Chinese Martial Arts

This is a rare kung fu school that still teaches with traditional methods. The Sifu is an outstanding teacher. You get what you give -- put in enough patience and practice and you will find yourself learning more physically and mentally than you could ever imagine.

Reviewed on Google Maps

Over the years I have tried different martial arts schools, but it wasn't until happening upon the Chinese Martial Arts school that I found a place where I could really flourish as a student. Sifu Torres takes the traditional approach to teaching Kung Fu, in which progress is based on accomplishment rather than simply how many classes you've attended. Given this fact, that everything you take out is measured by what you put in, the traditional way can be frustrating--it takes discipline! What separates Sifu Torres and his school from the others is passion: he and the senior students are so clearly invested in the school (and each student at it!) the style, the lineage, and their attitude is infectious. You almost can't help but push yourself further! I came to the Chinese Martial Arts school looking for a little balance. I had studied Tai Chi in the past and enjoyed it, I thought I would merely continue that practice. Many years later, and through many changes, ups and downs, I have achieved so much I didn't think possible. I am respectful and confident, and I walk through life less afraid. I am stronger, healthier, and faster. Mostly though, I am part of something bigger than me. I am part of something that stretches hundreds of years behind me, and will stretch for hundreds of years past me.At this school you are not just learning some fancy moves to become more limber and strong, learning to subdue or defend yourself against another person. At this school, you are joining a family. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

I am now going on my 10th month of being part of this great school.  Sifu Torres and all of my kungfu brothers and sisters have welcomed me, helped me, been super supportive and encouraging.  I have become a lot stronger and more agile than I've been in a very looong time; It feels amazing.  I have now earned my green/gold sash and am continuing to learn and grow.  The classes are still tough and demanding of your body, but I can actually get through them a lot better than when I started.I also attend regular acupuncture sessions which compliment my training.  They keep me healthy and strong. I still highly recommend this school to come learn very traditional Northern 7 Star Praying Mantis.  I guarantee if you put in the effort you will understand. do it! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Good............Chinese...... Martial....Arts.....

Reviewed on Facebook

The self-defense seminar was excellent and very comprehensive. I have a lot to practice but also came away with a lot of immediately useful information. Thank you!

Reviewed on Facebook

For years, I've always had knee problems. It was due to being overweight at a young age and also lack of exercise.  A few years ago when I developed my love for exercising, I lost 70 lbs. However, the strain in my knees would always set me back. I was told it was due to the excess weight that I've been carrying for years. My knees would give out here and there, especially when it came to lunges. It was annoying but I kept my focus and did my best. It's been four (4) weeks now since I took my first Qi Gong class with Sifu Torres at the Chinese Martial Arts School... and the result? I can lunge with my knee close to the ground! I know this sounds overboard, but it feels like a miracle. I signed-up for Qi Gong to help with my martial arts. I am new to the martial arts world, so I wanted to start from scratch. I had NO idea what Qi Gong was really all about, but I wanted to learn as much as I could to help with my practice. This class is a true miracle. This isn't just for martial arts students, students of oriental medicine or even for spiritual students. This is for anyone looking to improve their physical bodies and overall well-being. It has the same benefits as Yoga, but with a little twist. While doing these exercises, you learn to be connected with your energy life force and use that energy with each exercise. It is pretty badass. This class is physical, mental and even spiritual (if you chose that route). However, it doesn't have to be a spiritual practice if you aren't looking for that. You can simply just take the class to improve your knees, lower back, neck issues, hip issues and so on. The moves are easy and light. And you don't have to worry about being fit, this is about improvement, big and small. It's a simple practice with profound results! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

I had been actively seeking out a place to develop a martial arts practice for many years.  I would always come close, then inevitably not follow through as I was scared off by the testosterone level or black belt focus of most schools.  After an injury I had pretty much given up on looking for a school.  I found Sifu Yamel when I was in need of acupuncture.  Sifu suggested a combination of Acupuncture, Qigong, and herbs which made a huge difference. Within a few months I was able to do things that were unthinkable only a few short months prior. Studying Qigong with Sifu changed everything for me.  He is patient, knowledgeable, and very much dedicated to the art form.  The art and acknowledgment of lineage is important to me and this is very much in evidence at the school.  I would still be a student if a job was not taking me away.  You will not find a better place train, and you will not find a more dedicated teacher. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

