Heng Shan Do

Heng Shan Do is a martial arts school in Winston Salem, NC. It’s a somewhat eclectic school of karate and kung fu. They’ve been around, in the same location, for over 25 years now.
The style starts out primarily Japanese with Kempo and Shotokan forms, progressing into Tensho and Tonfa forms. There’s also a couple Korean stylistic elements.
Overall, however, the style is rooted in principle of Yin/​Yang balance, tai chi and Chinese martial arts principles. As you advance in the style, it becomes more and more Chinese. By the time you reach black belt, the style is purely Chinese.
It’s easier to pick up the round Chinese movements once you have a solid foundation in the linear Japanese movements and you get the benefit of the brilliance of both cultures.
While all this is the case, the founder of the style was first a yoga adept under Blanche DeVries, so when he created the style from its parent, he incorporated various yoga principles, most notably pranayama.
I’ve attended classes at Heng Shan Do for over 5 years now and love it. The teacher is relaxed, cordial and non-​threatening. One of the impressions I had of martial arts schools was that they were taught a lot like military bootcamps. Not the case here. This is a relaxed, yet disciplined approach that will be enjoyable for family members of all ages.
I had always wanted to learn martial arts, but not in an overly aggressive, competitive fashion. I wanted something that focused on energy development. What ultimately attracted me to the school and got me to start was meeting the founder of the style and hearing him say, «Ultimately, it’s about the fusion of matter and spirit.» That’s all I needed to know.
The style itself is very practical. You won’t need to learn acrobatic routines to get through the forms. There’s very little jumping, and you won’t need to kick higher than the waist. At that point, it’s more efficient to throw a punch instead.
As for pricing — their prices are the most affordable in the area, and they don’t use contracts, so there’s no long-​term commitment upfront. They offer a free trial period so that you can see if it’s for you, as well.
I really enjoy attending class there, and I hope you will, too. Look forward to seeing you there!
* HSD meets up Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7pm to 9pm in the Summit School Gym.