Classes

Sanshou / Sanda Classes
Discover dynamic Chinese free-fighting in a safe, structured, and modern format. At Northern Sage Kung Fu Academy, our Sanshou (also known as Sanda) program offers a complete stand-up combat training system that bridges kicking, striking, clinch control, and takedowns — all practiced under live, controlled sparring conditions with full protective gear.

What Students Will Learn

• Kicking, Striking and Defense: Students develop effective boxing combinations, powerful kicks, knee and elbow techniques, and integrated defensive movements to handle real-time exchanges.
• Throws and Takedowns: Training covers essential sweeps, hip throws, single-leg and double-leg takedowns, along with kick catches and trips — building confidence in both standing combat and close quarters.
• Clinch Work: Learn to control opponents in the clinch, off-balance them, and transition fluidly between striking and grappling.
• Safe, Progressive Sparring: A key feature of Sanshou at our academy is practical sparring tailored to each student’s level. All sparring is performed with proper protective equipment, clear rules, and careful supervision to ensure safety while delivering genuine combat experience.
• Conditioning and Application: Classes build endurance, explosiveness, and resilience through targeted drills and pad work, preparing students to apply techniques under fatigue and pressure.

Who This Class is For
Our Sanshou classes are specifically designed for individuals — teens and adults — who wish to:

• Gain practical fighting skills tested in live sparring.
• Train in a controlled, safety-focused environment.
• Improve overall fitness, reaction time, and mental toughness.
• Experience a martial art rooted in real combat performance, not just forms.

No prior martial arts background is required. Beginners and experienced practitioners alike will find structured guidance, clear progression, and a supportive community.

Class Structure
Each Sanshou session typically includes:

• Dynamic Warm-Up: Footwork, agility drills, and mobility exercises.
• Technical Focus: Progressive breakdown of strikes, takedowns, and defensive counters.
• Partner Drills: Applied practice of combinations, entries, and takedown setups.
• Controlled Sparring Rounds: Supervised contact sparring with full protective gear.
• Review and Feedback: Strategy insights and personal coaching points.

Train Hard. Spar Smart. Build Confidence.
At Northern Sage Kung Fu Academy, our Sanshou program combines the best of Chinese kickboxing and wrestling into a safe, adaptable system that makes you stronger, faster, and ready to handle pressure — all while respecting your safety and personal growth.

Meditation & Qigong
Cultivate balance, vitality, and inner calm through the enduring practice of Luohan Qigong and mindful meditation. At Northern Sage Kung Fu Academy, our Meditation & Qigong program integrates gentle, restorative movement with breathwork and quiet reflection — supporting physical health, mental clarity, and a harmonious spirit.

Rooted in the ancient tradition of the Eighteen Luohan Qigong (Shiba Luohan Xinggong), this class guides students through a complete mind-body cultivation system that has been practiced for centuries for health, resilience, and longevity.

Each session introduces:

• Luohan Qigong: A progressive sequence of eighteen flowing postures designed to open the body’s energy pathways, promote healthy circulation, and harmonize the breath with coordinated movement.
• Mindful Breathing: Techniques that calm the nervous system, center the mind, and enhance oxygen flow for improved vitality.
• Seated or Standing Meditation: Simple, approachable methods to settle mental chatter, cultivate awareness, and develop emotional balance.

Benefits for Practitioners
Regular practice of Luohan Qigong and meditation supports:

• Improved flexibility, joint health, and postural alignment.
• Enhanced energy levels and natural stress reduction.
• Greater mental focus and emotional resilience.
• A deeper sense of inner peace and self-understanding.

Who Should Attend
This program is open to students of all ages and experience levels. It is ideally suited for:

• Individuals seeking gentle, low-impact exercise for health and longevity.
• Martial arts students wishing to deepen their internal energy cultivation.
• Anyone looking for a practical, structured approach to stress relief and mental wellness.
• No previous martial arts or meditation background is required.

