About
Dragon Star Kung Fu offers Kajukenbo Kung Fu training that includes self defense, sparring, grappling, joint locks, basic blocking maneuvers, calisthenics, Kajukenbo forms, Kung Fu forms, tricks, and grab arts. The program teaches a defensive and combative art known as Kajukenbo, which blends Karate, Judo, Jiu Jitsu, Kenpo, and Chinese Boxing, and specializes in yielding, re-direction of energy, sparring, grappling, joint locks, and basic blocking maneuvers. Kids in the children’s martial arts program experience calisthenics to improve breathing, posture, and flexibility, and receive instruction in Kajukenbo and Kung Fu forms, tricks, grab arts, and sparring.
• Ages: 4–18 years old
Dragon Star Kajukenbo has been open since 2007. The school offers training classes and lessons for boys and girls of all ages, as well as for teens and adults, and some adults start at age 50+ and have still earned their black belts. Dragons, leadership, and teen lessons teach Kajukenbo, whose roots stem back to Sijo Emperado's Kajukenbo self defense system developed in the late 1940s as a combative street art and introduced by grand-master Jon Loren as a defensive art that controls and develops the movement of centerline. Kajukenbo at this school is described as very circular with many designed blocking techniques, and students are invited to let their Kajukenbo Kung Fu journey begin.
Each certified instructor has over 20 years of experience in Kajukenbo and over 20 years of experience in Kung Fu. The leadership team includes Sifu Tom, Sifu Benita, the Byrne family owner/operators, and Sifu Tommy. Students are looked upon as individuals and never compared to anyone else, and professional training instructors are described as being there for students every step of the way. The Sifus work on developing common sense before self defense, and students work as a team to develop the best in themselves and in other students.
The training program and classes are described as designed to improve health and physical fitness while strengthening mind, body, focus, and spirit, and every class is described as helping improve balance, coordination, fluidity, power, speed, and flexibility. Mental topics such as focus, discipline, respect, awareness, and pride are taught daily in every class, and students learn strong moral ethics to work hard, then play hard, and to keep their chins up and be proud of who they are. With this art, a student learns how to stay away from negative energy and to be strong enough to walk away from bullies. Classes are described as fun, exciting, and dynamic, and this is described as a Kung Fu school that does not babysit but teaches a martial art that could save a life. The program’s mission states that the goal at Dragon Star is to build strong martial artists and confident leaders within the community, and the school states that it is the very highest rated martial arts school within its community.
One testimonial from a parent describes Dragon Star Kajukenbo and Sifu Tom and Benita as providing real Kajukenbo and quality training without ego, with several Sifus and black belts in class to help newer students. Another parent states that Sifu Tom focuses on self defense and fundamentals, wants to develop solid leaders who have respect and work hard, and that their daughter has thrived over three years of training. A family describes enrolling their daughter at age 4, then both parents joining and continuing for four years, calling it the best workout they have found and saying they feel more confident than ever. A long-time student of 12 years says the school’s dynamic has stayed the same, that they feel like family and are greeted with love and respect, and that Sifu Tom and Sifu Benita have opened and maintained the best Kajukenbo school they have been to.
Another student of eight years describes the Byrne family owner/operators as amazing people and says kids and adults learn how to be their best and excel in anything they do. A parent reports that their daughter has learned self defense, safety, fitness, respect, and responsibility, and calls Dragon Star the best martial arts school in Vancouver. One family says the instructors are experts in their craft, great with kids and teens, and that their children have learned Kung Fu and how to be responsible, thoughtful members of their family and society. Another parent notes that their son with ADHD trains there, that Sifu Tom and Sifu Tommy are patient while teaching focus and discipline, and that they appreciate having fewer students on the floor with kids grouped by skill level.
A long-term family of 13 years states that Dragon Star Kung Fu is exactly what its pledge says, that the school helps students develop themselves in a positive manner, instills confidence to avoid anything that will reduce mental growth or self development, and emphasizes that the Sifus develop common sense before self defense. Another parent says that Sifu Tom has created a family environment that is welcoming and friendly and that his dedication to kids and their families is hard to find. One parent chose Dragon Star after visiting other martial arts schools and liked that classes were taught by Sifu Tom or Benita rather than teenagers, describing the atmosphere as a family environment with patience and respect, practical training, and “little life lessons,” including students expressing gratitude and appreciation to parents at the end of every class.
