About
Austin Kung Fu & Tai Chi offers Kids Kung Fu where children practice Shaolin-Do Kung Fu, including sparring, practicing kicks, and weapons training with items such as the Kwan Dao, Sword, Spear, Staff, Two-Edge Sword, and more. The broader school also offers Adult Kung Fu, Adult Tai Chi, Senior Tai Chi, and Tai Chi classes, and every student learns a variety of traditional weapons as they progress.
• Ages: 5–18 years old
Austin Kung Fu & Tai Chi is led by Master Joe Schaefer, an 8th Degree Black Belt with a PhD in Neurophysiology, and Master Sheryl Schaefer, a 7th Degree Black Belt with a Masters Degree in Physiology. Master Joe has 32 years of experience teaching Kung Fu and Tai Chi, 7 years teaching university-level physiology, is a published neuroscience researcher, is a Certified Trainer in Open Focus Attentional Method & Neurosynchrony, and has personally mentored thousands of students. Master Sheryl has 25 years of experience teaching Kung Fu and Tai Chi, 8 years teaching university-level physiology, entomology, and developmental biology, over 10 years facilitating women’s empowerment retreats and seminars, and has also personally mentored thousands of students. They started their first school in 1987 in Bloomington, Indiana, and began teaching Kung Fu in Texas in 1991. The program’s mission is to build a community that is fun, friendly, and supportive, where people of all ages can learn traditional martial arts without hidden prices or big egos. Austin Kung Fu & Tai Chi is described as a strong and tight-knit family, with a community atmosphere that is respectful, supportive, and focused on lifelong wellness, and with an emphasis on making the school female friendly, inclusive, and empowering.
The school teaches students ranging from young children to seniors, and beginners are welcomed with no experience needed. Instruction covers every level of adult and child student each week, from first-day beginners to the highest level black belt or sash students. The Tai Chi program is described as gentle yet powerful and especially beneficial as people age. Kids Kung Fu classes are described as blending fun, discipline, and positive character development. Every student learns weapons such as the Kwan Dao, Sword, Spear, Staff, Two-Edge Sword, and more, and the facility teaches over 25 different weapons.
The training space is a Shaolin-Do Kung Fu and Tai Chi facility that includes a scroll with all 108 Outlaws of the Marsh from Chinese legend, a wall-sized mural of a Dragon and Snake, a Shaolin Wooden man, statues of General Kwan Yu with the Kwan Dao, statues of Damo, and a symbol of KwanYin. The walls display 8th and 7th degree black belt certificates next to Masters and Doctorates from the University of Texas in Physiology. Austin Kung Fu & Tai Chi is described as being voted the best year after year. Master Joe is described as one of only a handful of 8th-degree black belts in the nation in their system, and Master Sheryl is described as one of only a few 7th-degree black belts.
Community involvement at Austin Kung Fu & Tai Chi includes knitting for charity, golfing for breast cancer, and collecting items for Austin’s homeless. One testimonial from a parent describes the school as having a high teacher-to-student ratio, detailed instruction, and care taken to preserve the integrity of Kung Fu as a martial art, and notes that their five-year-old child in Kids Kung Fu receives patience, love, and encouragement. Another testimonial mentions regular sparring, a focus on practicing kicks, and a friendly environment where “every person you meet here is nice and encouraging.” Other testimonials describe diverse and fun Tai Chi classes with enough instructors to help students learn new material and practice older moves, and appreciation for the way the studio and instructors venerate and honor the cultural history behind Shaolin wushu in an accessible and inclusive way.
Last updated May 14, 2026.
• Ages: 5–18 years old
Austin Kung Fu & Tai Chi is led by Master Joe Schaefer, an 8th Degree Black Belt with a PhD in Neurophysiology, and Master Sheryl Schaefer, a 7th Degree Black Belt with a Masters Degree in Physiology. Master Joe has 32 years of experience teaching Kung Fu and Tai Chi, 7 years teaching university-level physiology, is a published neuroscience researcher, is a Certified Trainer in Open Focus Attentional Method & Neurosynchrony, and has personally mentored thousands of students. Master Sheryl has 25 years of experience teaching Kung Fu and Tai Chi, 8 years teaching university-level physiology, entomology, and developmental biology, over 10 years facilitating women’s empowerment retreats and seminars, and has also personally mentored thousands of students. They started their first school in 1987 in Bloomington, Indiana, and began teaching Kung Fu in Texas in 1991. The program’s mission is to build a community that is fun, friendly, and supportive, where people of all ages can learn traditional martial arts without hidden prices or big egos. Austin Kung Fu & Tai Chi is described as a strong and tight-knit family, with a community atmosphere that is respectful, supportive, and focused on lifelong wellness, and with an emphasis on making the school female friendly, inclusive, and empowering.
The school teaches students ranging from young children to seniors, and beginners are welcomed with no experience needed. Instruction covers every level of adult and child student each week, from first-day beginners to the highest level black belt or sash students. The Tai Chi program is described as gentle yet powerful and especially beneficial as people age. Kids Kung Fu classes are described as blending fun, discipline, and positive character development. Every student learns weapons such as the Kwan Dao, Sword, Spear, Staff, Two-Edge Sword, and more, and the facility teaches over 25 different weapons.
The training space is a Shaolin-Do Kung Fu and Tai Chi facility that includes a scroll with all 108 Outlaws of the Marsh from Chinese legend, a wall-sized mural of a Dragon and Snake, a Shaolin Wooden man, statues of General Kwan Yu with the Kwan Dao, statues of Damo, and a symbol of KwanYin. The walls display 8th and 7th degree black belt certificates next to Masters and Doctorates from the University of Texas in Physiology. Austin Kung Fu & Tai Chi is described as being voted the best year after year. Master Joe is described as one of only a handful of 8th-degree black belts in the nation in their system, and Master Sheryl is described as one of only a few 7th-degree black belts.
Community involvement at Austin Kung Fu & Tai Chi includes knitting for charity, golfing for breast cancer, and collecting items for Austin’s homeless. One testimonial from a parent describes the school as having a high teacher-to-student ratio, detailed instruction, and care taken to preserve the integrity of Kung Fu as a martial art, and notes that their five-year-old child in Kids Kung Fu receives patience, love, and encouragement. Another testimonial mentions regular sparring, a focus on practicing kicks, and a friendly environment where “every person you meet here is nice and encouraging.” Other testimonials describe diverse and fun Tai Chi classes with enough instructors to help students learn new material and practice older moves, and appreciation for the way the studio and instructors venerate and honor the cultural history behind Shaolin wushu in an accessible and inclusive way.
Last updated May 14, 2026.
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