International Chi Institute

Alameda, United States

4.7

Closed now

15 reviews

Contacts

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Telephone:
+1 415-832-0118
Website:
www.internationalchiinstitute.com
Address:
1532 Webster St, Alameda, CA, 94501
b/t Lincoln Ave & Haight Ave
Nearby public transportation stops & stations:
0.9 mi51A North
0.9 mi51A South
1.4 miJack London Square Amtrak
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Bussiness info

Good for Kids
Yes

Today

Today 4:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Closed now
Local time (Alameda) 10:32 AM Tuesday, June 24, 2025

Business hours

Monday 4:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Tuesday 4:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Wednesday –
Thursday 4:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Friday 4:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Saturday 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
2:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Sunday 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
2:00 pm – 6:00 pm

Description

Specialties

— Shaolin Kung Fu (forms and weapons)

— Tai Chi

— Qi Gong

History

Established in 2012.

Director Master Yan won many gold medals in a variety of martial arts contests, which included International Wushu Championship, World Traditional Wushu instruments Championship, Shaolin boxing contest, etc,. He had participated many times in a large-​scale variety show for CCTV. In 2006, the Chinese government selected ten best martial artists to accompany Premier Wen Jiabao, and other national leaders to visit Egypt. Master Yan was one of them. The ten martial artist’s wonderful performance in Egypt was broadcasted live by the China Central Television and the Egyptian Television. The incredible kung fu performances impress every audience.

In 2012, Master Yan started to share his years of martial arts experience with martial arts admirers, so that more people would understand the benefits of martial arts. He is devoted to both the training of new generation of martial artists and publicizing Shaolin Kung Fu.

Meet the Business Owner

Master Yan D.

Business Owner

Master Yan was born in 1983 and started martial arts since childhood. At first he began to learn Kung Fu in his hometown at a martial arts school in Hebei. With his outstanding achievement, he was selected by the Shaolin Temple in Songshan, Henan at the age of eight to continue his Kung Fu training as a lay disciple. After 10 years of hard training, he became even more determine and possessed superb Kung Fu abilities, proficient with eighteen weapons and a variety of Kung Fu boxing.

Master Yan started teaching Kung Fu in 2002 at the Shaolin temple. In 2007, he came to the United States to continue teaching Shaolin Kung Fu at the Oakland Culture Center, YMCA, and other organizations. To date, he has more than 10 years of teaching experience. He also acts as referee in many martial arts contests in the United States. In 2012, Master Yan founded his first martial arts school, named the International Chi Institute, determined to share his years of martial arts experience.

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15 reviews of International Chi Institute

