Chuan Wu Kung Fu

I have been nothing but pleased since my son began training here over a year and a half ago. The instructors are kind and knowledgeable and will make time for any questions you might have. I was so impressed that earlier this year I began my training there as well. There is a strong sense of community and both the kids and adult classes are fantastic. I look forward to training here for years to come and when my smallest child is old enough I plan to enroll him as well. Thank you Master David and your staff for such a welcoming noncompetitive environment.

I enrolled my daughter at Chuan Wu Kung Fu back in 2006 when she was about 5. My main goals were getting her to learn self-​defense (which they taught her right away) and making sure she was active. Eight years later, she is still into it. I believe Kung Fu has really strengthened her body and her mind. I love that there is some Tai Chi in it as well. Have you ever seen Avatar the Last Airbender? Sometimes she will mess around at home and do her Tai Chi or Kung Fu to mimic the characters in the show. She also knows how to punch correctly, as her older brother knows very well ;) She says when they do push ups or other exercises in PE at school, and all the other girls are struggling, she can bang them out no problem, because she does push ups, leg lifts, squats, and crunches every KF practice. I like how even if she is doing other things like Volleyball or Basketball, she can go to different practice times for a few months until the sport is over, then go back to her normal KF schedule. My 5 year old son just started and he LOVES it! He likes that he’s doing moves like Avatar, or Bruce Lee, and Power Rangers. He feels strong, and that’s great for kids. Sure, it can be hard remembering the moves, and sometimes kids will not want to go to practice — but KF is teaching them discipline and hard work really do pay off.
*on a side note — the kids don’t change belts too often, it can take years to move from one color to another, I thought this was a plus since I don’t have to pay for a new belt every two months*

When I was only eleven years old, I joined this school. I began just because my best friend urged me to, but I soon fell in love with the art and everything about Chuan Wu. I continued my training there for the next six years, only stopping a few days before I went off to college. I still miss it because my time at this school has been so encouraging and enjoyable. Nothing has provided me with more pride, confidence, enjoyment, and sense of community, not to mention fitness, of course, than this school. Everything I was taught here was intense, challenging but so much fun. This included basic self defense (which advances with the ranks), a wide variety of animal and weapons forms, meditation, and much more. Though the material is challenging, the instructors are genuinely supportive and have had years of practice and experience. Not only that, but they take genuine happiness over their students’ achievements. One of the most amazing things about Chuan Wu is the wonderful community that the Dieps have built around them and the mutual love for martial arts. In my experience, the respect in this school is unprecedented. Never have I heard an unkind or discouraging word said within their walls. If you are looking for a fun, safe way to get fit, or have always wanted to try out Kung Fu in a friendly, respectful environment, here is the place.

Before attending Chuan Wu Kung Fu Institute I practiced a few martial arts styles but always wanted to learn Kung Fu. One day I got up and drove around looking for a school to join and my first stop was Chuan Wu.
As soon as i waled in i was greeted my Sifu (master) David Diep. With a smile (a smile ill never forget) and a hand shake. He began to ask what my goals were and began to describe what Chuan Wu meant and what the school was all about. «A self paced comprehensive martial arts program.» I even spent some time during my visit to watch a black belt class and really liked what I saw. Even got so see some black belt sparring. After my visit i spent some time looking at other schools and decided on Chun Wu.

After spending some time at the school I began to understand what made this a great place to learn. The family dynamic that is shown through Master David (Father) Master Oanh (wife/​mother) Master Kathrine and Sifu Noël (daughters) and Sifu Robert (son). Being apart of the Chuan Wu family they were not afraid to discipline when needed (especially with the younger kids) even when the adults needed it. The Chuan Wu family is like my home away from home.
The instruction from the staff and fellow ranking sashes is very easy to comprehend and is taught at my pace. I was never forced to speed up my learning or test with out being ready. The instructors know what they are teaching and are very familiar with the history and how to apply what they are teaching. From basic punches to learning Thai Chi San (fan). Even though the school doesn’t compete we do a lot of sparring in class to help fine tune our skills and learn from our mistakes (and i made a few, he he). When it comes to the kids class the instructors take the time to teach the kids about respect and understand what they are learning can potentially be deadly and only to be used when needed. Only fight if you have to, and if you can run away do so let fighting be your last option.
All in all Chuan Wu is the only place I want to be. Besides all the martial arts its a great source of exercise. When I first Started out at Chuan Wu i was 280. After 2 ½ months of the combined program (inter and external) I got down to 215 (along with proper diet). If you’re looking for a great place with a family atmosphere with a sense of belonging when no pressure comprehensive martial arts Chuan Wu is the place. I have nothing but good things to say about this place. One thing I really enjoy is making Master David laugh!

11 years ago, I became a student at Chuan Wu Kung Fu Institute. I met Master David and his family. I trained for 4 years. It’s nearly impossible for me to sum up my experience in a few words but I’ll try.
There’s many things to say about Chuan Wu Kung. I’ll start with their strong sense of tradition. While training, I was required to learn the origin of our school and its ancestry. I understood who trained who, where they were trained and who they trained with. I studied both the history of China and the Shaolin temples. This practice gave the students pride in their school and its traditions while helping us further understand Shaolin kung fu.
I was probably the fittest I’ve ever been while training at Chuan Wu. They pushed us to the point where I was literally drenched in sweat. And then we spar and I’m drenched in somebody else’s sweat. I trained with a bunch of enthusiasts and everybody was willing to get down and dirty. There was this wonderful aura that filled the school. You walked in and you knew you were getting ready for a work out.
Now, if that sounds a little intimidating… don’t worry! The instructors do a great job of catering to the needs of their students. Another great practice Chuan Wu does is that they allow you to move at your own pace. This provided the students with the freedom and ability to choose how quickly they advance. Essentially, it is all up to you.
Also understand that once you join, you can expect Chuan Wu Kung Fu Institute to become your second home. The instructors provided me with nothing short of support and guidance as I trained under them. They’re keen teachers and are quick to pick up on your weaknesses and strengths… and will train you accordingly. I felt eager for more every time I was taught something new. Master David and his family taught me everything I knew about kung fu, humility, and respect. They became my second family. They’re terrific people who’ve built a strong connection to their students and the school. Seriously, expect a wonderful community. They’ll give you nothing less.
Training with Chuan Wu Kung Fu was truly a wonderful experience for me. It’s not one I share often because I simply cannot express how much this school means to me. The things I’ve learned, the friends I’ve made, it’s simply overwhelming. Don’t believe me? Just go and try it. It’s a great place for adults or kids. As long as you’re willing to train and learn kung fu, I can guarantee you a positively enriching experience.

Professionally ethically, as I understand it, I am required to own up to my mistakes and correct them when possible. I believe it is appropriate to extend such ethical behavior into my personal life.
I originally gave this place five stars. Part of that was because I was coming off a horrible experience with the predecessor organization of this place, part of it was because David Diep does in fact have some good knowledge with respect to shao lin training. Some of what he states is not correct, or at least debatable at best, but no one can be perfect and I think I could have easily overlooked most of his short comings.
To start with, like their predecessor organization, they lied. Before I started training there, I asked a very simple question and was outright lied to. That question was do they hit the floor or do ground work. I even elaborated and stated that their predecessor organization claimed to do ground work but during sparring, the minute two people hit the ground, it was stopped. Further, they considered ground work rolling and drop kicking and a half day seminar annually on the same. Chuan Wu even has mats, so I thought they were telling the truth. But alas, they were in fact lying. They do not do ground work.
On this same light, I believe their understanding of Chin Na is missing the spirit of Chin Na. Like their predecessor organization, their Chin Na is more akin to what Kajukenbo calls quick responses. Chin Na, as I understand it, translates to «sieze and hold,» not move out of the way while punching and kicking. It became clear to me that joint locking was foreign to most at this location.
Then the problems started to arise about six weeks after I started to train there. A third degree violently verbally projected his lack of understanding of the subtle emptiness inherent in tai qi sparring. How he rose to the rank of third degree without this understanding baffles me. But this issue would more than likely have resolved itself, except others did not want it to.
David’s wife, second in command as I understand it, overheard part of the subsequent conversation between the third degree and myself. Taking the part of the conversation out of context and blowing it up to a mountain resulting in further drama culminating in both public and private meetings. During the private meeting, I was required to become much more than humble merely to save the face of David even though it clearly showed in his face that he knew very well he was not speaking the truth and was taking credit where it did not belong.
From this incident, I started to see that although David does have some good knowledge, he doles it out as his whimsical heart determines. Unfortunately this means if you are not in his good graces, irrespective of the underlying reason, the information is withheld. To me, one of the primary functions of a teacher is to provide information to the students, not withhold it.
The incident with the third degree and the subsequent wife issue, were just the start. The drama and psychological costs kept occurring to the extent that I realized I had been through this before. For five years I trained at a place that had decent kung fu and training. Four or five days per week for about five years, I motivated myself to take the 45 minute drive, and train for three plus hours.
At this place, the training was top notch, but just about every week, one of the upper echelon would behave in such a way as to demotivate the class. The same thing was happening at Chuan Wu. The only difference is at the other place, the very top guy was not involved; at Chuan Wu the top guy is involved and often treats adults like children. He requires people to be perfect yet he is far from it. On numerous occasions I answered a question only to be told I was wrong and then listened to him reiterate my correct answer.
The final straw for me was when David’s son, a second degree who’s shen is not developed enough for him to hold such status, apparently became bothered because he and many other upper echelon of this place believe respect is a one way street, and that lower ranked persons should be in a perpetual bow to bolster the empty egos. In my opinion, this is completely wrong. If an upper belt is on the floor during a lower belt class, the upper belt, being the guest at the moment, should yield to the lower belts since it is their class time, but the empty egos simply would not allow this.
If you are willing to pay the psychological costs, and if you are willing to accept teachers that take much effort to demotivate, as opposed to motivating students, and dole out information sparingly based on whimsical emotions, you might be able to get some decent training here.
I think it is sad, because the majority of the people I trained with had good hearts, I was learning and changing, but like the other place of many years ago, the upper echelon leave a lot to be desired and exact a price that I am not willing to pay.

Chuan Wu Kung Fu Institute is a fabulous place to learn Kung Fu for the entire family. Master David and his excellent staff are great teachers and wonderful role models. All of the instructors (and the other students) are very supportive. I personally love the balance that is offered at Chuan Wu. The combined internal and external programs teach self defense, control, and balance, with a very wide range of traditional kung fu styles, forms and weapons. It’s a great way to learn martial arts, get in shape and manage stress. Chuan Wu’s program for children is outstanding. It’s very evident how quickly the program teaches children self confidence, discipline and focus all the while having lots of fun :-)

Martial arts is a broad concept, which is one of the reasons I took a while to commit to a system of the art. I finally had the opportunity to engage in Kung Fu after years of thinking about what to get into, what my objectives were and finding the appropriate school to suit what I was looking for:
1. Balance of my mind, my emotions (positive/​negative) with my phsycial being;
2. A skill that I can use for self-​defense;
3. Improvement in mobility, endurance and my overall health;
4. A traditional Kung Fu school that focuses more on the art of Kung Fu comprehensively without the competition.
After visiting, observing and meeing with owners of various Kung Fu schools, I learned that CHUAN WU KUNG FU INSTITUTE would be able to provide the guidance, the skills and the knowledge to help me meet my objectives. It has been five months attending CWKF and I have already started the process in obtaining my personal goals and have even received more than I what I wanted.
The sifus and masters — Master David, Master Oanh, Master Katherine, Sifu Noël, Robert and the other instructors are very patient and have years of experience. They make this experience a successful one.