Zhong Yue Shaolin Temple — Attraction in Houston

I have been training at this school for a year now, which in terms of martial arts is almost no time at all. That being said, this school is very special.

So before continuing I should say that I've trained for 7 years in Soo Bahk Do, 2 years in Ninpo, and for 2 years in Shaolin Kung Fu before coming to this school. All of these are traditional martial arts and I've been very fortunate to say that I've found excellent teachers of these styles in the past, and have only left these other schools because of life events that had me move around the USA.

There are far too many "fake black belts" and sham schools in the United States. I've lived all over the country and have always sought a quality martial arts school in every city I've lived - it's why I've trained in a variety of styles. So while I'm not a master of martial arts in any sense, I've trained with and seen so many martial arts schools that I can say for certain that I know a legitimate school when I see one. Most schools I see are very bad.

Master Shi De Shan certainly runs a legitimate school. I mean, this man is literally a Shaolin monk. As in - he is a bona fide warrior monk from the Shaolin Temple. When he goes back to visit, they welcome him as one of their own. He explains and demonstrates the techniques, the philosophies behind all of the forms, he corrects his students. He cares about us improving as martial artists.

That on its own should be enough to settle anybody's mind on whether or not Shifu is the real deal. But there are some negative reviews on here so I feel like I should address some things.

Firstly, there's an accusation that Shifu is "rich." Perhaps he has some wealth, I honestly wouldn't know. Because he lives humbly. He trains in every-day workout clothes, like basically all the students - there is no fixed uniform, you train in whatever you want as long as it's not too restrictive for the requirements of kung fu. And he literally throws nothing away and reuses EVERYTHING, and most of the stuff he has is either second-hand or homemade. The office chair at the temple is so old that it's got foam stuffing sticking out from the worn out seams. His tuition rate is fair for a martial arts school and is comparable to the fees I've happily paid at other great schools that weren't run by Shaolin monks.

I've also seen an accusation that he doesn't really teach, and delegates the work to people who "aren't even certified." Traditional kung fu is different from most other Asian martial arts in the fact that there is no belt/rank/certification system. In Shaolin, you know stuff or you don't. If Shifu delegates a student to teach you something it's because that student is good at what they're going to teach you and you will learn something from them.

Lastly - there's the accusation that he's "really mean." This is my favorite criticism of this school and it's actually what made me decide to give it a shot. News Flash martial arts is not easy and it's not "fun." It's supposed to feel like military training. And compared to other schools I've tried, Da Shifu isn't even the meanest. He's very fair and direct.

But as with anything - the proof is in the pudding! After a year of training here I'm closer to the splits than I've ever been (my personal goal is to get a split in the next 3 months); I'm in way better shape than before I started here, my mind is clear and motivated; my technique is improved; and I'm even starting my hard qi gong training (my iron body is still not very good, but there are a few students here who can take multiple full-force punches and and kicks without batting an eye). I'm starting my bo staff training and it's a very good (and sometimes painful) challenge. It can be incredibly intense, but it's also only as intense as you push yourself to be.

If you come to this school you'll find a welcoming environment, a handful of dedicated students, and an old-world traditional Shaolin monk who will guide you through the very complex and rewarding path of kung fu. I'd recommend it to anybody who's got the...

I've been training here for 18 years since 2002 at the age of 8 and I have to say that there is no place that I would rather train at than the Houston Shaolin Temple. Grandmaster Shi De Shan is a 31st generation shaolin monk who has worked extremely hard building the reputation of the shaolin temple as the best place to learn Martial Arts in Houston, Tx. He has a really good personality and is open-minded in general. Not only will you learn self-defense, but you also get the privilege of learning discipline, motivation, hard work, and carrying yourself in a humble manner. He has made a life long positive connection with his patients old and new. All of his students have well rounded character to match sifu.

As for as weapons, he teaches pretty much all of the traditional shaoln weapons from staff, broad sword, straight sword, and the older weapons. My staff form and taichi broad sword is really good. I've been doing iron body for 5 years and it has improved my health mentally and physically. Since training iron body I find that I have better breathing techniques and can push through even when Im winded. I can take strong hits when we spar and keep on going. I would definitely refer this place to anyone who wants to learn...

Update - It's been a couple of years and time for update. I've been training here for 4 years now. Training under the guidance of Shifu is awesome. His experience and constant strive for excellence enhances the training provided. This form of training not only strengthen your body, but also incorporate speed and agility that enriches the mind and body. Chi brings into unison the heart, mind and body leading to Flow. It is very rewarding when practice consistently. I cannot imagine my life without it now. Original post - I've been training there for about 2 years now. Looking back, the initial months were tough. With no background in martial arts, and being in my 50s. However as my body adapt to the routine, I felt physically stronger, especially my legs. My knee pain eventually went away. I gain much flexibility, feel more relax, balanced and learn to breath better. The essence of this practice stress stretching ligaments, opening joints, and circulation.. it makes sense now that I can feel it in my body. It can be hard work but the benefits that comes with it is worth it. It is indeed a practice for all ages. Good trainers and Shifu's skill and awareness provides the...