Shaolin Institute

Shaolin Institute offers Kids Kung Fu for children ages 5 to 18. The kids class focuses on Kung Fu training, and the institute also offers adult Kung Fu, Tai Chi & Tai Gong, and Kickboxing Sanshou (SanDa).

Programs

• Kids Kung Fu — Our Kung Fu class for Kids focus on building confidence, increase flexibility, improve balance, teach discipline. They will also learn to respect oneself and others, gain strength.
• Adult Kung Fu — Our Kung Fu curriculum focuses on traditional Shaolin forms, self-defense applications and trainings as practiced for the past 1500 years.
• Tai Chi & Tai Gong — Tai Chi classes promote overall health, improve balance. Tai Chi and Tai Gong improve the immune system, strengthen the functions of organs, ligaments, and muscles.
• Kickboxing Sanshou (SanDa) — Chinese kickboxing that includes kicks, punches, catch and throws. Learn kickboxing to improve your overall health and life-saving self-defense techniques.

At a glance

• Ages: 5–18 years old

About the provider

Shaolin Institute says it is dedicated to building a healthy body and a healthy mind with indomitable spirit. The institute also says it is dedicated to human-being’s greatest potentiality. Students show progress by the color of the sash they wear, and testing happens monthly with larger quarterly tests every 3 months. Quarterly testing is alternately held in Mobile and New Orleans.

The students of the Shaolin Institute show their progress in the art by the color of the sash they wear. Each color sash is an up-grade of step (rank) in accomplishment along the way to the ultimate goal of Shaolin pre-discipleship-Golden Black Sash. Requirements for each sash differ between kids, teens and adults. Testing happens on a monthly basis with larger Quarterly tests every 3 months. Quarterly testing is alternately held in Mobile and New Orleans.

What families say

“Kung Fu has added a new sense of dimension to my sense of humanity, patience & perseverance. It has also improved my self-esteem and confidence.” — R. Bloodworth, MD

“This (Shaolin Kungfu) is the best thing I have ever done for myself in my life. I have become more precise and I had more energy even after a long surgery.” — V. Radican M.D

“Cung Le’s journey in SanDa (Shanshou) started at the US Open. "What is SanDa? " Cung Le called the master, "You can punch, kick- low, mid or high, you can throw…" said Shifu DeRu who saw something in Cung and trained him to be the warrior that he is today. “If you’re training with him (Shifu DeRu)? You got it”,– Cung Le. He has been with his coach and Sanshou ever since.” — Professional M.M.A Fighter, 2008 Strikeforce Middleweight Champion Cung Le

Last updated October 20, 2026.