EBM Kung Fu Academy

The best all around Martial arts academy in northern California for my money.
A lot of martial arts schools fall into two categories:
1: Gladiator academies where MMA, and a nearly sporting level of interpersonal contact is the rule. (Great for producing meatheads, bullies, and future felons)
2: «Martial arts lite» places where «Internal» means «not applicable in real fighting situations» complete with mystical mythical new age interpretations of ancient texts and concepts that would fare better in a LOTR sequel. like «touchless knockouts» and «Magic power ball force deployment» (I am not making this shit up. Look up «yellow bamboo»)
EMB is something different, an academy headed and founded by a dedicated lifelong martial artist, with an actual lineage to Taoist monks, a strong emphasis on internal and spiritual balance, combined with hardcore applicable combat training, and serious conditioning, that won Brent, (Sifu) and his teams several Sanshou (Chinese MMA kickboxing) world championship titles over the past decade. It is a perfect combination of Internal and External Hard and Soft approaches to martial arts, and the community around the school, is helpful, healthy, and super friendly.
I highly recommend EBM to people who want to know real martial arts, and also the spiritual precept behind them. They have classes in Boxing, Sparring, Chi Gung, Gung Fu, Grappling, and more.
Thumbs up for EBM

This School is AMAZING. I was only there a short period of time. But during which I lost about 10pounds and I started getting my punches and kicks back into form. The head instructor Brent Hamby is one serious martial artist. He really knows his stuff. in fact all of them do. Brian and Adam are rockstars in their own right. And there’s a girl named Karin who can whoop some serious ass. (I’ve seen it with me own 2 eyes)
I moved back to Los Angeles for work again. But I seriously miss training here and trading blows with these awesome individuals. If and when I am back in the bay I will definitely be coming back.
You will get fit. You will get your butt kicked. You will go home with bruises every so often. But by the end, you’ll be a kick ass storm trooper.
(Did I mentiion Brent looks like a spitting image of «Johnny» from the Cobra Kai in the KARATE KID.) That’s Freakin RAD.
To sum this all up for you, I leave you with my personal favorite quote. And if you love the martial arts as much as I do… then these are words to live by.
” How much can you know about yourself, you’ve never been in a fight?” — Tyler Durden
— HW.

Some people assume that EBM stands for East Bay Martial Arts, but that’s not correct. It actually stands for the Evolving Body Mind Institute. Before you go thinking that that’s some kind of woowoo hoodoo, let me set you straight. It’s the real deal. That’s what happens to you if you spend enough time training at EBM. Your body and your mind will evolve. This is not the fast track evolution that takes place over night in labs by way of genetic engineering, it’s the natural, tried and true kind of evolution. Slow. Steady. Like the landscape that is changed by the weather over eons. Like mountains carved by glaciers. Nearly imperceptible on the scale of days but when viewed as a larger process, it’s unmistakable, profound. Will you be sore the day after your first class? Yes. Will you get muscles? Yes. Develop agility, flexibility and power? Yes.
You could train anywhere and get muscles. But if you are regular in your practice, the methods of EBM will strengthen you to your very sinews and bone. And what about your mind?
Will you become sharper witted and more efficient in your thinking, able to make smart split second decisions in quickly changing conditions? Yes.
Will your mind quiet itself in the center of the storm? If you train long enough.
Some changes will happen faster, or slower, than others at EBM, and it’s different for everyone. But with the proper attitude and commitment, it will evolve you.
Maybe you will come to EBM with a specific goal or ambition. Or maybe you won’t. That’s okay either way. Because you will not find any goals or ambitions dispensed to you there. If you’re to have them, they will be your own. You can discover or change your goals as you go along. To illustrate, let’s pretend that whatever goal you have when you’re at EBM is like climbing a mountain. You want to get to the top. And EBM is a vehicle for growth and change to get you to the top. But what kind of vehicle is it? Let me say straight away that EBM is NOT the rocket ship that will shoot you to the top in a matter of a few months. Remember, there is no fast track-​evolution requires time. At some point in your training you might think that EBM feels like a freight train, as you wind your way upward, gradually gaining momentum that once has come to speed cannot be stopped because of the massive weight behind it. But, this belief will pass. You aren’t on a train, you are in a body, and that body will present obstacles for you. You may experience setbacks. You’ll overcome them. And so, eventually, you may find that EBM is actually not so much a vehicle, but like a quiet sherpa guiding you higher, as you make your way up the mountain with only your two feet, one step in front of another. The EBM sherpas have been on the mountain a long long time, and they know the way. But they will never carry your pack. Everyone carries their own pack. You might wonder — will you make friends? If you reach out and give your friendship, then yes.
But just as your goals at EBM will be your own, so will your motivation. No one will ever make you do anything. If you get words of encouragement to continue, you will have received a precious gift.
There is great camaraderie at EBM, if you persevere. But isn’t this where people learn the art of war and combat? Don’t the fighters look strong and dangerous? You might wonder-​will you be kicked and punched in the head and thrown to the ground? Yes, but only if you choose to step on the mat and only if you let your guard down. Rest assured, the people of EBM will help you to your feet again. What you will hopefully learn at EBM is that whether you are form and stance training, pad training, or sparring with your cohorts: you are your only opponent.
You see, whatever your goal is, you think you are climbing it like a mountain, making progress, but the truth is: you will never arrive. Every time you think you’ve made it to the summit, another one appears! Don’t lose heart. You must not forget that the wind that is whipping you is your breath, and the rain that falls on you is your sweat, and these things are not in fact keeping you from reaching the summit, they are shaping and evolving you, because you are not climbing the mountain.
You ARE the mountain.
Maybe you were born a champ on top of the mountain, and you will always be a champ. Good for you. Evolution is not a measure of who you are today, it’s a measure of how far you’ve come. The only misstep is to delay. Begin now.

