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Doc-Fai Wong Martial Arts Center
Rating Details »
Category: Martial Arts [Edit]
Neighborhood: Parkside925 Taraval Street
San Francisco, CA 94116
(415) 665-2488
Thanksgiving Special
6 weeks for only $99.-
Offer available for new sign ups.
- Hours:
Mon. 12:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Tue. 3:30 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.
Wed. 3:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Thu. 3:30 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.
Fri. 12:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Sat. 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
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"My son has been going here for 3+ years and he absolutely loves it. It's so family oriented that we consider Professor a part of our own…" read more »
12 reviews for Doc-Fai Wong Martial Arts Center
After a year of waiting for the Muni every morning in front of Doc-Fai Wong Center and perusing their countless medals and photos in the window display, I finally decided to try it out ($15 for your first two classes, amazing deal!)
Initially, I was intimidated because I have no background in martial arts. After my first two classes, I signed up for the 6-week summer program. It has been a wonderful experience. The instructors are professional, approachable, and motivational. They give supportive and constructive feedback in order for each student to achieve his or her best. My classmates are equally supportive and helpful. I walk away from each class feeling refreshed, energized, and more focused. When I told my instructors that I plan to move to Southern California, they helped me look for a Kung Fu school there so I can continue my studies.
Bottom line - whether you are looking for a place to help you get in shape, to learn something new, or to begin your long-term study of Choy Li Fut Kung Fu, this is the place to go. You will not be disappointed.
Tat Wong Kung Fu and Doc Fai are the same: The Head Teacher is never present. It's a load of crap to hear the marketing gimmicks you get while standing around for the last 5 minutes waiting for class to adjourn.
Good for kids, bad for adults.
Black belt = no such thing in Chinese martial arts. It's a sales gimmick.
The Doc Fai Wong Martial Arts Center in San Francisco has it all! History, philosophy and kicking kung fu technique! The school is expertly guided by world famous Kung Fu and Tai Chi teacher Grandmaster Doc Fai Wong. Grandmaster Wong is a living legend in the world of martial arts. Voted Kung Fu Artist of the Year in 1991 and Inside Kung Fu Instructor of the Year in 2007, Grandmaster Wong is also a member of the Martial Arts Hall of Fame! In fact, Grandmaster Wong was one of the first legitimate Kung Fu Masters to begin teaching non-Chinese in the late 1960's.
Weather you are interested in Kung Fu or Tai Chi for health, self defense or pure art, then the Doc Fai Wong Martial Arts Center in San Francisco is the place for you!
This school really is as good as it gets! I have been training here for about two years and it has certainly been a life changing experience. Choy Li Fut is an excellent art for self defense but serves also as a way to stay in shape and keep you feeling young and strong. I feel priviledged to train here as we are so close to the source of the system with Grandmaster and Sifu here, and it is always an honour to get a lesson from either one of them. All the instuctors are super approachable and extremely knowledgable. It really feels like they try to cater to everybodys individual needs and learning styles. A very family atmosphere with lots of whole families training here together, a wonderful kids program, a true art with a legit lineage, the keeper of the system right here at this school, and compitent and confident instructors. This school truely has it all! to sum it up in two words:
LIFE CHANGING
I recently sent my daughter to the 1-week Kung Fu Summer Camp. She absolutely loved the activities and the instructors. She has been asking me since when she could go back there. I thought it was an awesome camp, because my little girl actually learned the art of patience and began to apply it to every day life. What I was trying to teach her for months, she learned from the camp in one week. I couldn't be happier. Boy did I wish the camp was longer, hopefully for the entire summer. : )
I walked by and rode past Doc Fei Wong's martial arts center on the L for a good year before one day stopping and grabbing a pamphlet on the outer door to check it out. If you have ever wanted to learn Choy Li Fut or Tai Chi this is the place to do it. Incredibly talented, sociable and patient instructors and an amazingly friendly and helpful group of students is what you'll find.
I'm learning Yang style Tai Chi and in case you were curious what that's all about, yes it is martial. It's also an incredible workout; a quick Google search told me that an hour of Tai Chi's controlled movements burns the same amount of calories as an hour of surfing (I surf, for the record, and can vouch for that one) and that it falls just short of calories burned while downhill skying. Classes are done in groups and are started with Chi Gung exercises which are a combination of warm up stretches and chi gathering. Afterward we do standing meditation for a few minutes and then group forms, followed by more broken down individual level forms.
