Kung fu lessons: what to know

What the job involves, what changes the price, and what to ask a pro.

What kung fu lessons is

Kung fu lessons teach stances, forms, strikes and conditioning from a particular Chinese martial style, with attention to discipline and tradition. People book them to learn a traditional style, to build fitness and balance, or to study the forms and history of a lineage.

Signs you need it

  • You want to learn a traditional Chinese martial style with its own forms and history
  • Your stances are weak and your footwork breaks when you move through a form
  • You want a class that builds conditioning, balance and focus through forms and drills
  • You are looking for a school that teaches a specific lineage or style
  • You want to learn self-defense skills from a traditional system and understand its principles

What the pro does

  • Checks your stances and footwork before you learn a new form
  • Teaches the core stances of the style and how they connect to strikes and blocks
  • Works on strikes and blocks in drills, with a focus on control and power from the legs
  • Teaches forms in sections, with the names and meaning of each movement
  • Covers conditioning, class etiquette and the history and lineage of the style

What changes the price

Every job is different, so we do not publish prices. These are the things that move the quote up or down.

  • Group class or private lesson
  • The style and how long its forms and training take
  • Length of each class and the number of classes per week
  • Whether uniforms, weapons or other gear are included or extra
  • Testing or ranking fees, if the school uses them
  • Whether the lesson focuses on forms, sparring or self-defense

What a written quote should spell out

  • Number of classes, class length and the schedule
  • Whether uniforms, weapons or other gear are included or required
  • Testing or ranking fees, if the school uses them
  • Class size and the number of instructors in the room
  • Policy for missed classes and cancellations

Questions to ask before you hire

  • Which style do you teach, and what lineage does your school follow?
  • How long does it take a beginner to learn the first set of forms?
  • Do you teach sparring, and how do you keep partner work safe?
  • Do you hold a rank or teaching certificate, and from which school or association?
  • What uniform and gear do I need for the first class?
  • Do you teach weapons, and when do students start them?
  • Do you teach children, and do you require a background check for instructors who work with them?

Red flags

  • Promises a secret technique or a way to defeat any attacker
  • Pushes you into a long contract before you have tried a class
  • Cannot explain where the style comes from or what its forms mean
  • Lets students spar hard before their basics are in place

What you can do yourself

You can practice stances and footwork at home, learn the names of the basic strikes and blocks, and watch demonstrations of the forms to understand their movements. Keep practice short and focused on form. Hire an instructor for the forms, for sparring, for weapons and for any technique where you need feedback on your stance and balance.

Licenses and permits

No license is usually required to teach kung fu. Ask the school whether its instructors hold a rank or teaching certificate from a style association and whether the school carries liability insurance. Check with your state or local licensing agency only if the school operates under rules that apply to its facility or to child care.

Kung fu lessons questions

Is kung fu good for fitness?

Many students build strength, balance and flexibility through forms and drills. Ask your instructor for a plan that builds fitness in steps, so you do not overwork in the first months.

Do I have to learn weapons?

No. Many students never learn weapons. Ask the school when, and if, weapons are part of the program, and whether they are taught as part of the style's tradition.

Is kung fu safe for children?

It can be, with supervision and clear rules for partner work. Ask about the instructor's training, the class size and whether instructors pass a background check before they work with minors.

About this guide

This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.

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