For the past two years I've been studying mantis style kung fu at Chinese Martial Arts.  It is a very traditional school where you will work hard. The school itself is a great.  There is a sense of family that is instilled- everyone is working together and supporting each other.  The instructors are fantastic as well.  The sifu, Yamel Torres, is terrific and exactly what you'd want in an instructor.  He is patient and understanding but will also push you to do your best.  As a student of the Pacific College of Oriental Medicine, he offers accupuncture, herbs, and other medicines/treatments if you are in to that.The style itself is a very aggressive style.  Once you start you will notice an increase in strength and flexibility.  It is a terrific workout as well as a stress release- since I (and my doctor) have noticed an increase in overall health.I'd highly recommend joining this school if you are looking for a TRADITIONAL kung fu school in Chicago.  I recently moved to New York but I still come back to this school to learn mantis style. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

I feel fortunate to have found this traditional martial arts school, where the teacher, Sifu, and students are dedicated to the methods of Kung Fu as well as the spirit and character Kung Fu requires.  The training is rigorous and demanding, with great rewards in discovering what you can push your body to do.  Sifu instills a deep sense of respect for the long history and lineage of Seven Star Mantis.  He is an exceptional teacher, a tough coach who cares for each student's well-being and development.  The curriculum will challenge your flexibility, strength, and endurance.  You will find this school to be much more than a gym; it is a place to find balance and energy to deal with the everyday battle of life. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

If you are looking for the "real deal" look no further than Sifu Yamel Torres. He is about as traditional as they get. I have spent many years with bowls (with and without water) on my thighs during horse stance training. I have been going to see Sifu Yamel Torres for better than 11 years now and don't ever see myself not being part of the school. I now take private lessons and haven't been to a class in about two years, but I assure you that they haven't changed a bit.Foundation is the core to any sport or study and even today I still work my foundation several times a week. It was only on a trip to China (where I was fortunate enough to work techniques in China with other kung fu practitioners) did I realize how important a solid foundation is...If you are looking to stick your toe in the water, you might be lucky enough to take private lessons to work 1-1. If classes are your thing than don't worry - every one understands that people come in all shapes, sizes and ability and you will get the attention you need (without being singled out). If you are looking to prepay for your black sash - look elsewhere, as not a single person gets promoted without working hard and earning it. If you want that, I would highly recommend looking elsewhere because you will fail here.I could go on and on about the school - but who needs that - you already know that I have been sold for 11years. Everyone comes to the school to achieve different goals and they soon find that they end up finding something much more special than they set out to find. I would recommend that you call up the school and explore if it fits your needs! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

I first found Sifu and Chinese Martial Arts in 2010 - I had recovered enough from a back injury to get active again and was looking for something that would help me build strength. It's no exaggeration to say that finding this school has helped to change my life! Sifu teaches a very traditional line of Kung Fu, along with Qi Gong and Tai Chi as others have mentioned. The Qi Gong was great to start out with to build some base strength and flexibility. Kung Fu was a natural follow-on, and I have been studying it avidly since I first started. This was my first martial arts experience, but I can't recommend it strongly enough. The school is a very welcoming environment, and I quickly made many friends who have been very supportive throughout. To give you one idea, every time there is a test, if the student passes, the entire school is invited out to dinner to celebrate. Thanks to these studies, I am in better physical shape than I've ever been before. My energy levels are much more balanced thanks to the combination of Qi Gong, martial arts and acupuncture. This has been a great combination for me, and I recommend it to everyone! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

I have been coming to Chinese Martial Arts since 2004. Tucked away on Ravenswood,  it is a wonderful traditional school for learning kungfu. Yet there is a welcoming, almost family-like atmosphere developed by the students and Sifu.  You will have a second family.  A person can choose to do traditional 7* Preying Mantis Kung-fu, or tai-chi/qigong, or do both to round out the experience.  Either will provide a workout not achieved by merely having a gym membership.I have been doing kung-fu for a number of years here.  I have been pushed (in a good way) and encouraged to do things that I did not think that I could, but learned that I could and did.  It is not that "Fear is not an option" but fear is something that can be overcome.  The self-confidence (and good health) that I developed here has spread to other areas in my life.Come on by, call ahead and come visit.  You will be surprised. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