No registration required
Place rating: 5
Alameda, CA
My husband and I love Master Ding’s Tai Chi Class. He is a fantastic teacher. People in this institute are super friendly. We enjoyed every single minute here for three months now and DEFINITELY we will stay and grow up together with this wonderful place.
Tai Chi makes us strong and happy.
Place rating: 5
Alameda, CA
My son has been taking Kung Fu here for a total of 4 years. Master Yan is an amazing teacher. He is well known and accomplished in the Kung Fu world, and is in a lot of the Kung Fu magazines my son subscribes to. But more importantly, he is patient and seems to know just how to guide each child, with what they need. My son started Kung Fu class to learn body awareness and some self control, because in elementary school he was having trouble sitting still and paying attention. This class truly helped him in his classes, and I was surprised how many other areas of his life Kung Fu has influenced him in a positive way. He has made a great group of friends. Is learning about being humble and respectful, and feels proud of himself with each new belt he gets. Master Yan does make each child earn his belt, and it is not always easy, and I agree it should be that way. I highly recommend Master Yan’s school to anyone. We feel so lucky to be part of it.
Place rating: 5
San Francisco, CA
Master Yan is a legit Kung Fu master. He is experienced in teaching students of all ages and is expert in adjusting his teaching style to fit his audience. Master Yan is especially great with children. I appreciate that Master Yan doesn’t only teach Kung Fu skills, but also teaches the attributes associated with art and study of Kung Fu including respect, appreciation for learning, courage, and how to use the study of Kung Fu to improve everyday life. I highly recommend studying with him.
Place rating: 5
Alameda, CA
My daughter has been taking kung fu classes for a year now and she loves it. We love the sense of responsibility and accomplishment that the course has given her. The instructors are both Shaolin and are very skilled and patient.
Place rating: 5
San Francisco, CA
Master Yan is really helpful and professional ! You will learn a lot from him. Highly recommend this !
Place rating: 5
Pleasant Hill, CA
My son have been in this school for over a year, and he likes it! We sent him there just for fun, but turns out a amazing experience for him. I still remember he couldn’t stoping talking about the lesson he learned the first day, and he is thrilled to be one of the students. Master Yan is a fantastic teacher, easy to follow according to my son, professional in the kung fu stuff, and super nice to kids. Send your kids there, you’ll be surprised by their changes.
And yes, I recommend this school to kids and adults who are interested in kung fu.
Place rating: 1
Bethpage, NY
Master Yan got one start, Master Chang got 5 starts.
We have been taking my son to Kung fu class from 6÷21÷14 to 6÷2÷15, we goes around 5 times a week, you can tell my son is serious learning. for the beginning Mr. Yan was wonderful, when my son Evan was at white /​yellow belt, he always said, good job Evan, but when Evan goes to yellow black, it was taking 3 month to get promoted, Evan was petty good with every step. I spoke to Mr. Yan about why he couldn’t take test to get promoted? He said because Evan EYE’s CONTACT not mean enough!!!
The school separates class by belt’s color, two blue belt kids came to yellow black belt class twice, so I had questions to Mr. Yan, he was mad and said: «you can’t copy them with fake excuse, your son don’t need to have any belt test if you like to stay this class schedule, and you are the only one parent with a lot of questions «.
I was shock and couldn’t take his response, I sent him text about here in USA we have right to have questions and opinions. After that I never talk to him.
and he never talk to my son either. it has been 6 month long.
I have been watching Mr. Yan and found what different treats with his favor student or not favor student.
I definitely won’t recommend my friends kids come to Mr. Yan, my son didn’t built confidence but built fear of Kung fu. He got third place at competition for his hard work.
We glad we found good Kung Fu school at Pleasanton and San Leandro, now we are looking Master with warmly heart, rebuild my son’s confident with Kung Fu.
This year, they have new master Chang, he is great, my son like him very much, he got 5 starts.
Place rating: 5
Alameda, CA
Master Yan is amazing with children. More patience than I could ever possess! He trained and lived in a Shaolin Temple in China and has been in the states for 6 years. Parents and children like him a lot.
I am relieved we chose International Chi Institute. Not only are we supporting a Webster Street business but the program is not a combat style training with older kids being aggressive towards younger ones. (Parents with kids at other studios in town complain about the fighting and aggression there.)
He does a girls-​only class on Saturday mornings which is great.
Support Master Yan! Your kid will love him.
Place rating: 5
Alameda, CA
Master Yao teaches Qi Gong — the basis of Chinese healing, Kung Fu and more. He is a superb teacher and his presence is inspiring. When I first started taking Qi Gong over a year ago it was primarily for awareness and energy but I was also overcoming a back problem and was definitely interested in regaining all of my former vitality and easy of physicality.
I now feel better than I did a decade ago!
Master Yao is a teacher that has tremendous depth and he is also a Kung Fu master at a level that very few reach.
I also now take Tai Chi classes twice a week from Master Yan. He is also a superb teacher and I believe he is the type of teacher that few will ever meet. His skill level put him at one time in the top 10 in all of China — but that says nothing about his skill as a teacher. I have had quite a few high level coaches in other physical endeavors but Master Yan has an easy way about him while bringing attention to small details without hovering or pushing. He is the best teacher of this type I have had the privilege to work with.
I have seen him teaching adults and children and his style is the same for both — it is really something to experience.
I wanted to add one more thing — neither of these teachers uses yelling to raise attention or give emphasis (or make themselves feel or appear bigger).
Place rating: 5
Alameda, CA
I send my son here for Kung fu lesson. Master Yan is great. He is very skilled, polite, patient and good with both children and adults. Highly recommended!
Place rating: 5
San Francisco, CA
I started taking Kung fu classes here one year ago. I started as a complete beginner with no previous experience. I’ve gone consistently 1 – 3 times a week and its amazing how much I have learned and improved! Master Yan is a true Master. He is extremely knowledgable and a fantastic teacher. The classes are serious and fun at the same time. And the work-​out is incredible. It’s a combination of aerobic activity, lots of strength and flexibility training, and mental focus. Doing Kung fu regularly has improved my endurance, my flexibility, my mental sharpness, and my overall mood. I always feel fantastic after I leave class. Highly recommend this school for both beginners and others with a martial arts background.
Place rating: 5
Oakland, CA
i have been sent to many martial arts schools since age 5. Although i did learn the very basic postures, and was able to occasionally entertain the family with some «ong-​kia-​ha-​ha» at home, i never mastered a complete set of kungfu techniques. with master yan’s help i have improved more than enough.
Place rating: 5
Alameda, CA
I initially checked out this place because it’s close to where I live… and I have to say that the kung fu lessons with Master Yan are awesome! The one hour lessons are a great workout and I’m learning some kick ass moves. Master Yan pushes you, but not in a way that feels unrealistic or painful. Students warm up as a group, and then work on individual moves. I’ve never been into exercise, but I look forward to my twice a week lessons here! It’s really motivated me to get into shape and improve my posture. Master Yan is fantastic (and he looks straight out of a kung fu movie).
Place rating: 5
Berkeley, CA
we have sent our younger brother to many martial arts schools since age 5. Although he did learn the very basic postures, and was able to occasionally entertain the family with some «ong-​ong-​ha-​ha» at home, he never mastered a complete set of kungfu techniques.
As he was deeply interested in becoming as skilled as the masters in movies, we found Master Yan out of surprise. At first sight, Master Yan did not have the buddha belly many other «Shaolin monk masters» had in the studios we’ve previously visited. Master Yan’s teaching style was demanding in attention, discipline, and physical endurance. We were very glad to finally meet a teacher who reinforces him to take things seriously, and take responsibility for his own actions.
Shortly after 3 weeks, my brother already mastered one complete set of techniques, quickly moving onto another. Not only that, he was able to expand his attention span in school, be more focused at homework, and definitely seemed more eager to attend the kungfu classes because he was actually learning something. In comparison to the other flashy kungfu masters, Master Yan wasn’t much of a «talker», he truly teaches and reinforces the practice for each of his student. In this studio, we can envision the phrase: practice makes perfect.
we will definitely recommend this studio and Master Yan to our friends
Place rating: 5
Moraga, CA
Having trained with Shaolin monks a few years ago in England, I’m very impressed with Master Yan’s ability and teaching. Although the training is demanding he sets a good balanced pace. Highly recommended to anyone interested in learning Shaolin forms.