About Ten Tigers Kung-Fu Academy

At Rik Kellerman's Ten Tigers Kung-Fu Academy, history is headmaster. The instructors practice authentic Chinese kung-fu, using techniques based on centuries-old guidelines. The academy's preferred style, Siu Lum Hung Kuen, uses movements inspired by five animals: the dragon, the snake, the leopard, the crane, and the tiger. Together, these maneuvers display both grace and power, much like a Supreme Court justice who knows ballet.

The staff teaches students of all ages how to channel the tenets of kung-fu for self-defense. That said, classes focus less on fighting and more on cultivating a sense of family. Encouragement and camaraderie underlie every lesson, whether you're learning how to engage in hand-to-hand combat or how to wield classical weaponry. Classes at Ten Tigers are also a cultural experience—in addition to sparring moves, they might cover meditation, Chinese herbal medicine, or costumed Lion Dancing choreography.