I've done yoga since I was a little girl.  I teach yoga.  I'm all about yoga; I love it.  But I have to admit:  since I've started studying Kung Fu here, I actually look forward to Kung Fu class (dare I admit it. ..) a little bit more than yoga class.I didn't know much about the martial arts world when I found this school, but what appealed to me was the traditional nature of the school, where great respect is paid to the lineage of teachers, and the forms and styles that are taught here.  It's a very different "work out" experience than being in a yoga class, or being in the gym, for that matter-- by far more challenging-- but after about five months of studying, I've noticed a profound growth in both strength and endurance, as well as my discipline and concentration skills.  And that has channeled back not only to my yoga practice, but to all other aspects of my life.In addition to Kung Fu, Qi Gong and Tai Chi are taught here, and the Sifu has an immense knowledge not only of these forms, but of the philosophy coupled with these disciplines.  He and the other instructors are tremendously talented, patient, and demanding, in a good way. It's inspiring to see the other students and teachers be so engaged, committed, and disciplined about their training.What started out, for me, as a slightly whimsical search for another way to move and exercise has grown into a real passion for me, and I really credit the high quality of this school for bringing about that transformation. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

I have been a student at Chinese Martial Arts for 9 years and I am proud to say that I wouldn't have chosen another school above this one. The rigors of training have molded me into the Martial Artist that I have become, it has increased my work habits and has increased my mental toughness.My two sons are also students here and I have seen the traditional training methods benefit both of them as well.For anyone serious about training martial arts, traditional Chinese martial arts, this is the premier school in the city. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

My wife and I began studying at Chinese Martial Arts several years ago and we couldn't be happier. The traditional training methods don't make us feel like we're participating in a cookie-cutter program. Our Sifu is incredibly knowledgeable and guides our progression toward our individual strengths and goals. We compliment our kung fu training with Tai Chi and Qi Gong for more well-rounded development which my wife credits for keeping her active during her pregnancy and making labor easier. Our Sifu practices Traditional Chinese Medicine (herbs and acupressure), and the school also offers acupuncture and massage. This holistic approach helps keep the students healthy and balanced.I really can't say enough good things about the school or our Sifu. Some of the training can be difficult, but for those that persevere and challenge themselves, the benefits are definitely worth it. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Out of the multitude of martial arts schools out there, I consider myself fortunate to have literally stumbled upon this one. This school does not advertise or promote in the tacky way I see so many other schools do, I believe mainly because of its very traditional roots. This school is the real deal.  But far more importantly, what I've seen as a student for the past year is that the Sifu, his highly adept teachers and the students all have a severe devotion to what they are doing. There is a sense of family comraderie as opposed to a roll call. Though I've visited many schools in my search for an "old school traditional" chinese martial arts establishment, this is the only one where I didn't feel the goal was profit or trend. Quite the opposite. The Sifu has a proper lineage going back down the line which he is proud of and is extraodinarily skilled at multiple fighting styles and forms, Qi Gong, Tai Chi, medicinal herbs and general well-being. You really won't find many places where you can learn praying mantis forms and then be told which teas or tonics you need prescribed in order to tone your weak points. This is a rare school, but like all things of worth, it is not easy. So when people stick around you know they mean business. Highly recommended to those who are at a point where they can put in the time and want to improve their health, general fitness (I go 3-4 times a week and feel far stronger than when I was jogging and going to the gym with the same consistency) and learn the arts in a very traditional format. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

I was doing Karate for over a year and moved this past January up to Lakeview. I liked Karate but wanted something more traditional. This place has it. The instructor is wonderful and patient and very traditional. All the students are friendly and patient. For anyone interested in exploring the Martial Arts or looking for a change this is the place. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

I've been attending lessons at Chinese Martial Arts since 2004, so I guess you could say I like this place.  This is a very traditional Kung Fu (Seven Star Northern Shaolin Praying Mantis Style) school that focuses on building a solid foundation before learning how to apply any of the techniques.  Therefore, students will spend a fair amount of time building their basic fitness (endurance, flexibility, strength) while mastering the basic boxing techniques and kicks.  One advantage to this program is that students can learn as quickly or slowly as they want, depending on their own commitment and time for attending classes.  At the same time, however, you must have a fair amount of patience and be committed, since it takes some time before you will know how to use this style.  Classes are held almost every day of the week, and private lessons are also offered.  I've found that this is probably the best all-around workout for myself and don't really do any other type of exercise outside of attending classes 2-4 times each week.  I'm in my mid-thirties and I have never felt stronger or been in better physical condition since becoming a student of Kung Fu.Chinese Martial Arts also offers courses in Tai Chi Chuan and the healing techniques of Qi Gong, which are great for those who simply want to improve their health and vitality, or complement their Kung Fu training. More...

Reviewed on Yelp