We learn the techniques, the drills, the combinations and all the necessary tools to make us decent kung fu artists. For many, decent is plenty, for it is their hobby and success is measure by quantity more so than quality. But there is a path beyond decent, beyond good; a path that takes excellence to extraordinary levels of skill. That path requires passion; for only those with a passion for the art will seek out the subtleties that define the art.

Consider the painter and the pianist. A painter may learn many ways to stoke a brush and combinations of brush strokes necessary to create. And the pianist learns the keys, cords and how to string them together. However, what separates them from the skill Da Vinci or Mozart is the subtleties. And those subtleties are only explored by those who have a passion for their art.
Keep this in mind as you focus on your training. If you desire to have incredible kung fu skill and knowledge, then you need to ask yourself whether or not you are truly passionate about learning. Sacrifice often accompanies passion, so the real question becomes: “What are you willing to sacrifice?”

Of course, having passion is just the first step. Guidance, open mindedness, and self-cultivation are necessary to understand and explore the subtleties of kung fu… but those shall be discussed another time.

It is quite challenging to find quality Kung Fu these days, and rightfully so! Kung Fu is quite challenging and yet it is also quite simple. Schools and instructors are sparse and quality divides things further, but a keen eye and a bit of self-reflection can lead you to what you seek!

I spent most of my childhood as a diligent study of American Kenpo. Growing up I never knew much about Kung Fu other than David Carradine and Bruce Lee, but even still I relied more on the American social culture of martial arts getting my inspiration from ninja turtles and poorly acted Karate flicks. I worked hard in my training and achieved that glorified standard of black belt! An achievement we set our sights on thinking it defines us as skilled in the ways of the art, or so we are meant to believe. The truth is that knowledge, understanding, and skill have no levels or belts and it is only our humility that sheds light onto the darkness which leads to the realization that the path goes so much further.

My first time coming to this realization was after I received my black belt in American Kenpo. I felt like there had to be more. Something deeper that I would find intriguing for years on end. I left my school and began my search, however, most other schools were more of the same and so I became discouraged to the point that I regarded all commercial operations to be no different. My mind was made up to hope that some day I’d find an old man somewhere who was a genuine martial master who would teach me the way, my own Mr. Miyagi (as I said, American Karate flicks were my thing)!

During those years of searching I practiced various styles, such as Aikido and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. I enjoyed all the training, but there was still something missing, and I still refused to get fully involved in a commercial school. Then during my first year at college I met a friend of mine who was an extreme Kung Fu movie fan (to this day, I regard him to be the authority on Kung Fu movies). He had told me that for as long as he had been a fan he had never had much of an opportunity to learn Kung Fu and that he was going to go find a school and try things out. As his friend I told him that if he found one, I’d come by and check it out. He found one, joined up and told me about it, so I went to one of his classes to see what this Kung Fu stuff was all about. I showed up, watched class, spoke with the Sifu, and was impressed! I had never thought of martial arts in the fashion that was being shown to me. The style of Norther Shaolin 7-Star Praying Mantis Kung Fu, and at that moment I decided to join the school and ever since I have been dedicated to bettering my understanding and skill in this fascinating and effective style.

So how does any of this help you decide on how to find a school? The answer is simple. Find a Kung Fu school and talk with the teacher. Take a class as well. Determine if you can find longevity and interest for yourself or not. The key is continuous improvement. You must be patient and humble, yet also be able to reflect on yourself and conclude what it will take to get better. Good Kung Fu is difficult to find, but if you search and find something that is nothing short of amazing, you’ll have found your school.

Interested in what Praying Mantis Kung Fu has to offer? Attend our Direct Action class and be immersed this unique art.

Want more traditional training? Attend one of our classes and contact us for details.

Coppell Kung Fu - Classes Offered

Direct Action

This class will teach concepts and principles of kung fu. You'll get a hands-on approach at learning the integral aspects of a fascinating art. Classes are held on Saturdays, from 9am to 11am. Visit our course page to find out more information and sign-up!

Martial Movement

The movement of a kung fu master is smooth, fluid and powerful! Learn the methods that develop your ability to move and flow like only a martial artist can. Classes are held on Mondays, from 7pm to 8pm. Visit our course page to find out more information and sign-up.

Additional Details...

Would you like to know more about our classes? Want to talk to an instructor? You can reach out to us any time! We will be glad to answer your questions. Head over to our contact page and send us a message. We will get back to you as soon as possible.

Keep in mind, you do not need to be a member of the Recreation Center to join our classes, so don't wait any longer and sign up today!

It is rare to find authentic martial arts. Rarer still that it be 7 Star Praying Mantis, a unique and formidable style of Northern Shaolin Kung Fu. This is the style we teach at Iron Phoenix as it has been passed down generation after generation. Finding kung fu is a challenge these days, and there are very few schools that teach kung fu in dallas. Even more difficult is finding quality instruction. Wondering how you can find a school? Read our article on "How To Find Traditional Kung Fu Training!".

The first steps toward learning Kung Fu...

Interested in learning kung fu? Still uncertain about starting? Ease your mind and attend our Direct Action course. Direct Action is comprised of Mantis Kung Fu Application Training classes. These classes take the student through the more thought provoking concepts of Mantis Kung Fu. You will get hands on application experience and a fundamental understanding of what Mantis Kung Fu is about and why we find it so fascinating! This class has removed the conditioning aspect of martial arts. Instead, it focuses on the principles of the art and the skill in the fight! Learn more and sign up on our Direct Action course page.

A variety of Kung Fu classes to choose from...

Our Martial Movement course offers a physical fitness approach. Kung Fu masters are experts of movement. Train in methods that have been taught for centuries. Improve your physical fitness. Expand your martial knowledge.

Check out our full listing of courses and find one that is right for you.

I have always believed that a good instructor is one who has the desire to see their students’ progress beyond the instructors own ability.  The instructor helps his student succeed and break through the barriers that hinder them.  However, if the student lacks ambition and cannot conceive their goals an instructor is unable to take them further.  Direct Action became the stepping stone to develop the student’s conception of what their goals should be and give them the ambition having tasted the skills that they were going to work to develop.  We removed all the formalities, the physical conditioning, the mental conditioning, the foundation building, and all the other aspects required to develop highly skillful use of these concepts.  Instead we bring to the forefront particular principles and techniques extracted from the Praying Mantis style and present them in a fashion that gives the student a clearer picture of what comprises the style and an opportunity to test drive these concepts themselves.

While Direct Action gives the student a basic understanding and use of certain skills, it is still not a replacement for traditional training which is necessary to develop those skills to perfection.  This is not to say that what a student learns from the course is useless, but on the contrary the takeaways from the course are highly effective and very useful in common altercations.  But when the opponent is experienced, further refinement is necessary as combat becomes more complex.

So if you are curious about Chinese martial arts or, in particular, Seven Star Praying Mantis Kung Fu, then I encourage you to sign-up for our Direct Action course.  There you will have the opportunity to ask questions and test a number of skills from our style.