Overview

The Boulder Kung Fu Academy provides an environment where both the body and mind are nurtured, and mutual respect fostered. We teach martial arts for fitness, enrichment and self-discipline. We offer the right tools to succeed in our programs to anyone who has an interest to learn and is committed to practicing diligently.

Men and women, the young and old, can all benefit from practicing martial arts. Although individual goals may differ from student to student, 3 benefits that students often seek are: self-defense skills, improved health and character development.

Traditional kung fu involves the development of the total person. It is a way of life, a method of achieving and attaining the highest physical and mental development possible. The program is designed to develop a physically, mentally and spiritually well-rounded martial artist.

Students start with stretching and conditioning the body with kung fu basics. Then they learn forms (classical routines of mantis kung fu moves), self-defense techniques, chin na, weapons, two-person fighting sets and sparring. As students advance, they will be introduced to additional traditional training methods such as Iron-Sand Palm and the 18 Lohan (a form of martial chi kung).

Northern Shaolin Seven-Star Praying Mantis

Northern Shaolin Seven-Star Praying Mantis uses the punches, palm strikes, grabs, locks, kicks and sweeps found in many other traditional Chinese martial arts. One of the distinguishing features of the style is the mantis hook. The application of the hook embodies the principles of yin and yang--soft and hard power. It can be used to divert the force of an incoming attack--enabling a person to defend him or herself regardless of size or strength. Or, it can be used to strike decisively to sensitive spots of the body such as various pressure points. Northern Praying Mantis Kung Fu is especially famous for its speed and continuous attacks, as well as its use of feign attacks.