Robert WebbAdmit it, we’ve probably had that fantasy. Whether we see someone in danger or get put in it ourselves, we’ve all dreamt of overcoming a threat with a perfect sequence of sick moves that make us look and feel cool.
In reality, martial arts aren’t just about self-defense, especially Chinese martial arts. Whether you’re practicing Wing Chun or Kung Fu, martial arts are used to instill discipline, improve your fitness, and connect with Chinese culture.
So, whether you’re brushing up on self-defense or want a new way to get fit and be more disciplined, we’ve rounded up our favorite schools to get started on practicing Chinese martial arts in Vancouver.
1. Northern Shaolin Kung Fu Academy
Address: 801 W 22nd Ave, Vancouver
Contact Details: +1 604 808 9168, [email protected]
Operating Hours: Monday – Wednesday: 4:30 PM to 7:30 PM, Tuesday – Friday: 4:30 PM to 7:00 PM, Saturday: 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM, Closed on Sundays
When you think of Chinese martial arts, what’s the first one in mind? If your thought was Kung Fu, then the Northern Shaolin Kung Fu Academy might be the school for you. We’ve heard it’s a favorite among Kung Fu learners in Vancouver.
As their name implies, the academy teaches Northern Shaolin Kung Fu. Their curriculum covers traditional fist and weapon forms, and we were pleased to see that these programs were available to all ages, making it quite accessible.
One of the most notable factors about the academy was their sparring and self-defense classes. Since some students worry about martial arts that don’t offer practical applications, we appreciated the school making it an option.
These go hand in hand with their regular scheduled performances and evaluations, as it lets students practice their forms in front of an audience or against each other.
Students reported smaller class sizes, with the school only handling small groups at a time. While this supposedly lets the school allot enough time for students to get ample instruction, this resulted in long waiting times for lesson slots.
We’d also recommend keeping a budget in mind if you enroll, as the prices for lessons and membership are quite high.
Really understand the needs of each child
“My eldest has been attending Sifu Marquis Lung’s classes for over 8 years and now my little one is following her brother’s footsteps. They are professional, dedicated, encouraging, and really understand the needs of each child.”
– Ms. Fiona Wong, Google Review
One of the best martial arts classes
“This is one of the best martial arts classes being offered out there. Sifu Marquis Lung and his instructors are highly encouraging, will help instill discipline, a strong work ethic, and values while giving your children self-confidence.”
– Mr. Taylor Sloan, Google Review
2. Chau Luen Athletics
Address: 325 Keefer St, Vancouver
Contact Details: +1 604 998 8896, [email protected]
Operating Hours: Thursday: 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM, Saturday: 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM, Closed on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday
Lion dances and kung fu are cornerstones of Chinese culture, and with Chau Luen Athletics, you can now practice both. Gaining popularity around Vancouver thanks to their performances, it was their Kung Fu lessons that landed them on our radar.
Chau Luen Athletics became a favorite for would-be learners because of how easy it was to find them. Students we chatted with usually found the school through their dance performances at events or their workshops.
Regular students were also quick to praise the engaging, weekly training sessions. These come at a pricing approach that surprised even us, with students only paying what they can to contribute to the class’s upkeep.
A word of advice we did get from students was for nervous newcomers– the school offers free trial lessons on certain days, where newcomers can learn the basics of lion dance and Kung Fu and decide whether they want to join.
However, lessons are limited to just two days out of a whole week, relegating a lot of students to self-study to keep up the routines.
We also have to note that Chau Luen only teaches Kung Fu, so those seeking other martial arts systems can try other schools.
I was able to focus on my martial arts goals
“As a new student I was able to focus on my martial arts goals and have instructors work with me to achieve these with real goals and timelines. The club helped me improve my skills in Kung Fu and Lion Dance quickly with sharp instructors.”
– Mr. Rémi Landry Yuan, Google Review
The instructors are talented, inclusive, and incredibly committed
“Amazing group of highly-dedicated and skilled kung fu practitioners. The instructors are talented, inclusive, and incredibly committed to building each student up, from the first free trial class to high-level performance/competition.”
– Ms. Leanne Yu, Google Review
3. Immortal Dragon Shaolin Kung Fu
Address: 739 Gore Ave #204, Vancouver
Contact Details: +1 604 723 4883, [email protected]
Operating Hours: Monday – Friday: 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM, Wednesday: 7:00 AM to 8:00 AM | 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM, Thursday: 6:00 PM to 8:30 PM, Closed on Saturday, Sunday and Tuesday
Immortal Dragon might not actually turn you immortal, but it’s certainly popular among Vancouverites for making them feel like it. Touted as a spot for those wanting to learn both Northern and Southern Shaolin Kung Fu, we’d be remiss not to mention it.
The school offers three distinct martial arts programs: Shaolin Kung Fu, Sanda, and Tai Chi. Their programs explore everything from the basic forms to practical applications. We find this pretty handy for clients looking into learning the art of self-defense.
