About
Moon Dragon Dojo Cuong Nhu Martial Arts offers training in self-defense, forms, basic techniques, grappling, sparring, board breaking, and training with various weapons. The program teaches Cuong Nhu, which is described as a complete martial arts system and is a blend of Shotokan Karate, Wing Chun, Vovinam, Aikido, Judo, Taiji, and boxing. Training is self-paced, and students train to their physical limits and progress at their own pace.
• Ages: 7–18 years old
• Schedule: Classes meet on Monday and Wednesday evenings and on Saturday mornings for kids and adults.
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 describes itself as having a wide range of ages with kids starting at age seven, with instructors who are mostly women, and as a place where people often talk of the dojo as a family that supports each other both in and out of the dojo. Moon Dragon Dojo states that it cultivates self-discipline, persistence, and fitness of the mind, body, and spirit.
Classes are taught by experienced black belts, and the senior instructors have been teaching martial artists for over 30 years. 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, is developing skills in taiji and qigong, and has served as president of the Cuong Nhu Board of Directors and as regional representative. Rosanne Boudreau has been teaching and training in Cuong Nhu for 16 years, has four years of judo, served three years on the Pacific Association of Women Martial Artists (PAWMA) Board of Directors, was elected president of the PAWMA board for 2012, and is currently the Cuong Nhu Regional Representative for the Western Region. Alyssandra Yochelson started martial arts in 2007 at age 15, passed her black belt test in May 2013, earned her first red stripe (Shodan rank) in summer 2014, has seven years of gymnastics and a year of cheerleading, and continues to dance regularly. Jennifer Argle began training at Moon Dragon Dojo in early 2008, received her black belt in May 2014, has regularly attended Cuong Nhu national and west coast training camps and other martial arts seminars, and has complemented her training with a year of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Moon Dragon Dojo notes that Master Allyson was selected as “Martial Artist of the Year” in 2000 by the Pacific Association of Women Martial Artists (PAWMA) and was inducted into the Association of Women Martial Arts Instructors (AWMAI) Hall of Fame in 2015. One adult student, Dr. Ron Marquardt, states that after over one year of attending and starting at age 65, everyone made him feel very comfortable, the training is self-paced, and he takes sincere pride in his accomplishments with the help of his classmates and Master Allyson, whom he describes as absolutely terrific, and he describes the dojo as a place to gain knowledge, increase self-confidence and skills, and have a lot of fun. Sensei Jennifer states, “Part of growing as a Black Belt is learning to teach, which is my main focus now.” Sensei Alyssandra states, “Don’t ever tell me you ‘can’t,’ just say ‘I can’t yet.’ Doubting yourself is the surest way to fail.” Master Allyson is quoted as saying that she loves seeing the surprise and delight in a student’s face when they accomplish something they did not think possible and that classes should be really fun.
Last updated May 11, 2026.
• Ages: 7–18 years old
• Schedule: Classes meet on Monday and Wednesday evenings and on Saturday mornings for kids and adults.
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 describes itself as having a wide range of ages with kids starting at age seven, with instructors who are mostly women, and as a place where people often talk of the dojo as a family that supports each other both in and out of the dojo. Moon Dragon Dojo states that it cultivates self-discipline, persistence, and fitness of the mind, body, and spirit.
Classes are taught by experienced black belts, and the senior instructors have been teaching martial artists for over 30 years. 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, is developing skills in taiji and qigong, and has served as president of the Cuong Nhu Board of Directors and as regional representative. Rosanne Boudreau has been teaching and training in Cuong Nhu for 16 years, has four years of judo, served three years on the Pacific Association of Women Martial Artists (PAWMA) Board of Directors, was elected president of the PAWMA board for 2012, and is currently the Cuong Nhu Regional Representative for the Western Region. Alyssandra Yochelson started martial arts in 2007 at age 15, passed her black belt test in May 2013, earned her first red stripe (Shodan rank) in summer 2014, has seven years of gymnastics and a year of cheerleading, and continues to dance regularly. Jennifer Argle began training at Moon Dragon Dojo in early 2008, received her black belt in May 2014, has regularly attended Cuong Nhu national and west coast training camps and other martial arts seminars, and has complemented her training with a year of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Moon Dragon Dojo notes that Master Allyson was selected as “Martial Artist of the Year” in 2000 by the Pacific Association of Women Martial Artists (PAWMA) and was inducted into the Association of Women Martial Arts Instructors (AWMAI) Hall of Fame in 2015. One adult student, Dr. Ron Marquardt, states that after over one year of attending and starting at age 65, everyone made him feel very comfortable, the training is self-paced, and he takes sincere pride in his accomplishments with the help of his classmates and Master Allyson, whom he describes as absolutely terrific, and he describes the dojo as a place to gain knowledge, increase self-confidence and skills, and have a lot of fun. Sensei Jennifer states, “Part of growing as a Black Belt is learning to teach, which is my main focus now.” Sensei Alyssandra states, “Don’t ever tell me you ‘can’t,’ just say ‘I can’t yet.’ Doubting yourself is the surest way to fail.” Master Allyson is quoted as saying that she loves seeing the surprise and delight in a student’s face when they accomplish something they did not think possible and that classes should be really fun.
Last updated May 11, 2026.
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