Classes

“There are more fake guides, teachers in the world than stars. The real guide is the one who makes you see your inner beauty, not the one who wants to be admired and followed.” – Shams Tabrizi

For the Best Tai Chi and Nei Jia in the West, Park Yourself Right Here…

The San Gabriel Valley, spreading out to the east of Los Angeles, is the new Chinatown of Southern California. The Parks of the San Gabriel Valley are alive with the some of the best Internal Martial Arts on the West Coast to accomodate the Valley’s burgeoning Asian population..

Whether it be taiqiquan, baguazhang or xingyiquan, you can find that special instructor and group within a short drive to one of the Valley’s many parks..

For your convenience, I have listed some of the better parks below. Be sure to read the START HERE page before searching for a new tai chi or internal martial arts class .

Alhambra: Alhambra Park

Located on Palm Avenue between Cedar Street and Ahambra Road, there is a Yang group that meets daily by the recreation office building. They perform the Yang competition forms 24,42,48. Another Yang group meets on the hillside at the northeastern end of the park on weekends. A third group that does the complete Yang 108 long form as well as sword and taiji knife meets in front of the band shell at the south end of the park early on weekend mornings at 8:30.

Alhambra: Almansor Park

Located on South Almansor Street between East Park Street and East Los Higos Street, here there are a number of groups that meet on weekend mornings performing Yang and Chen taijiquan on the hillside by the tennis courts and along the south end past the tennis courts. A qigong group meets on the other side of the park just beyond the basketball courts, and a line dance groups meets in the pavilion area just beyond the baseball field.

Arcadia: Live Oak Park

Located just off Baldwin Avenue on Daines Road, here you will find many groups daily doing Yang and Chen Tai Chi, Qigong, Dance and Aerobics. There are two large tai chi groups on the East Side of the park behind the baseball stands on either side of the concession booths. There is a dance group in the center of the park just beyond the parking lot. On the West Side adjacent to the basketball courts Lee Huei-Tai leads a small “Cheng Man Ching” tai chi group that also practices Chen Tai Chi, Bagua and weapons. On the weekends there is a large aerobics group in the same area just in front of the maintenance building. On the other side of the maintenance building there are qigong and kung fu groups. More Tai Chi groups by the baseball diamond on the Southeast side.

Temple City: Temple City Park

Located at Las Tunas and Golden West Blvd. not far from Live Oak Park, this park is home to a number of daily tai chi groups. There are groups practicing the Yang competition forms,: 24, 42, and 48. There is also a Chen group in the middle of the park that also does sword and fan. A Water Tai Chi group meets on weekends by the library and few of the students meet there on weekday mornings. There is a small group of advanced students that work with Master Yu on weekends by the library. Most of these are free groups. A Ma Yueh Liang style Wu Tai Chi and tui shou group meets on weekends on the East Side of the park adjacent to Golden West Blvd. Master Yan Yuanhua is the instructor. There is a $20 fee to work directly with Master Yan ($25 for both days).  However, you can work with his students for free. Go there and look around. Ask questions and check things out.

Smith Park: San Gabriel

Currently no martial arts groups are meeting here.

Rosemead: Garvey Park

The park is located just south of the 10 Freeway at Del Mar, between Del Mar and Kelburn on the east and Emerson Pl. on the south and Dorothy St. on the north. Master Raymond Wong’s martial arts group meets by the last picnic stand on the Dorothy Street side, adjacent to the gymnasium. Master Wong is a truly accomplished master with over 50 years of experience. His original style was My Jong Law Horn Kung Fu, and he became an assistant instructor to Grandmaster Yip Yu-Ting at the young age of 15.. Later, he took up the Wu Dang style tai chi, a soft and hard form known as Doga. In 1968 he became an indoor desciple of famous Tai Chi Praying Mantis Grandmaster Chiu Jook-Kai   During the day he assisted Doctor Chiu with acupunture and bone setting, and in the eveining he trained in the the Tai Chi Praying Mantis curriculum.  Master Wong does not charge for instructions.  You can join any time.

Rosemead: Rosemead Park

The park is located off Mission Road just east of Rosemead Blvd. Park in the Mission Road parking lot and walk up a small knoll adjacent to the skateboard park. There is a tui shou (push hands) group that meets there on Sunday mornings around 9:00. Master Zhu is the leader. Master Zhu practices Wu (Hao), Sun, Chen, Wu and Yang styles. Several of his students also practice the competition forms 24, 42, 48. The group is free. Master Zhu also meets with students during the week from 7:30 – 9:30. No fee, just bring your willingness and dedication to learning tai chi, any style is fine. Also, Jack Lao comes on weekends around noon and teaches Qianlong tai chi as well as tui shou and weapons. Master Liu, a Baji master occasionally drops by to teach structure and power generation. Fred Hao has returned to Taiwan for the winter but will be back later this spring to teach his daily tai chi applications class based on the Cheng Man Ching 37 form.

Monterey Park: Barnes Park

This is the main park in the City of Monterey Park. Located on Mc Phearson Avenue between Newmark and Harding Avenues, this park is filled with martial artists of all kinds. You will find taiji, qigong, bagua and kung fu groups. Some groups meet daily but the busiest times are weekend mornings. There is a large group that meets around 8:00 am by the amphitheatre to do the qiqong exercises and then the competition forms 24, 42, 48.