The first thing that stood out to us was the pricing for lessons, offering separate monthly payments for adult and child learners.
They even had family packages for those looking into a unique way to spend some bonding time!
When we got to chatting with students, a lot were happy to mention the instructors’ expertise in the art. Many told us about the attention to detail during lessons, with instructors noticing any mistakes in forms, even in larger class sizes.
That being said, some students informed us that group classes were the way to go for lessons taken at the academy. Private classes are costlier and difficult to arrange based on the instructors’ schedules.
Will both improve your skill and leave you sweating
“I can’t recommend Sifu Matthias at Immortal Dragon highly enough. He is an amazing instructor who is very knowledgeable at his craft. His lessons will both improve your skill and leave you sweating.”
– Mr. Brian Cucek, Google Review
A welcoming and friendly environment
“Immortal Dragon is a great Kung Fu school. Sifu Matthias creates a welcoming and friendly environment with classes that are suitable for people who are new to Kung Fu and for more experienced students.”
– Mr. Kevin Boyle, Google Review
4. Wujitang Martial Arts Institute
Address: 7100 River Rd Unit 5, Richmond
Contact Details: +1 604 355 1858, [email protected]
Operating Hours: Monday: 7:00 PM to 9:05 PM, Tuesday – Friday: 9:25 AM to 12:35 PM | 7:00 PM to 9:05 PM, Saturday: 7:55 AM to 12:05 PM | 2:00 PM to 4:05 PM, Sunday: 8:00 AM to 12:10 PM | 1:55 PM to 5:00 PM
Don’t feel up to practicing Kung Fu or Wing Chun? Then the Wujitang Martial Arts Institute might be up your alley, gaining popularity for its variety of rarely noticed styles.
Wujitang’s highlight for us is their focus on internal martial arts. Tai Chi might be the most recognizable name on their list of classes, but they also offer it alongside lesser-known styles like Baguazhang and Yiquan.
Students even praised their weapons and self-defense classes, focusing on hands-on forms for Taiji swords, staves, and more. This is handy for students who want to practice an art that doesn’t focus on their fists and feet.
When we asked students about the training programs, most reported engaging lessons, with some even encouraged to keep practicing even at home. The institute provided learning aids such as videos and handbooks to aid in these pursuits, some said.
On the other hand, we were also made aware of the long waiting time to book trial classes for newcomers, making it difficult for newcomers to see whether they’d be a good fit.
One last word of advice students had for us was to attend their regular public classes over private group lessons, as arranging those can be difficult.
The learning atmosphere is great
“The students there are friendly, and the learning atmosphere is great. I went from knowing nothing about Chinese martial arts to now loving this sport. I feel very fortunate to have met Master Gao and Wujitang.”
– Ms. Mabel Chow, Google Review
Such a wide variety of internal martial arts to learn
“Wujitang is like Wudong (武當山) in Greater Vancouver for me: a place to train my mind, body and spirit. There is such a wide variety of internal martial arts to learn from a professional master in a supportive community setting.”
– Ms. Bernice Wong, Google Review
5. Vancouver Wing Chun
Address: St. James Community Square, 3214 W 10th Ave, Vancouver
Contact Details: [email protected]
Operating Hours: Monday – Wednesday: 7:30 PM to 9:30 PM, Saturday: 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM, Closed on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday
The name doesn’t get any clearer than that! Locals pointed Vancouver Wing Chun out to us for students looking to practice Wing Chun on its own, making it handy for those who want to focus on just the singular martial art.
The school offered both skill and conditioning classes. Upon chatting with staff and students, their conditioning classes stuck out to us for their focus on bodily wellness. We thought this was pretty convenient for those practicing martial arts for fitness.
Vancouver Wing Chun was also refreshingly welcoming, with the staff readily answering our inquiries. Getting into a martial art can be pretty daunting, so we were happy to hear from students who mentioned the school’s patient approach to newcomers.
All of these lessons even come at welcoming prices. Students mentioned their intro programs already provide 4 classes at budget-friendly costs, helping newcomers decide whether the school is for them.
On the other hand, we do have to note that the school has limited daytime classes, with only Saturday classes held at early times.
One last reminder we have is that the school has a strict age restriction of 16 years old and above, so this isn’t an institute for child learners of the art.
It was great for the mind and body
“You will learn some very practical self defense very early on. Also he explains how different martial arts forms compare. I enjoyed the training for 13 years and I feel I have learned a lot and it was great for the mind and body.”
– Ms. Claudia R., Google Review
This has been one of the best martial arts experiences
“I’ve been practicing Kung Fu for most of my life and started training at Vancouver Wing Chun Academy several years ago. I can honestly say this has been one of the best martial arts experiences I have had!”
– Ms. Luda Artemieva, Google Review
