese culture. The school’s curriculum also includes traditional Chinese cultural courses such as calligraphy.
In short, the Wing Chun teaching at Qufu Shaolin Kung Fu School is an excellent platform for learning authentic martial arts inheritance, systematic courses, an international learning environment, and profound Chinese culture.
Contact Qufu Shaolin Kung Fu School
Tai Chi Kung Fu Programs and Schools
Shen Jiangfei Martial Arts Center
Shen Jiangfei is an 11th-generation descendant of the authentic Chen-style Tai Chi Chuan. He has been teaching Tai Chi for 30 years and is a professional instructor with extensive experience and solid martial arts skills.
At Shen Jiangfei International Martial Arts School, we primarily offer Tai Chi training, as well as other martial arts such as Shaolin Kung Fu, Qigong, standing meditation, and meditation. Located within Longhu Mountain, a 5A-level scenic area in Jiangxi Province, China, the school is surrounded by mountains and water, providing a first-class training environment.
We highly recommend Shen Jiangfei Martial Arts School for its small class sizes and one-on-one instruction, unmatched by other martial arts schools. Master Shen Jiangfei personally develops training plans for you, ensuring that every foreigner can experience the most authentic, practical, and traditional kung fu.
Contact Shen Jiangfei School now.
Yangshuo Traditional Tai Chi School
This school is located in Yangshuo, Jiangxi Province, China. The campus consists of three buildings, housing indoor training rooms, outdoor training areas, student dormitories, and public facilities.
Yangshuo Traditional Tai Chi School’s Tai Chi instructors, led by Master Wu Hengdong (Chen-style Tai Chi), offer systematic training from beginner to advanced levels through individual or group sessions and classes.
Master Wu Hengdong, known as “Golden Master” at the school, firmly believes that although Tai Chi originated in China, it belongs to the world. His philosophy is
“To spread traditional Chinese health culture to every corner of the world so that everyone can achieve balance, health, and self-defense.”
Contact Yangshuo Traditional Tai Chi School now.
Wudang Tai Chi Kung Fu School
Located in Wudang Mountain, Hubei Province, China, this school utilizes traditional training methods and is open to students of all ages and experience levels. Students train in small groups of up to 10, 5.5 days a week, for at least 6 hours a day.
Accommodation is hotel-style, and foreigners typically stay in double rooms. The school provides comprehensive public facilities and is warm in winter and cool in summer. Tuition includes accommodation and all meals. Training takes place outdoors year-round, with the exception of daily meditation sessions.
Wudang Tai Chi Kung Fu School is headed by Master Chen Xijing, a representative Wudang Kung Fu inheritor, outstanding Wudang Kung Fu talent, and inheritor of its intangible cultural heritage.
Contact Wudang Tai Chi Kung Fu School today.
Ba Duan Jin Kung Fu Programs and Schools
Song Mountain Shaolin Kung Fu School
Located in the Shaolin Temple in Henan Province, China, this school is a fully authorized Chinese Shaolin Kung Fu training school. Students can learn traditional Shaolin boxing, Shaolin philosophy, Chinese Taekwondo, Qigong, Tai Chi, Ba Duan Jin (Eight Section Brocade), Yi Jin Jing (Emperor’s Tendon and Bones Exercises), and Wu Qin Xi (Five Animals Exercises).
Martial arts instruction encompasses traditional Kung Fu, Sanda, combat, and performance. The school implements a closed, military-style management system, with coaches and students living and eating together.
Master Wang Zhanyang, the director of the Songshan Shaolin Jingwu Academy, comes from a martial arts family. His father, Mr. Wang Chaofan, is known as the “Flag Bearer of Shaolin Kung Fu.” He inherited his father’s martial arts skills from a young age and later converted to Shaolin, becoming the 31st generation disciple and receiving the title of one of the “Eighteen Vajra Masters of Shaolin.”
Master Wang is not only a master of martial arts and a winner of numerous international martial arts competitions, but he is also dedicated to promoting Shaolin culture globally. He has also served in various international capacities, including as the permanent president of the Italian Shaolin Kung Fu Association and as the chief advisor to the Singapore Shaolin Sports Association.
Contact Song Mountain Shaolin Kung Fu School
Seattle Shaolin Kungfu Academy
Seattle Shaolin Kungfu Academy focuses on Shaolin Kung Fu, Tai Chi, Qigong, and cultural arts activities. It also offers health classes, including Ba Duan Jin (Eight Section Brocade), Yi Jin Jing (Easy Muscle Cleansing), and Rou Quan (Soft Fist). Arts programs include dance, music, chess, table tennis, and other science-based courses.
The academy’s director is Master Zhou Lei, the 34th generation disciple of the Shaolin Temple and the school’s founder. He is a world-renowned martial artist. He specializes in Shaolin boxing, the Zui Jian (Drunken Stick), the San Duan Jian (Three-Section Stick), Qigong, Two-Finger Zen (Two-Finger Zen), Sanshou (Three-Section Stick), Eighteen Weapons, Ba Duan Jin (Eight Section Brocade), Yi Jin Jing (Easy Muscle Cleansing), and herbal medicine, with particular expertise in finger Zen and acupuncture.
The academy offers Kung Fu classes, summer camps, and private lessons designed for diverse needs.