Monterey Park: Sequoia Park

Master Jackie Yao Wu Hu teaches both Xingyi and Bagua on Saturdays and Sundays from 6 – 9:30 am. That’s right – 6 AM. It’s a great time to practice any of the internal arts while qi is at its fullest. Sequoia Park is located at 750 Ridgecrest Street. Don’t confuse it with Barnes Park above. Sequoia is off of Atlantic Blvd. Fee varies based on attendance. http://www.xingyi-bagua.com/

Pasadena:

Huntington Library and Gardens

Located on Oxford just north of Huntington Drive on the border of San Marino and Pasadena, there is a Chen taiji class that meets on Saturday mornings at 8:00 a.m.in the gardens adjacent to the library. This seven-part series led by instructor Kathy Chyan, a Chen Tai Chi master. This class is suitable for beginning and intermediate students. Members: $150. Non-Members: $170. Registration: 626-405-2128

Los Angeles’ Chinatown: Alpine Recreation Center

Located on Yale St. between Alpine and College Sts., this small park offers a few qigong and tai chi groups, but you need to get there early. You will find various masters doing their own thing. An early morning exercise and qigong group meets dailly about 6:45 am. They are followed around 7:30 by a small Yang tai chi group. There are small Yang and Kung Fu groups that meet there on Saturday morning.

Los Angeles’ Elysian Park

There was a small Yang groups located in front of the Elysian Park Recreation Center about a half-mile east of the Police Academy, led by Amy, a Taiwanese Master.  She teaches the Yang Long Form and Ba Duan Jin. I’m not sure if she is still there.

 

INDOORS

For those of you who prefer the great indoors as opposed to the outdoors, there are many taijiquan studios in the San Gabriel Valley area. Here are a few…

Alhambra: Taiji Club of Los Angeles

Located at 2620 West Main Street, their mission is to promote Chinese Taiji worldwide by teaching online, training qualified Taiji instructors and organizing annual Olymipic Taichi Exhibitions. The school is run by Master Sun Anguan. Call (626) 576-2319.

Alhambra: West San Gabriel Valley YMCA

See South Pasadena-San Marino YMCA below – Same classes and instructor

South Pasadena – San Marino YMCA

It is located on the corner of Garfield Avenue and Oak Street in South Pasadena. Eiji Inoue is the instructor. He teaches Yang 24 and 48 and push hands. Eiji also teaches tai chi and kick boxing at the West San Gabriel Valley YMCA located at 401 Corto Street just off Mission Road and Chapel Avenue and tai chi at the Arcadia Fitness Sports Club located at 56 E. Duarte Road in Arcadia on Saturday at 9:00 a.m.

Pasadena School of Tai Chi

(I’m not sure if this school is still active). It is located in the Collenette School of Dancing upstairs at 922 Huntington Drive, San Marino. Classes are held Monday, Wednesday and Saturday. Classes are taught by Joseph Balthazar, a student of Mary Yang, the granddaughter of Yang Chenfu. See their website for further information: www.cataichi.com.

West Covina

Tai chi yang 108 form is taught at East San Gabriel Valley Japanese Community Center (ESGVJCC) 1203 W Puente Ave, West Covina, CA 91790 on mondays 4 to 5 pm. (626) 960-2566. All levels are welcome.

Silver Lake Area and Beyond

Michael Krubiner is a senior student of William CC Chen certified by him to teach. He started in Professor Cheng Man Ching’s Shr Jung school in NYC in 1973, and joined Master Chen in 1978. I now teach in L.A. from Santa Monica to Silver Lake. Each year I host Master Chen who teaches a workshop in L.A. Contact: Michael Krubiner wavecresttaichi.com email:mkrubiner [at] gmail [dot] com

Eagle Rock and Echo Park

Walter Rodriguez a long-time senior student of Master Yan Yuanhua Wu style Tai Chi teaches a class at Arnott Kenpo Studio,  2012 Colorado Blvd, Eagle Rock, CA 90041 on Sundays 5 – 6 pm. $10 per class. He also teaches a senior class at Echo Park Senior Center, 1021 N. Alvarado St, Los Angeles, CA 90026 on Mondays 10 – 11 am. Free for seniors. No classes the weekend of Nov. 2 – 4.

ORANGE COUNTYMaster Wayne Peng’s Zhaobao Taiji Class:

Zhaobao Master Wayne Peng from Xian, China, is the 12th Generation Successor to Zhaobao Taiji. Master Peng has his main studio in Milpitas near San Jose. However, he comes to Tustin, Orange County, once every month, usually on the first weekend for Saturday evening and early Sunday morning classes. See my blog article on Master Peng and his sifu, Grandmaster Song Yunhua, on my Blog Page. For more info on the class located at 275 South C Street Tustin,‎ CA‎ 92780, call  (714) 656-8660 (714) 730-7853. You can also visit Master Peng’s website: http://www.zhaobaotaichi.com/

 

For More Schools and Classes including Tai Chi, Qigong, Kung Fu, Ninjutsu and Aikido, see our Additional Classes Directory.