About
Moon Dragon Dojo Cuong Nhu Martial Arts offers training in self-defense, forms, and basic techniques. Students also grapple, spar, break boards, and train with various weapons as part of the Cuong Nhu style, which blends Shotokan Karate, Wing Chun, Vovinam, Aikido, Judo, Taiji, and boxing.
• Ages: 7–18 years old
• Schedule: Kids’ classes are offered on Monday and Wednesday evenings and Saturday mornings; adult classes are offered on Monday and Wednesday evenings and Saturday late mornings to early afternoons.
Moon Dragon Dojo (formerly Tuyêt Tan Dojo) has been sharing Cuong Nhu Oriental Martial Arts with adults and kids for over 25 years in Berkeley. The dojo states that training is self-paced and that students progress at their own pace, with a wide range of ages and kids starting at age seven. Classes are taught by experienced black belts, and the instructors emphasize alignment and technique over strength while focusing on fitness of mind, body, and spirit. The mission of Moon Dragon Dojo is to cultivate self-discipline, persistence, and fitness of the mind, body, and spirit.
The leadership team includes Master Allyson Appen, Co-Head Instructor, Shichidan, seventh degree black belt; Rosanne Boudreau, Co-Head Instructor, Sandan, third degree black belt; Alyssandra Yochelson, Nidan, second degree black belt; and Jennifer Argle, Nidan, second degree black belt. Master Allyson Appen has been teaching and training for over 43 years in Cuong Nhu, has six years of aikido and three years of judo training, and is developing skills in taiji and qigong. Rosanne Boudreau has been teaching and training in Cuong Nhu for 16 years and has four years of judo training. Alyssandra Yochelson started martial arts in 2007 at age 15, passed their black belt test in May 2013, earned the first red stripe (Shodan rank) in summer 2014, and has seven years of gymnastics and a year of cheerleading. Jennifer Argle began training at Moon Dragon Dojo in early 2008, received her black belt in May 2014, and has a year of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu training. The instructors are mostly women.
Moon Dragon Dojo states that the dojo is often described as a family and that students support each other in and out of the dojo. Master Allyson Appen was selected as “Martial Artist of the Year” in 2000 by the Pacific Association of Women Martial Artists (PAWMA), has served on the PAWMA board of directors, and was inducted into the Association of Women Martial Arts Instructors (AWMAI) Hall of Fame in 2015. She has served as president of the Cuong Nhu Board of Directors and as regional representative. Sensei Rosanne served for three years on the PAWMA Board of Directors, was elected president of the board for the year 2012, and is currently the Cuong Nhu Regional Representative for the Western Region.
One adult student, Dr. Ron Marquardt, reports attending Moon Dragon Dojo for over one year and describes the training as self-paced and a learning and fitness experience, and says he takes pride in his accomplishments with the help of classmates and Master Allyson. Sensei Jennifer states, “Part of growing as a Black Belt is learning to teach, which is my main focus now.” Sensei Alyssandra says, “Don’t ever tell me you ‘can’t,’ just say ‘I can’t yet.’ Doubting yourself is the surest way to fail.” Sensei Rosanne quotes Confucius: “I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.” Master Allyson says that she loves seeing the surprise and delight in a student’s face when they accomplish something they did not think possible.
Last updated March 16, 2026.
• Ages: 7–18 years old
• Schedule: Kids’ classes are offered on Monday and Wednesday evenings and Saturday mornings; adult classes are offered on Monday and Wednesday evenings and Saturday late mornings to early afternoons.
Moon Dragon Dojo (formerly Tuyêt Tan Dojo) has been sharing Cuong Nhu Oriental Martial Arts with adults and kids for over 25 years in Berkeley. The dojo states that training is self-paced and that students progress at their own pace, with a wide range of ages and kids starting at age seven. Classes are taught by experienced black belts, and the instructors emphasize alignment and technique over strength while focusing on fitness of mind, body, and spirit. The mission of Moon Dragon Dojo is to cultivate self-discipline, persistence, and fitness of the mind, body, and spirit.
The leadership team includes Master Allyson Appen, Co-Head Instructor, Shichidan, seventh degree black belt; Rosanne Boudreau, Co-Head Instructor, Sandan, third degree black belt; Alyssandra Yochelson, Nidan, second degree black belt; and Jennifer Argle, Nidan, second degree black belt. Master Allyson Appen has been teaching and training for over 43 years in Cuong Nhu, has six years of aikido and three years of judo training, and is developing skills in taiji and qigong. Rosanne Boudreau has been teaching and training in Cuong Nhu for 16 years and has four years of judo training. Alyssandra Yochelson started martial arts in 2007 at age 15, passed their black belt test in May 2013, earned the first red stripe (Shodan rank) in summer 2014, and has seven years of gymnastics and a year of cheerleading. Jennifer Argle began training at Moon Dragon Dojo in early 2008, received her black belt in May 2014, and has a year of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu training. The instructors are mostly women.
Moon Dragon Dojo states that the dojo is often described as a family and that students support each other in and out of the dojo. Master Allyson Appen was selected as “Martial Artist of the Year” in 2000 by the Pacific Association of Women Martial Artists (PAWMA), has served on the PAWMA board of directors, and was inducted into the Association of Women Martial Arts Instructors (AWMAI) Hall of Fame in 2015. She has served as president of the Cuong Nhu Board of Directors and as regional representative. Sensei Rosanne served for three years on the PAWMA Board of Directors, was elected president of the board for the year 2012, and is currently the Cuong Nhu Regional Representative for the Western Region.
One adult student, Dr. Ron Marquardt, reports attending Moon Dragon Dojo for over one year and describes the training as self-paced and a learning and fitness experience, and says he takes pride in his accomplishments with the help of classmates and Master Allyson. Sensei Jennifer states, “Part of growing as a Black Belt is learning to teach, which is my main focus now.” Sensei Alyssandra says, “Don’t ever tell me you ‘can’t,’ just say ‘I can’t yet.’ Doubting yourself is the surest way to fail.” Sensei Rosanne quotes Confucius: “I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.” Master Allyson says that she loves seeing the surprise and delight in a student’s face when they accomplish something they did not think possible.
Last updated March 16, 2026.
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