Our Style

Northern Shaolin Eagle Claw or Ying Jow Pai is one of China's richest traditional martial arts systems. It includes  all aspects of martial arts including fighting, joint locking (Qinna), weapons,  and dramatic forms, gathered over centuries. You can see some of our forms at our Youtube channel.

Eagle Claw's origins lie in the battlefields of medieval China and the Shaolin Temple. Its defining characteristics are its distinctive "claws" used to catch and grab an opponent, and joint locking or "Qinna" which relies on leverage and body mechanics, as well as the full range of basic martial arts fighting techniques — strikes, kicks, sweeps, throwing, pressure points and more.

Eagle Claw emphasizes natural, flowing control. It's characterized by long, graceful movements and quick footwork. With its brilliant understanding of the body, its vast "library" of techniques, and a natural approach to fighting, Eagle Claw Kung Fu is one of the greatest accomplishments in martial arts.

The style's lineage delivered the style to Grandmaster Leung Shum, currently is in retirement. Both Sifu Dario Acosta and Sifu Julie were trained by Grandmaster Shum. Sifu Dario Acosta is one of only a few students of Grandmaster Shum who have achieved the rank of "Master" in the system. 

We offer private and group classes in:  

Classic Forms and weapons training 

Self-defense and real-world applications  

Free sparring and tournament fighting 

Breathing and meditation

Conditioning and fitness building

We also teach Tai Chi and Chi Gung.