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Flying Tortoise Kung Fu
Authentic Kung Fu & Capoeira Training for Mind, Body, and Spirit in Portland
5(5 reviews)
$$
doctor
martial-arts
fitness-and-instruction
Authentic internal Chinese martial arts training, including Baguazhang, with a focus on body mechanics, forms, and practical fighting applications.
Brazilian martial arts and dance classes that combine aerobic fitness, self-defense, and cultural elements in a dynamic, engaging format.
Introductory courses designed for newcomers, offering a supportive, trauma-informed approach to build foundational skills and confidence.
Specialized sessions for experienced martial artists, focusing on mastery, sparring, and deep lineage techniques from authentic masters.
Instruction in traditional weapons usage as part of the kung fu curriculum, enhancing coordination and dynamic power.
Authentic Kung Fu & Capoeira Training for Mind, Body, and Spirit in Portland
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Flying Tortoise Kung Fu is a premier martial arts academy in Portland, OR, offering authentic training in internal Chinese kung fu (like Baguazhang) and Brazilian capoeira with direct lineage connections to masters in China and Brazil. We provide a welcoming, trauma-informed environment for all skill levels—from beginners to advanced practitioners—focusing on practical applications, fitness, and community. Our expert instructors blend traditional techniques with modern accessibility, ensuring engaging classes that build strength, flexibility, and self-defense skills in a supportive, non-toxic atmosphere.
Welcoming social gatherings and open classes that foster a collaborative, inclusive environment for students of all ages and schedules.
I have been a student at Flying Tortoise Academy for over 10 years now, and my training and the community at the school has been nothing short of a transformational force in my life. A rare gem among martial arts schools in the country, FTA carries living lineages of internal styles of kung fu directly from masters in Beijing, China. Through admirable dedication and a vast depth of knowledge, Master Joey Haber and the school is preserving authentic arts from ancient lineages that are whole and effective systems for both fitness and fighting applications. I first arrived to FTA with no previous martial arts experience or fitness discipline at all, but with a willingness to learn and dedication to practice consistently. Over the course of my training, I gained an intrinsic sense of body awareness, core stability, flexibility and strength, fa li and dynamic power, as well as the coordination and skills to perform open hand forms, weapons forms, and effectively spar. In my experience, the curriculum is well designed to meet students at their ability level, incorporating solo exercises and partner work for reflective study as well as practical applications. I've found the classroom and community to create a collaborative, welcoming, and inclusive learning environment. Whether you are entirely new to martial arts, or if you are already a seasoned martial artist seeking a collaborative community with challenging and engaging material, I highly recommend exploring what FTA has to offer.
I've been training here for over a year now and deeply enjoying it. Great instructors who take the arts extremely seriously while not taking themselves too seriously. The school has strong connections to masters in China and the benefits definitely come through to everyone. Classes are engaging physically and mentally; the community is fun, supportive, and welcoming; and I'm very glad to get to train here.
I am so grateful to have found Flying Tortoise. You can tell the instructors see their lessons as labors of love, and they are all so supportive. The teaching philosophy is not only very trauma-informed, but also incredibly rooted in the traditional lineage of the school while also keeping things modern and accessible to new audiences. They offer plenty of classes for folks of all ages and schedules, and they are always so welcoming that you can just pop into a random one and you're guaranteed to make a friend by the end of it. I have nothing short of praise for the Flying Tortoise team, especially Masters Chris and Joey in the Baguazhang program. If you were waiting for a sign to enroll for a class, this is it!
A top flight martial arts school. Lots of places teach internal Chinese MA poorly. These folks have the body mechanics, power generation and can use it to fight. Teaching is comprehensive, and the head instructor continues to work with the best in the world in his systems. He has raised students from beginner to mastery. School is inclusive and training is strenuous but safe
This is the best martial arts school in Oregon. I've done martial arts for about 20 years and this place strikes a rare balance. Everyone there is cool and it is not a toxic environment etc... They teach authentic Chinese and Brazilian martial arts with ties to masters practicing in those countries. Also, people here can actually fight with them, the Kung Fu isn't just kicking gymnastics and the capoeira isn't just aerobic dance class. It's hard to find a place like this.
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