About
5 Elements Martial Arts and Wellness Center offers children’s martial arts that include Northern Shaolin Kung Fu, Wing Chun style self defense, Japanese style Jiu Jitsu, and grappling and ground self defense. The program also offers Kung Fu and self-defense training for students in grades K through 5, and provides training with Chinese weapons. Additional activities at the center include Tai Chi, yoga, basic massage techniques, and adult self-defense classes.
• Ages: 4–18 years old
5 Elements Martial Arts and Wellness Center is a family owned Kung Fu school also referred to as 5 Elements Martial Arts San Diego and 5 Elements San Diego. The owners and instructors emphasize caring about students and how they can best serve them.
The center’s mission focuses on building a community of people that care about others and on enhancing the safety and well-being of the students at the school and the surrounding neighborhood. An important stated goal is to teach adults and children how to defend themselves and help them become better members of the community. The school teaches Chinese martial arts not only as a self-defense tool, but also as a way to balance physical, mental, and spiritual health, using the concept of 5 Elements to describe a holistic approach to health and well being. Instructors guide students using Northern Shaolin, Wing Chun, and Tai Chi.
5 Elements Martial Arts San Diego offers a free class voucher for prospective students. The center also hosts special workshops, including seminars on staying healthy as you age, training with Chinese weapons, Tai Chi, yoga, and basic massage techniques. Grappling and ground self defense is taught to all ages, and an after school program provides Kung Fu and self-defense training for students in grades K through 5. The studio is focused on enhancing the safety and well-being of the students and the surrounding neighborhood, with an important goal of helping students become better members of the community.
Owner and head instructor Sifu Mario Mayorga has trained in various forms of martial arts since 1993, including Taekwondo, Kung Fu, Aikido, Tai Chi, and Chi Gong. He earned his black belt in Kung Fu in 1999 and has specialized in teaching Northern Shaolin Kung Fu and Zhaobao and Yang Tai Chi Chuan ever since. He has taught kung fu at martial arts studios and public schools throughout San Diego County and has extensive experience teaching children’s martial arts. Since 1996 he trained under his primary instructor, Head Instructor John Nelson, and in 1999 he received his black belt and completed instructor training under John Nelson.
In 2005, Sifu Mario graduated from Grossmont College with an AS degree in Liberal Arts and Science and was accepted to San Diego State University to continue his BA in traditional arts and graphic design. In 2007 he enrolled at the Internal Professional School of Bodywork (IPSB). He has practiced many styles of massage and specializes in Thai Medical Massage and Sensory Re-patterning. In 2010 he became certified as a Massage Therapist and opened 5 Elements Martial Arts and Wellness Center with Senior Instructor Keith Jacobson, his business partner and co-founder of 5 Elements. In 2012 he finished his Holistic Health Practitioner’s training at IPSB with over 1200 hours, and in 2014 he completed a special teacher-training course at IPSB.
Last updated July 14, 2026.
• Ages: 4–18 years old
5 Elements Martial Arts and Wellness Center is a family owned Kung Fu school also referred to as 5 Elements Martial Arts San Diego and 5 Elements San Diego. The owners and instructors emphasize caring about students and how they can best serve them.
The center’s mission focuses on building a community of people that care about others and on enhancing the safety and well-being of the students at the school and the surrounding neighborhood. An important stated goal is to teach adults and children how to defend themselves and help them become better members of the community. The school teaches Chinese martial arts not only as a self-defense tool, but also as a way to balance physical, mental, and spiritual health, using the concept of 5 Elements to describe a holistic approach to health and well being. Instructors guide students using Northern Shaolin, Wing Chun, and Tai Chi.
5 Elements Martial Arts San Diego offers a free class voucher for prospective students. The center also hosts special workshops, including seminars on staying healthy as you age, training with Chinese weapons, Tai Chi, yoga, and basic massage techniques. Grappling and ground self defense is taught to all ages, and an after school program provides Kung Fu and self-defense training for students in grades K through 5. The studio is focused on enhancing the safety and well-being of the students and the surrounding neighborhood, with an important goal of helping students become better members of the community.
Owner and head instructor Sifu Mario Mayorga has trained in various forms of martial arts since 1993, including Taekwondo, Kung Fu, Aikido, Tai Chi, and Chi Gong. He earned his black belt in Kung Fu in 1999 and has specialized in teaching Northern Shaolin Kung Fu and Zhaobao and Yang Tai Chi Chuan ever since. He has taught kung fu at martial arts studios and public schools throughout San Diego County and has extensive experience teaching children’s martial arts. Since 1996 he trained under his primary instructor, Head Instructor John Nelson, and in 1999 he received his black belt and completed instructor training under John Nelson.
In 2005, Sifu Mario graduated from Grossmont College with an AS degree in Liberal Arts and Science and was accepted to San Diego State University to continue his BA in traditional arts and graphic design. In 2007 he enrolled at the Internal Professional School of Bodywork (IPSB). He has practiced many styles of massage and specializes in Thai Medical Massage and Sensory Re-patterning. In 2010 he became certified as a Massage Therapist and opened 5 Elements Martial Arts and Wellness Center with Senior Instructor Keith Jacobson, his business partner and co-founder of 5 Elements. In 2012 he finished his Holistic Health Practitioner’s training at IPSB with over 1200 hours, and in 2014 he completed a special teacher-training course at IPSB.
Last updated July 14, 2026.
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