Ho-I Kung-Fu & Tai-Chi — Local services in Columbus

This is a great place to learn the martial arts. It can be confusing and frustrating trying to find a good place to start. There's kickboxing, karate, MMA, and all the rest. Kung Fu appealed to me because of it's interesting history. I go to a gym regularly and have been taking yoga for years. I was starting to feel stagnate in my routines and needed a new challenge. Joining a martial arts studio is a bit different as there's a set schedule and you are asked to pay monthly. You will also be asked to buy a uniform for about 75 bucks. It includes excellent shoes, pants, and a cool black t-shirt with the name of the school on it. I like the uniform and was happy to buy it. If you're looking for a place to just drop in once in a while when it's convenient like at a yoga studio, then this isn't the place for you. I had some reservations about this at first, but since I joined 3 months ago my weekly 1 hour class has become something I look forward to all week. For the very reasonable price of a bit less than a hundred a month you get your weekly 1 hour class plus an open gym on another day where you can come in and get personal instruction from either Mollica himself or from some of his personally trained blackbelts. Master Mollica is a truly skilled teacher and martial arts master. You will meet people that have literally moved to Columbus to train with him. Everyone here is very nice and you'll find yourself looking forward to seeing everyone again next week. As far as the actual practice, this is a traditional shaolin kung fu school. You will be expected to be respectful to the traditions of this school. Shaolin Kung-fu is very practical and Mollica keeps it that way by focusing on techniques you can actually use for self defense. There's a nice balance in his classes between practical self defense techniques and some of the more artistic forms and techniques. You will quickly begin to distinguish between cat, crane, tiger, and other forms and styles all under the shaolin banner. I attend the beginner adult class every monday at 630. There's an advanced class you can work your way toward on tuesdays and other classes offered such as taichi and a chinese wrestling course. There is also a kids class offered. One thing I really like is that the classes rotate and so every class is something new. The beginning warmups are excellent and are always the same, but after that we practice something variant. It could be stances, blocks, punches, kicks, or whatever else the master decides to teach us that week. You will quickly accumulate plenty of techniques to practice at home. The beginners adult class is all ages and...

I have been studying under Master Mollica for over four years now and it has truly been one of the best experiences of my life. The variety of self defense techniques and Kung Fu styles that Master Mollica has in his arsenal is quite amazing. In addition to the Kung Fu practice, we also participate in Shuai Jiao, which is an ancient martial art where throws and joint locks are employed. Classes are offered for beginners twice a week and as you progress through the ranks, you are eventually admitted into the Advanced class. The instructors there have now become my brothers and sisters, and everyone has been completely respectful during my tenure here. Master Mollica also teaches Chi Kung and Tai Chi among various animal Kung Fu styles and weapon techniques. It takes a lot of hard work to master some of these styles, but over time you will recognize incremental improvement until the techniques and strategies become second nature. Master Mollica is one of the most patient martial artists I have ever had the privilege to...

I have been attending Master Mollicas class along with my 11 year old, whom I enrolled in their youth class for 2 years now. Our experience has been fantastic! The hands on training and detailed attention to the art has made it easier to comprehend and understand vs just being thrown into something with no step by step instructions. All of the instructors are fantastic and have many years of experience between them. I watch my son twice a week in the youth class as well, and I must say, that the way the children are spoken to and taught is fantastic! If you are looking for a place to learn various forms of self defense and martial arts, I would highly recommend that you try them out. These are some of the most qualified and highest ranking Masters and instructors in the field that hold many credentials from teaching at OSU to USA Olympic coaching to world championship classifications. By the way, if you think your too old or have a child too young, you may be...