Last updated May 29, 2026.
• Ages: 4–18 years old
Dragon Star Kajukenbo has been open since 2007. The school offers training classes and lessons for boys and girls of all ages, as well as for teens and adults, and some adults start at age 50+ and have still earned their black belts. Dragons, leadership, and teen lessons teach Kajukenbo, whose roots stem back to Sijo Emperado's Kajukenbo self defense system developed in the late 1940s as a combative street art and introduced by grand-master Jon Loren as a defensive art that controls and develops the movement of centerline. Kajukenbo at this school is described as very circular with many designed blocking techniques, and students are invited to let their Kajukenbo Kung Fu journey begin.
Each certified instructor has over 20 years of experience in Kajukenbo and over 20 years of experience in Kung Fu. The leadership team includes Sifu Tom, Sifu Benita, the Byrne family owner/operators, and Sifu Tommy. Students are looked upon as individuals and never compared to anyone else, and professional training instructors are described as being there for students every step of the way. The Sifus work on developing common sense before self defense, and students work as a team to develop the best in themselves and in other students.
The training program and classes are described as designed to improve health and physical fitness while strengthening mind, body, focus, and spirit, and every class is described as helping improve balance, coordination, fluidity, power, speed, and flexibility. Mental topics such as focus, discipline, respect, awareness, and pride are taught daily in every class, and students learn strong moral ethics to work hard, then play hard, and to keep their chins up and be proud of who they are. With this art, a student learns how to stay away from negative energy and to be strong enough to walk away from bullies. Classes are described as fun, exciting, and dynamic, and this is described as a Kung Fu school that does not babysit but teaches a martial art that could save a life. The program’s mission states that the goal at Dragon Star is to build strong martial artists and confident leaders within the community, and the school states that it is the very highest rated martial arts school within its community.
One testimonial from a parent describes Dragon Star Kajukenbo and Sifu Tom and Benita as providing real Kajukenbo and quality training without ego, with several Sifus and black belts in class to help newer students. Another parent states that Sifu Tom focuses on self defense and fundamentals, wants to develop solid leaders who have respect and work hard, and that their daughter has thrived over three years of training. A family describes enrolling their daughter at age 4, then both parents joining and continuing for four years, calling it the best workout they have found and saying they feel more confident than ever. A long-time student of 12 years says the school’s dynamic has stayed the same, that they feel like family and are greeted with love and respect, and that Sifu Tom and Sifu Benita have opened and maintained the best Kajukenbo school they have been to.
Another student of eight years describes the Byrne family owner/operators as amazing people and says kids and adults learn how to be their best and excel in anything they do. A parent reports that their daughter has learned self defense, safety, fitness, respect, and responsibility, and calls Dragon Star the best martial arts school in Vancouver. One family says the instructors are experts in their craft, great with kids and teens, and that their children have learned Kung Fu and how to be responsible, thoughtful members of their family and society. Another parent notes that their son with ADHD trains there, that Sifu Tom and Sifu Tommy are patient while teaching focus and discipline, and that they appreciate having fewer students on the floor with kids grouped by skill level.
A long-term family of 13 years states that Dragon Star Kung Fu is exactly what its pledge says, that the school helps students develop themselves in a positive manner, instills confidence to avoid anything that will reduce mental growth or self development, and emphasizes that the Sifus develop common sense before self defense. Another parent says that Sifu Tom has created a family environment that is welcoming and friendly and that his dedication to kids and their families is hard to find. One parent chose Dragon Star after visiting other martial arts schools and liked that classes were taught by Sifu Tom or Benita rather than teenagers, describing the atmosphere as a family environment with patience and respect, practical training, and “little life lessons,” including students expressing gratitude and appreciation to parents at the end of every class.
Last updated May 29, 2026.
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