About
American Schools of Shao-Lin Kempo offers traditional Shao-Lin Kempo complete combat training, including movements derived from the five original animal forms: the dragon, the snake, the tiger, the leopard, and the crane. The program includes full body training that builds muscle, flexibility, confidence, and stress relief, as well as weapons training. Students can also take part in an annual tournament, yearly clinics, and celebrations.
• Ages: 3–18 years old
• Schedule: Open 6 days a week; students can learn new skills with as little as 30 minutes a week.
American Schools of Shao-Lin Kempo offers classes for kids (3½+), teens, adults, and seniors, with a Peewees program for 3½ to 6 year olds, a Big Kids program for 7 to 12 year olds, and training for teens that focuses on developing the ability to work through difficult situations while gaining physical and emotional strength. The program offers private and group lessons, in person or online, and still offers online distance learning classes. The dojos (training halls) are described as clean. All classes are taught by highly qualified Black Belt instructors whose training and ability are constantly being upgraded by Master instructors, and the program states there are no contracts, ever.
The organization is family owned and has been in operation since 1976, with a lineage of excellence spanning over 50 years. Grandmaster Robert Pearlswig started teaching Kempo on a part-time basis in 1973, owned his first dojo by 1976, joined the Board of Directors under Grandmaster Fred Villari by 1979, and became West Coast Operations Manager in 1982, developing more than 60 schools under him. When the company disbanded in 1991 for business reasons, he continued his studies and teaching, and he achieved 10th Degree GrandMaster in August 2022 and continues to train and teach. The program reports that its children’s program was developed using the original purpose of the arts (health benefits) and experience with more than 13,000 children who have trained there, and that thousands of students across Oregon and Arizona have trained in Shao-Lin Kempo.
American Schools of Shao-Lin Kempo states that Shao-Lin Kempo is a full and complete combat system with no weak links, and that its combat philosophy includes punching, kicking, grappling, trapping, and locking. The fundamentals of Shao-Lin Kempo are described as teaching restraint when provoked and defense when attacked, and the program states that bullies never stay with this art because the teachings of discipline are enough to discourage them. The mission statement says that, believing there is a place for quality training and excellent teaching methods, Master Pearl has developed a training method that works for anyone. The program highlights building real self defense and deescalation skills, mental focus and stress relief, and community with instructors families can trust, and uses phrases such as “Transform Your Life Through Training,” “Often Imitated, Never Duplicated,” “Simply the Best!,” “Professional & Experienced Instructors,” “Professional instruction,” “Highly qualified Black Belt instructors,” “All Ages Welcome,” “Classes for all ages and abilities,” “No experience necessary,” “Free Trial Class,” “TRAIN ONLINE TODAY,” “11 dojos across Oregon & Arizona,” “11 Locations Nationwide,” “Thousands Kids Trained,” “100% No Contracts Ever,” and “50 Years of Excellence.”
The leadership team includes Grandmaster Robert Pearlswig, 10th Degree GrandMaster; Sifu Zach Pearlswig, 6th Degree Master Instructor (Sun Valley, AZ); Master Sandra Davis, 6th Degree Master Instructor (West Salem, OR); Mike Baird, 4th Degree Instructor (Nomad); Kevin Gurule, 4th Degree Instructor (Albany, OR); Mike Zimmerman, 4th Degree Instructor (Thurston, OR); Maria Zimmerman, 4th Degree Instructor (Thurston, OR); Shawn Boyes, 4th Degree Instructor (Independence, OR); Ryan Clark, 3rd Degree Instructor (South Salem, OR); Lanay Creech, 3rd Degree Instructor (Aumsville, OR); Jacob Walker, 2nd Degree Instructor (Lake Havasu City, AZ); Ricky Arnold, 2nd Degree Instructor (Tempe, AZ); Kyla Lowell, 2nd Degree Instructor (Redmond, OR); Huck Thomas, 2nd Degree Instructor (Corvallis, OR); and Rick Arnold, 1st Degree Instructor (Tempe, AZ). The program notes that Grandmaster Robert Pearlswig is a 10th Degree GrandMaster, GrandMaster Zach Pearlswig is a 6th Degree Master, and that instructors hold ranks from 1st through 4th Degree. The program also shares testimonials and slogans including “American Schools of Shao-Lin Kempo is Simply the Best” and “Parents think we're great, kids LOVE us.”
