On May 17th, SKZ proudly launched and successfully completed the 1st Group of the 17th Black Belt / Duan Advancement! Congratulations to all testers for this incredible achievement! This 3-hour advancement was not only a demonstration of skill, endurance, and discipline, but also a powerful reflection of what years of Kungfu training can build in a person. Commitment, determination, perseverance, passion, respect, and self-discipline are no longer just lessons in training — t

I have been practicing Kung Fu for over a decade already. Kungfu started as fun hobby that I could do with friends, but as we all got busy and drifted into our own paths, I chose to continue down the path of Kungfu. Now Kungfu is a lifestyle and a career choice that would be a waste to keep to myself. I am not the result of circumstances, but the choices made from my experiences. Learning Kungfu has changed me, but teaching has done more so. I was much more impulsive in the p

My name is Torsten Maxwell. I am 15 years old and I have been training Kung Fu for about 9 years. My journey of practicing Kung Fu has taught me to be more confident, and to take risks. Kung Fu has been very important to me in changing the way I face challenges with diligence and perseverance. Hi. My name is Torsten. Today, I would like to speak about why Kung Fu has become such an essential part of my life. Throughout my journey of training Kung Fu, I have learned many val

My name is Nathan Stark. I am a 14 year old boy testing for 1st degree black belt and I have done Kungfu for over 8 years. For me Kungfu has not just been a class but a journey. It has taught me practice, discipline and resilience. Kungfu has taught me to work hard in math and persevere when it got difficult. It has helped me to work hard and push myself everyday guiding me through the years teaching me necessary skills. I would like to speak about Kung Fu's overall positive

Hello! My name is Luohe, but I go by Loch. I have been practicing Kung-fu for almost 11 years, which makes me one of the veterans of SKZ. Some things I want to achieve are to help and support others more, to keep pushing my limtis, and to get good results in tournaments. I truly believe that Kung-fu is an important aspect of my life, and 1st degree black belt is just the beginning. Good luck to all testing members! Hello to the judges, audience, and my fellow tester. Today I

My name is Frank Hofer and I am a retired software engineer. I just turned 68 and have been practicing Kung Fu for 9 years. I have done Sanda for most of that time and just started learning Tai Chi. On the personal side I have dogs and cats. I’m a pretty good cook and spend time checking out restaurants and local wineries. Nine years in June. That’s how long I’ve been coming here and that says a lot about the teachers and the students here at SKZ. I have never considered my

Justin Lai, a student of SKZ, is currently attending San Jose State University. Before leaving for college, Justin had reached IWSD 3rd Degree Black Belt and was officially instituted as a Kungfu National Team Member. Justin would regularly attend classes in SKZ with his brother Kyle who is now attending UC Merced and had reached IWSD 1st Degree Black Belt. During his days in SJSU he is now playing a balancing act between his academics and maintaining a club. We were all su

I am Gabriel. I have been practicing Kung Fu with Shaolin Kung Fu Zen for almost 9 years. Kung Fu keeps me young and alert. It forces me to challenge myself and step out of my comfort zone. Most importantly, it connects me with my daughter who also loves KunFu. I do my best to barely keep up with her kung fu skills and agility. Learning the forms could be very time consuming, but with Shifu’s exceptional support, Kung Fu is always a pleasure. Hard work gives me a great sense

My name is Lucas Youn, and I am a 15-year-old freshman attending Saint Francis High School. I have been involved in Kung Fu since a very young age, and it has become an integral part of my life. I believe Kung Fu has instilled in me the qualities of diligence and leadership. I apply the skills I have acquired through Kung Fu, such as determination, to various aspects of my daily life, including sports and academics.

My name is Erik B. Surarez I been training Shaolin Kung Fu for 15 years. For me Shaolin Kung Fu has been not just a Martial Art. But a way of life, I live Shaolin every day. It has help me with my health, my career, mind, body and spirit. This is a path and a way of life I choose to live every day. Now at my 45, Shaolin Kung Fu makes me feel if I'm in my 20s. I always say train hard and mabu lower. I love Kung Fu and I love mabu.

Kung Fu has been a major part of my life since I joined back some 7 years ago. Its helped me become more confident in my own self and has helped me meet similar like minded people to me. Its just weird to think I started when I was only in 3rd grade, and now I’m a freshman in high school.

I am Eddie Fu. Ever since 2nd grade, Kung Fu has taught me that it takes discipline and hard work to reach your goals. Every day I constantly remind myself that Kung Fu is a testament to my ability to push through the discomfort, push past the pain, and maintain an inner peace within the mind. Using the morals that Kung Fu has taught me, I hope to apply them to navigate the nuanced situations that life throws at me.

When I grow up I hope to someday be good at kungfu. I am so grateful for my kungfu family. My son Ethan that inspires me, my brother Andrew that helps me learn, and daughter Addy that borrows my swords to learn kungfu in a college club. I am particularly grateful for the larger kungfu family; the students that I train with that help me learn and grow. I appreciate shifu’s patient support to push me to work to my ability. This makes the journey amazing and rewarding.

Kungfu has always been a significant part of my life, but it became much more difficult when I moved far away from the studio. From Kungfu I learned that success does not come easily; it only comes with grit, determination, and hard work. For me, the most difficult part of Kungfu is being okay with making mistakes and finding the lesson behind them. Kungfu has helped me stay in a good physical condition and, although challenging, has always been something to look forward to..

I am Colin Ye. This past year of Kungfu has been way more fast paced than before black belt. I have also joined team class along with the black belt classes. I feel like this extra work has been way more tolling, but it has also motivated me to keep on going. This mindset of perseverance has motivated me to keep on going and not quit, even when I dug myself into a bad situation. I appreciate many of the things that Kungfu has taught me, and I hope that whoever’s reading this

My name is Rishi Sinha, and I have been training Kung Fu at the Shaolin Kung Fu Zen Academy for several years. Over the years. I have grown to learn that Kung Fu isn’t about the strength and skills of fighting. Instead, it is a journey toward self discipline, patience, and mental growth. It taught me how to remain calm in a stressful situation, think things through before responding, and go beyond my limits day after day. Each class is a new challenge that makes me grow, no

Hi my name is Braydon Yu, I am 13 years old and I joined this community I was 5. I have been training Kung Fu for 8 years and it really shaped me into who I am. I’m not that much of a sporty guy so Kung Fu is my main source of exercise. I’m going to high school next year so this year is filled with a lot of work with applications. Kung Fu has been an amazing experience and I am glad I kept on going.

My name is Aparajita Sinha and I am testing for Black Belt. I started Kung-Fu when I was around five and am now testing at 12 years of age. Throughout my years of training, I have met some awesome people and have learned how to do things I never even thought of trying! In total, I have been practicing Kung-Fu for seven years, and I am delighted to be finally testing for this level.

Joining the martial art in 7th grade, I was astonished by Kungfu’s tenacity and rigor. Unlike Taekwondo, which I did for 6 years prior, switching to Kungfu not only gave me a different perspective on martial arts, but allowed me to explore culture and gain discipline and confidence. I aspire to integrate the skills and mindsets I’ve developed throughout my journey in Kungfu and empower others with it.

On Sunday, November 23, 2025, we proudly hosted our final Black Belt Advancement of the year — an incredible milestone marked by skill, discipline, and heart. This round of testing welcomed 12 candidates in total, consisting of: 4 Red/Black Belts, 4 Black Belts, 4 First-Degree Black Belts. Our testers ranged impressively in age — from 12 years old to 63 — showing that Kungfu is a lifelong journey open to all. Some students needed time to settle into the testing rhythm, while