5933 E 22nd St, Tucson, AZ 85711 | Txt / Call 520.329.7345
KUNG FU CLASSES IN TUCSON
Practical, effective self-defense — armed and unarmed.
Combatives versus performance. Our program is about functional Chinese martial arts: 7 Star Praying Mantis Boxing at its core, dynamic movement, close-range control, and the traditional weapons — all trained for how they actually work rather than how they look.
Plenty of kung fu systems and schools talk about a combatives element, then spend the training hours on flowery forms that don’t match the description. That has earned traditional Chinese martial arts a dubious reputation, and not unfairly.
Here is what we do instead.
Pressure tested against non-compliance
Every technique we teach is trained against a partner who isn’t cooperating.
Drilling starts cooperative so you can learn the mechanics, the resistance climbs in stages until you’re working against someone genuinely trying to stop you. What holds up under that stays in the curriculum.
That is the method, and it applies to everything below.
Armed and unarmed are one study
The principles don’t change depending on what’s in your hand. Distance, timing, structure and reading what someone is about to do transfer in both directions — train the sword and your empty hands sharpen; train empty hands and the weapon makes sense faster.
So we teach them together, from the beginning, rather than holding weapons back as an advanced reward.
The weapons — a HEMA approach
You’ll learn the straight sword (Jian), saber (Dao), spear (Qiang), staff (Gùn) and short stick.
We train them the way serious historical fencers do: purpose-built training weapons, HEMA-grade protective gear, and live sparring.
That means using a weapon — and defending against one — against someone actively trying to hit you.
Each is trained across three applications:
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Modern self-defense — the principles behind animprovised object in your hand, and what to doabout someone else’s weapon.
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Weapon combat — the traditional method, trained as it was meant to be used.
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Sport fencing — competitive weapon sparring under rules, in protective equipment.
Chin Na — control without destruction
Chin Na is the seizing and joint-locking side of the system: wrists, elbows, shoulders, and the standing control that comes with them.
Most real situations don’t call for maximum damage. Being able to control someone, move them, and end an encounter without putting either of you in hospital is a genuinely different skill from hitting harder — and it’s the one that holds up to scrutiny afterwards.
Forms come second
We do teach forms. They preserve technique and principle, and they’re a good solo movement drill.
They come after application, not before it. By the time you learn a sequence you’ll already know what it’s for, because you’ve had to make it work on somebody.
One method across three programs
Wushu Combatives runs alongside American Jujitsu and Sanda Kickboxing, and all three are trained the same way — live, against resistance, with modern coaching.
Kung fu gives you close-range control and the weapons. Sanda gives you striking that ends in a throw. American Jujitsu gives you the grappling and standing control that follows. Train one and you’ll start recognising the principles in the others. Train more than one and they compound.
Who it suits
Teens and adults who want martial arts with depth — something to get properly good at, not a workout with a soundtrack.
No experience needed. We provide training weapons and sparring gear.
Class schedule
Tuesday · 6:00 pm
Thursday · 6:00 pm
Thursday · 7:00 pm Weapons
Friday · 5:00 pm
Saturday · 10:00 am
Ages
12 and up. Everyone trains together on one mat, so students need the size and maturity to train safely alongside adults. Younger students considered individually.
Your first week is free
No contract, no deposit, no sales pitch at the door. Wear a t-shirt and shorts and bring water — we train barefoot on sanitized mats. Don’t buy any gear before your first class.
Find us
5933 E 22nd St, Tucson, AZ 85711 — east side, between Craycroft and Wilmot.
TXT 520.329.7345 for details