Last updated August 2, 2026.
• Ages: 3–18 years old
• Schedule: Open 6 days a week; students can learn new skills with as little as 30 minutes a week.
American Schools of Shao-Lin Kempo offers classes for kids (3½+), teens, adults, and seniors, with a Peewees program for 3½ to 6 year olds, a Big Kids program for 7 to 12 year olds, and training for teens that focuses on developing the ability to work through difficult situations while gaining physical and emotional strength. The program offers private and group lessons, in person or online, and still offers online distance learning classes. The dojos (training halls) are described as clean. All classes are taught by highly qualified Black Belt instructors whose training and ability are constantly being upgraded by Master instructors, and the program states there are no contracts, ever.
The organization is family owned and has been in operation since 1976, with a lineage of excellence spanning over 50 years. Grandmaster Robert Pearlswig started teaching Kempo on a part-time basis in 1973, owned his first dojo by 1976, joined the Board of Directors under Grandmaster Fred Villari by 1979, and became West Coast Operations Manager in 1982, developing more than 60 schools under him. When the company disbanded in 1991 for business reasons, he continued his studies and teaching, and he achieved 10th Degree GrandMaster in August 2022 and continues to train and teach. The program reports that its children’s program was developed using the original purpose of the arts (health benefits) and experience with more than 13,000 children who have trained there, and that thousands of students across Oregon and Arizona have trained in Shao-Lin Kempo.
American Schools of Shao-Lin Kempo states that Shao-Lin Kempo is a full and complete combat system with no weak links, and that its combat philosophy includes punching, kicking, grappling, trapping, and locking. The fundamentals of Shao-Lin Kempo are described as teaching restraint when provoked and defense when attacked, and the program states that bullies never stay with this art because the teachings of discipline are enough to discourage them. The mission statement says that, believing there is a place for quality training and excellent teaching methods, Master Pearl has developed a training method that works for anyone. The program highlights building real self defense and deescalation skills, mental focus and stress relief, and community with instructors families can trust, and uses phrases such as “Transform Your Life Through Training,” “Often Imitated, Never Duplicated,” “Simply the Best!,” “Professional & Experienced Instructors,” “Professional instruction,” “Highly qualified Black Belt instructors,” “All Ages Welcome,” “Classes for all ages and abilities,” “No experience necessary,” “Free Trial Class,” “TRAIN ONLINE TODAY,” “11 dojos across Oregon & Arizona,” “11 Locations Nationwide,” “Thousands Kids Trained,” “100% No Contracts Ever,” and “50 Years of Excellence.”
The leadership team includes Grandmaster Robert Pearlswig, 10th Degree GrandMaster; Sifu Zach Pearlswig, 6th Degree Master Instructor (Sun Valley, AZ); Master Sandra Davis, 6th Degree Master Instructor (West Salem, OR); Mike Baird, 4th Degree Instructor (Nomad); Kevin Gurule, 4th Degree Instructor (Albany, OR); Mike Zimmerman, 4th Degree Instructor (Thurston, OR); Maria Zimmerman, 4th Degree Instructor (Thurston, OR); Shawn Boyes, 4th Degree Instructor (Independence, OR); Ryan Clark, 3rd Degree Instructor (South Salem, OR); Lanay Creech, 3rd Degree Instructor (Aumsville, OR); Jacob Walker, 2nd Degree Instructor (Lake Havasu City, AZ); Ricky Arnold, 2nd Degree Instructor (Tempe, AZ); Kyla Lowell, 2nd Degree Instructor (Redmond, OR); Huck Thomas, 2nd Degree Instructor (Corvallis, OR); and Rick Arnold, 1st Degree Instructor (Tempe, AZ). The program notes that Grandmaster Robert Pearlswig is a 10th Degree GrandMaster, GrandMaster Zach Pearlswig is a 6th Degree Master, and that instructors hold ranks from 1st through 4th Degree. The program also shares testimonials and slogans including “American Schools of Shao-Lin Kempo is Simply the Best” and “Parents think we're great, kids LOVE us.”
Last updated August 2, 2026.
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