The overwhelming atmosphere inside is that of respect; for the history and the tradition, and for one another. A must try if you've ever been curious.
I have trained at martial arts schools before, before I moved to the City. While others are run like gyms with little focus on the person behind the art, this one takes you as a whole into account. When I first visited the school, the instructor who met me radiated a peaceful energy, he was friendly, and made you feel instantly comfortable. They offer intro courses for a such a low price, that I was able to go in, take a couple of classes, and really see if the system, the school, and the people were a good fit for me personally. All the instructors have been there or in the federation under the Grandmaster Doc Fai Wong for many years. Needless to say, learning from such well-taught and dedicated people makes you strive for excellence in yourself. Doc Fai Wong himself is well-known and much respected in the martial arts system and in San Francisco. Having someone like him drop in on your classes or stop you to give you pointers is an absolute honor. Where else would you find such a rich lineage, instructors with a deep history in the art, and the actual Grandmaster all there at one school? If you're serious about learning Kung Fu, this is by far the school for you!
In my opinion this is THE PLACE to study Choy Li Fut.
Amazing instructors and classes. Better than any gym.
Highly recommended.
Grandmaster Wong is one of the most renown Choy Li Fut practitioners in the world. People come from around the world to seek out GM Wong and his teachings. It has taken me a few years to realize what a luxury it is to have someone with his knowledge in my back yard. GM Wong's expertise is translated through the high caliber of extremely knowledgeable and talented instructors you encounter at this school.
The school has an overall expertise in the Choy Li Fut style of Kung Fu, Yang style Tai Chi, and offers acupuncture. If you are curious about the Choy Li Fut style of Kung Fu, instructors would me more than willing to explain, but it is a fairly complete style that incorporates Southern boxing with Northern footwork, has over 30 weapons, and integrates ground fighting and internal energy applications into the intermediate curriculum.
The vibe of this school is a compromise between a business belt factory that you see often in Martial Arts schools and the old school discipleship's of Chinatown. The strengths of this school are the instructors, GM Wong;s knowledge, and you must wear shoes to class. The drawbacks are that it can be a bit costly and that you really only get to deal with Grandmaster after you have proved yourself for years.
If you want to learn from people that are extremely knowledgeable about Martial Arts, and teach application and self defense in a disciplined environment, then I recommend Grandmaster Wong's school. If you want to learn kick-boxing or prove your inner Ralph Macchio by breaking boards, there are other schools in SF that are better focused in that area for you.
this center not only has great instructors, but is in a great location (get there by muni, bus, or drive)! there is no excuse for anyone not go here. this place has many loyal students who have been going for years and have fun! my boyfriend is one of those people.
If you are looking for traditional southern kung fu or Tai Chi in the city, this school is the real deal. Grandmaster Wong is a world class martial artist and he is one of the most experienced Chinese Martial Arts expert in the US today with many books and videos to his credit. The facility is very well equipped and an excellent environment to train in.
As the other reviewer has pointed out, this school offers Choy Li Fut and Yang style Tai Chi. Choy Li Fut is a very comprehensive southern style with a lot of depth to it. It is a great work out and an effective self defense art if you train seriously. With tons of forms and weapons it is also a lot of FUN! (after all that's what keeps one going with any activity). The Tai Chi program is great if you are looking for balance, focus and internal health benefits.
If you are looking for high quality instructions in Chinese martial arts, definitely stop by this school and chat with Grandmaster Wong, his son Sifu Jason or one of the instructors. They are very friendly people and easy to talk to. In my opinion if you are close to the Sunset district this school is a top choice for great martial arts training.
As a teen I decided to join Doc Fai Wong Center with my cousin. It just so happened that my Uncle learned from Grandmaster Doc Fai Wong ages ago and wanted us two misfits to stay out of trouble and get some exercise. He told us that Grandmaster was very respected and world reknowned in the art of Choy Li Fut. We took my Uncle's words to heart and we trained hard even with our uncoordination and went to the studio right after school Monday thru Friday religiously. There was not a day we missed!! Low and behold 17 years later I am still training at the school and learning the art that I love. The instructors that trained me back in the day are still there and teach with a passion that is indescribable. They want to bring out the best out of everyone to attain not just perfection in kung fu but perfection in life. Grandmaster, Sifu, and the rest of the instructors are there constantly to instill the "choy li fut" way to all that pass through the studio that we call home. If you have the desire and the drive to learn something new and invigorating...stop by the school and check it out. It changed my life immensely and hopefully it can change you to.