Class Structure
A typical class includes:

• Warm-Up: Gentle stretches and breath awareness to prepare body and mind.
• Core Practice: Detailed instruction and guided practice of the Eighteen Luohan Qigong.
• Mindfulness: Seated or standing meditation and breath regulation exercises.
• Closing: Relaxation and reflection to carry calmness into daily life.

A Path to Harmony and Well-Being
Our Meditation & Qigong classes provide a welcoming, supportive environment to explore ancient wellness practices at a comfortable pace. Students learn to move with intention, breathe with awareness, and cultivate a life of balance and vitality — on and off the training floor.

At Northern Sage Kung Fu Academy, our youth program offers a structured and engaging path into the world of traditional Chinese martial arts, grounded in the rich heritage of Seven Star Praying Mantis Kung Fu.

Designed for students ages 10 to 16, our classes go beyond physical technique — developing confidence, discipline, and mental clarity through focused martial arts training.

What Students Will Learn

• Core Kung Fu skills including strikes, kicks, stances, and defensive movements
• Footwork drills and combat patterns that build agility, timing, and control
• Traditional hand forms that preserve the tactical and cultural essence of our style
• Principles of awareness, self-discipline, and calm thinking under pressure
• Each class emphasizes personal effort, respect for others, and the development of both physical ability and inner character.

More Than Just Technique
Our youth program is designed to help students:

• Build strength, coordination, and confidence
• Learn how to focus and stay composed under challenge
• Gain practical self-defense concepts appropriate to their level
• Develop a deep respect for the art, the process, and themselves

No previous experience is needed. All students progress at their own pace within a clear, time-tested system that honors the traditional values of Kung Fu.

Our Kung Fu curriculum guides every student through a carefully sequenced path of growth, rooted in centuries of tradition and refined through modern understanding. Training is divided into three main levels — Beginner (Jing), Intermediate (Qi), and Advanced (li) — and five phases including Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water. Each level contains a large corpus of skills with distinct milestones and deeply symbolic layers of meaning.

Beginner Level (Wood 1, Wood 2, Fire 1)
Students begin their journey by forging a strong, resilient body and learning the essential fighting techniques of Seven Star Praying Mantis. Training focuses on foundational footwork, kicks, strikes, stand-up grappling, throws, and traditional forms. Drills develop coordination, pattern recognition, and sensitivity through structured solo and partner exercises. At this stage, emphasis is on building strength, conditioning, and the practical basics of self-defense — ensuring students know what to do and how to do it.

Intermediate Level (Fire 2, Earth 1, Earth 2)
With solid fundamentals in place, students deepen their technical skill and begin mastering tactical decision-making under pressure. The Intermediate stage shifts training toward higher-level coordination, energy work, and combat strategy. Students learn to analyze, adapt, and solve movement problems in real time, refining offensive and defensive patterns and gaining insight into system principles and theory. Practice includes variable and live drills, and many students start assisting in class leadership, strengthening their own understanding through teaching. This stage generally spans another three years.

Advanced Level (Metal 1, Metal 2, Water)
In the Advanced level, students achieve a deep integration of body (shen), energy (qi), and mind (xin). Training includes advanced applications of the system, Iron Palm (Tie Sha Zhang), Eighteen Luohan Qigong, and an exploration of philosophical principles to cultivate mindfulness and personal insight. Practice emphasizes the ancient connection between martial skill and longevity training, guiding students toward a balanced and harmonious life. At this stage, the student refines all knowledge and skills, developing the maturity to teach and transmit the system responsibly. Mastery at this level takes about three more years, culminating in the ultimate synthesis of body (jing), energy (qi), and mind (li).

This structured path ensures every practitioner grows step-by-step — from a strong foundation in physical techniques, to adaptive tactical understanding, to the deep cultivation of inner power and moral integrity. At Northern Sage Kung Fu Academy, students train not just to fight, but to embody the living spirit of Seven Star Praying Mantis Kung Fu.