Class Information
Sections Below:
- Our Curriculum
- Class Schedule
- School Location
- Class Uniform
- Class Cost
- What Happens During a Typical Class
- Real-time Class Calendar
Our Curriculum
Our curriculum includes stances, footwork, strikes, blocks, kicks, joint locks, throws and takedowns, classical weapons, forms, and sparring. We also integrate training in more ‘academic’ issues such as anatomy, physiology, kinesiology, physics, breath control, meditation, first aid, verbal de-escalation techniques, and legalities in use of force.
Explore the rest of our website for more detail on our system and its history, our philosophy, levels/rankings, weapons, sparring, and more.
Class Schedule
Schedule changes, including closures due to holidays, weather, or otherwise will be noted on the Class Calendar at the bottom of this page. Special class schedule announcements may also be posted on the Blog/Updates page under the "Class Schedule Updates" category.
TUESDAYS 5:00pm - 7:00pm
SUNDAYS 4:00pm - 6:00pm
Tuesday and Sunday classes are two full hours of training, including instructor-led stretching and warmup.
Come see a class for yourself! Nothing on this site will tell you as much as coming down to see a class in action and ask your questions directly! You are welcome to observe any class at no charge. Your first class of training is FREE, without obligation to sign up for more.
Note to Prospective Students (ages 13+):
No pre-registration to observe or try a free class is required. If you'd like time to visit with the instructor before class begins, please consider sending a note to Sijo David so he knows to expect you.
School Location
Yinglong School of Kung Fu is located in the Marshall Avenue self-defense training space, connected to Rising Sun Martial Arts Supplies (Yinglong is not affiliated with Rising Sun), in the heart of the Twin Cities Metro area.
Yinglong School of Kung Fu
2054 Marshall Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55104
We are at the southeast corner of Marshall Ave and Cleveland Ave.
- There is ample free street parking on both streets, just beyond the bus stops. There is also a free parking lot behind the building, accessible from Cleveland Ave.
- We are on bus routes 21 and 87, with bus shelters directly out our front door, around the corner, and at the cross corner.
- There are dedicated bike lanes along both Marshall and Cleveland in this area. Bicycle parking is available directly in front of the school near the bus shelter.
Class Uniform
The formal Yinglong uniform is in the style of the traditional southern Kung Fu uniform: sleeveless black top with white buttons, and black training pants. See below for details on where to purchase. The formal uniform is encouraged but not required.
Students may also opt to train in training pants and a black tank top, a sleeveless t-shirt, or the official school t-shirt (school t-shirts are available for purchase - see Sijo David for information). It is recommended that training pants be traditional martial arts pants, but any (black colored) comfortable and movable pant is acceptable.
Exceptions to the uniform policy will be made on a case by case basis and are at the sole discretion of Sijo David
Footwear: Students may train barefoot or they may use dedicated training shoes (shoes that will not be used for any other purpose, and may not be worn outside). Training shoes may be martial arts style training shoes or any other comfortable closed-toe shoe. You may choose to wear socks while training but sock-only training is not advised due to the slipperiness of the mats.
No hats or other headwear may be worn during training except for religiously prescribed headwear. Hair ties, sweat bands, or bandanas are allowed.
Loose jewelry (necklaces, bracelets/anklets, rings, piercings) should be removed during training, to avoid damage or injury. We are not responsible for any damage to jewelry worn during training. Fitness trackers may be worn but the wearer takes full responsibility for their protection.
To purchase a formal uniform top, training pants, or martial arts style training shoes, we recommend contacting Lynn at Rising Sun Martial Arts Supplies (next door to the school). We are aware that the sleeveless black top with white buttons is not currently available from any retailer at a reasonable price. If you want the formal uniform top, we recommend purchasing a regular traditional cotton kung fu uniform top and carefully removing the sleeves.
School t-shirts are available for purchase. See Sijo David for information.
Class Cost
AFFORDABLE KUNG FU INSTRUCTION
We offer various tuition options for you to customize your training time:
- 1 day a week: $30/month. This allows students to attend one class per week, on any day of the Monday through Sunday week. The student may vary which day they attend from week to week.
- 2 days per week: $60/month. This allows students to attend two classes per week, giving them access to all classes offered during the month.
- Package discounts: A 3-month package is available at a 10% discount. A 6-month package is available at a 20% discount.
- Family pricing: Train as a family and take advantage of additional discounts (see Sijo David to find out more).
Class tuition is due on the first of the month.
Referral incentives and other discounts are also available.
NEVER A CONTRACT
We offer month-to-month training, with no contracts or enrollment fees. Stop, and resume, training at any time.
TEST FEES
Unlike many other schools, the only fee for testing is to cover the cost of the sash. NO EXTRA TEST FEES!
Financial assistance may be available. Speak to Sijo David to find out more.
You are welcome to observe any class at no charge. Your first class of training is FREE, without obligation to sign up for more.
Payments may be made via cash, check, Zelle, Venmo or PayPal. Convenience fees may apply.
What Happens During a Typical Class
Arriving
Most students arrive 5-10 minutes early to change and prepare. We have a changing room in back if needed, and plenty of space to store your personal items. We always begin by forming a circle and bowing to each other, a respectful start to our formal training.
Warming Up & Conditioning
We always start with stretching. It helps everyone warm up and get ready for training. We often stretch as a group, but sometimes we’ll have students stretch individually.
After warming up we typically move on to conditioning. A primary principle of our system is that most of your ability to generate force comes from your core, so our conditioning heavily focuses on building core strength.
Agility, Drills & Forms
Just as strength comes out of the core, agility stems from the feet. Agile and fluid footwork is another key focus, so we very often practice footwork drills after core conditioning. From these fundamental exercises, we transition into more formal drills and technique practice. We usually reserve the last part of class for forms and weapons practice.
Class Pacing
On average, we dedicate about 45 minutes to stretching, conditioning, and footwork, followed by 45 minutes on drills, and finally 30 minutes for forms and weapons. A significant benefit of our two-hour class is having ample time to thoroughly train in each of the most important areas. We also understand that two hours can feel long, so we always ensure there are plenty of rest and water breaks.
A Supportive Training Environment
We don't separate our classes by ranks or skill levels; everyone trains together. But don't let that worry you—all the students make sure to help and support one another, with more experienced students often guiding beginners. And crucially, we always provide modified, easier versions of drills for new students, ensuring you build skills comfortably alongside everyone else.