I’ve been coming to EBM since December 15^th 2010. You may laugh that I cite the specific date, but the school, it’s instructors, and the fellow students have made a large impact on my life, so the day sticks with me as a re-​invention of myself.
I previously had ZERO experience with Martial Arts, aside from mimicking TMNT when I was a child. However, I discovered that EBM had students from a variety of previous skill level, styles, and experiences. At first, I was intimidated and felt pretty goofy with my terrible motor skills and horrifying technique, but the environment is nurturing to n00bz willing to work hard, and as a result I’ve become addicted.
The diligence, patience, and knowledge displayed by Brent, Brian, and Adam always help me to reach plateaus, and break through them. They are truly talented, and skilled instructors which makes class fun, interesting, and without a doubt challenging. They are also incredibly experienced. (read at
)
If you’re dreaming about obtaining belt ranks, and how cool you’ll look in your Gi, then EBM is NOT the place for you. In fact, there is no uniform code, or belt system, which makes it up to the individual to dedicate themselves and put in the effort they are willing to improve. You get out what you put in at EBM. You can push yourself really really hard here if you want to. That being said, I highly recommend taking the all the courses at EBM.
Some people choose only to come to one or two classes a week, and that is completely up to the student. You can choose your focus, but one benefits greatly from trying to stay with the entire curriculum, both mentally and physically.
Between the Strength and Conditioning, San Shou, Ta-​Chi, and traditional Shaolin Kung Fu courses, there is so much to take advantage of, and it satisfies those seeking variety.
It is hard work, but one shouldn’t feel intimidated to try it out. People aren’t trying to take your head off here or anything. The students and teachers are all amazing, respectful of each other, and cordial.
Also, to female readers, there is a decent female attendance here at EBM, and they all kick ass.
Other fun factors:
EBM is in a Gym attached to the back of a Church, and the unassuming grey, metal doors to enter the building have no handle on the outside. You always feel like you’re entering a special place for bad ass-​ness.
Kicks and punches sound amazing in there! Good acoustics.
Immunity Boost! I used to get sick 5 – 6 times a year. I’ve been sick once since attending EBM.

Brent is a caring and talented instructor with a serious skill-​set. He’s former coach of the US National San Shou team, and full-​contact karate black belt.
The san shou (Chinese kickboxing) classes are focused and driven, providing a great workout that also develops skills. He won’t let you off the hook if he’s sees you’re doing a technique wrong– he’ll come over and help yo correct it. This isn’t a huge school for profit, and is run out of love and dedication to his art (he has a successful, real career besides martial arts). I don’t train there regularly as I teach martial arts at another school, but go to him to spar with other students, and hone skills. I never leave his class with having learned something worth taking home, and his drop-​in rates (and monthly tuition) are both very reasonable. One of the best, most humble kickboxing coaches in the US, hands down.

This place is my second home. But I never recommend it to anyone, and I’m not recommending it to you now. Here are some reasons not to come:
1. The regular curriculum is tai chi, kung fu, kickboxing, and wrestling. Do you really want to do all that?
2. There are a lot of big, sweaty guys here, and you have to wrestle with them. I regularly leave class soaked in big-​sweaty-​guy sweat. I’m not kidding.
3. This school causes serious and troubling bruising.
4. Sometimes the teacher decides that you will spend all of class weaving back and forth under a rope.
5. People at this school are always bragging about how strong their chi is.
6. Everyone at this school is obsessed with Chuck Norris.
7. The school is closed during August, during which time you will experience painful pining, jonesing, and other uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms. Many students have reported unexpected compulsions such as drinking, gambling, or going to an MMA school at this time.
Also there are no hot girls in skimpy outfits here – sorry! Did I mention the sweaty guys?

The Bay Area is really fortunate to have so many great Martial Arts schools, and this is one of the best. Not only can you kickbox Muay Thai style and wrestle with Greco-​Roman and Brazilian Ju-​Jitsu influences, you can learn traditional Chinese Internal styles, like Tai Chi and Shaolin Kung Fu.
This school delivers for authentic instruction in how to cultivate chi’ and physical power simultaneously, so that you can reap all of the health and longevity benefits while learning real fighting technique. In the Kung Fu world, they have dominated the full contact realm on a national level and have produced a number of champions.
Their competition record speaks to the success of their formula: if you combine internal chi’ power with Muay Thai and Grappling, it becomes stronger. This school gets invited to all of the Thai Smokers and full contact events around the Bay Area and holds it own, no easy task.

The real deal. Located in an austere church gymnasium and headed by a friendly, but no-​nonsense martial arts master, EBM provides a rigorous training regimen and a dedicated community of students. There is no flash here, only sweat and quiet success.

You should look no further for your martial arts training than EBM. The instuctors here have creditials that can’t be argued with. They have studied under world recongized masters, and applied their skills competetively with impressive results. Because of their simple dedication and a passion for what they teach, the EBM school has national titles and international respect. The school focus is on San Shou, but that is only one of the features of the EBM curriculum, which includes, Hsing –I, Jujutsu, Tai-​Chi, Kung Fu, grappling, conditioning and maybe even some Ashtanga Yoga thrown in to round things out.
Despite the pedigree of the EBM crew, you won’t find the school intimidating, formal, or overly structured. These cats are cool. It’s more of a community than a class. The EBM web site will answer many of your questions, so check it out: