Richard Lee’s East-West Kung Fu

I have been a student at East West on and off since 2007. I have trouble coming up with words to describe how I feel and what I believe about this school. How do you encapsulate with words the sense of community, the pursuit of excellence within oneself, the knowledge of being individually seen and encouraged to strive for one’s very best by a group of expert staff and peers… words cannot accurately express the modesty shared when interacting with advanced students and instructors – this genuine humility is a foundational quality that I have seen passed on from instructor to student over and over, and permeates the value system at East West… words cannot convey the invaluable experience of driving through physical, mental, and emotional blocks to achieve a constantly improving and perfecting of the mind, body, and spirit all in one, along with a community of people who know and understand and want you to succeed every step of the way. What an extraordinary group of fellow adults striving for the same goals! The symbiosis, harmony, strength, humanity, aliveness, reality, fortitude, grit, and so much more is part of what one experiences when one joins East West.
I’ve attended on and off for a variety of reasons and I have always been welcomed upon return with enthusiasm and encouragement. I have been free to find my way as a student, as this journey is not simply a matter of achieving the next belt rank – at least not for me. I share this because at East West, I have always been able to go to the staff with my questions, concerns, predicaments, and I have ALWAYS felt heard, understood, supported, and received helpful direction.
As for those people who wrote reviews saying they felt like an ATM machine at this school, how unfortunate. Investing a chunk of money for one’s personal well-​being could be a difficult decision for many. I can say that for me, it has been so worth it, and the dividends have been priceless. I see the fee as being comparable to a gym membership, but we students receive so much MORE at East West. This is a school and a business steeped in integrity, from the amazing individuals who make up the staff to the superior instructional model. East West is a school made up of people who LOVE their school and are devoted to bringing about excellence in themselves as well as every student there. I LOVE East West, and I’m eternally grateful for everything I’ve learned on my journey as a student here.

A big reason I moved to California is to study martial arts at East West. I saw the school perform and compete at an international tournament in Maryland my school was cohosting and I was hooked. Studying at East West has been and continues to be one of the best experiences of my life! It has helped me to grow as a person and martial artist. The instructors have a passion for teaching their art to others. Adults and kids alike get a great work out, gain confidence and wisdom, and have a great time. I can’t recommend this school enough!
Wendy Campbell Parco

East West is the best! It is the perfect martial art for all regardless of age and gender. In the years that I have studied here, I’ve gained increased confidence and body awareness. It has helped me maintain a healthy body and mind. It has also helped me in aspects outside of self-​defense. I have learned how to position myself when interacting with others to find positive solutions in difficult situations. East West is an internationally recognized organization that competes around the globe. I have been lucky enough to travel to Asia, South America and Europe with the school.

I’m not sure what to think of the school. My background is in Tae Kwon Do and I was looking for a place close to work that I could go to afterwards and learn something new. I definitely knew I wanted to get back into martial arts but, now as an adult I wasn’t sure which way to go. The minute I sent a message to this place via online they called and asked me to come in for the free intro lesson.
Throughout the lesson I felt like this girl was just repeating a script and wasn’t trying at all to get to know «me». I felt like I was on an infomercial. It was very basic and very quick. She then proceeded to ask me if I wanted to do the introductory package. I figured sure I’d give it a shot. I paid the fee and scheduled the visits. However, come my first visit I had a family emergency and was pretty stuck. I called to cancel and reschedule at least 48 hours in advance because I knew I was going to be out of town… I never received a call back. I got back in town and called again… Even followed up with an email. Never received a call. I walked in to see if I could talk to someone in person. It was a zoo… Kids everywhere… No one was available to help me at the desk. Lets just say I paid the fee and never was able to take the introductory classes. I was turned off just by not getting a return call etc.
Soooooo anyway I just let that one go and it seems like a great place for kids. Every time i was there there were MANY kids… Didn’t see many adults taking the classes. Seems kids are their forte and they do live in a very affluent area. I agree with Eli though… You feel like and ATM machine especially since the experience was in no way personable. I am now getting to know a studio in San Ramon and am doing some boxing where I live in Oakland and enjoy it very much. I recommend this place if you have kids and the $$$. It is on the expensive side because the girl said herself she would go after pricing AFTER I paid and took the series of intro classes. The fact she wouldn’t even touch the subject makes me feel it’s pretty pricey… I’m willing to pay a high price for a great experience… I didn’t get that here. Good Luck!

At first glance this is a great Kung Fu school. You learn a lot and have fun doing it. But that’s how they start you off. And that’s how they try to suck you in.
When you advance to a certain level skill is not the only thing that matters… money matters too. In the end that is all the school cares about. Money. Of course they do a great job teaching you Kung Fu and you will learn a fair amount. But they do not treat you as a student but as an ATM. If you try to leave the school or if the school is not your first priority they will find a way to convey their displeasure with you.
Now this review does not apply to all of the teachers at East West. The young teachers who are at a lower level are all very nice and are just trying to do a good job and teach you how to defend yourself. They too are dealing with the hassle posed by this school’s politics. However the problem does lie with the higher ups. The administration of this school, and dare I say the owner Mr. Lee himself.
If you want to learn how to defend yourself then this is a great place for you. But be wary. If you stay too long they will try to take as much of your time and money as they can.

I LOVE East-​West Kung Fu!
I drive myself, my husband and my daughter one hour each way four to five days a week from Napa, just to get to attend this school.
(yes I know, run on sentence)
Great things to look for and think about when looking for a school:
Black Belts without the ego, who genuinely care about each student’s path and accomplishments
World Champion Black Belts and Students (watching them in action is AMAZING)
A chance to EARN belts not BUY them
Family Friendly environment
Available private lessons with your own personal instructor
Flexible hours
Classes for kids
Professionalism
This school has all of this and more! I couldn’t be happier! :-)

This place is great to learn kung fu and get a good workout. The staff is passionate and is mostly comprised of advanced students who undergo extensive training on teaching techniques. Everyone is highly trained and very nice. The classes are fun and full of energy and you get to learn a lot about martial arts. As you get higher in rank they will want you to compete in their local school tournaments as well as attend their national tournament in Baltimore. The pressure to attend these events can be overwhelming sometimes. Unless you are willing to dedicate a lot of time and energy, I would be wary of joining their instructor program. On top of studying for your belt you’ll be required to teach a certain number of hours each week. Being an instructor has a lot of benefits, but it’s very consuming and demanding and has little sympathies to time commitments outside of kung fu. Outside of the instructor course and pressure to attend tournaments, the school is a good fun place to learn martial arts at any age.

I have been going to East West for almost 2.5 years now. It is a wonderful facility with trained experts that are willing to spend time with you and help you grow and achieve your goals. Both my children (ages 5 and 7) are students and look forward to going to the studio weekly. It helps teach them discipline, respect as well as get a good workout. I would highly recommend you check out East West!

Bok-​fu do is a the best martial art and East-​West Kung Fu is the best school to learn the system.
My family and I have been with East-​West Kung Fu for a little over than a year and we very much enjoy every moment here. The school has a large number of highly trained staff; they are very professional and have a passion for what they do to help the students to achieve their goals. The teacher/​student ratio is high (average ¹⁄₅) so the students receive a full attention while learning. Besides the wide range of classes with many different levels, and a flexible schedule which helps students to choose what fits for them, each student have the luxury to work one-​on-​one with their private instructor. This helps advance the techniques and skills rather quickly.
At East-​West, the students not only improve the physical ability and health with bok-​fu do, they also receive the benefits of learning how to logically deal with difficult situations in real life. This school is excellent for young children as they learn to discipline and respect others. I see the changes in the level of confidence in most children, as well as in my son.
If your 2010 resolution is to become a more rounded person, I highly recommend to check out East-​West Kung-​Fu.

My family has been going to East West for five years and the kids convinced my wife and me to start a year and a half ago. A great martial arts school with a nice mix of male and female instructors and black belts.
High expectations on performance — you will earn every belt! Excellent workout. Great instructors. Fantastic and flexible schedule — once you join the school, you can go 6 days a week if you want.