The Northern Shaolin classes at Black Mountain Spirit combine drills, exercises, and pad work with traditional martial arts training. Students receive technical instruction from experienced teachers who are long-time practitioners. This ensures an authentic experience, practical technique, and a challenging workout.
Classes provide a complete program for developing strength, speed, and endurance. Training includes weight resistance, suspension and bodyweight circuits, and elastic resistance stations. These methods deliver a powerful blend of cardio and strength for truly dynamic results.
Black Mountain Spirit caters to individual goals, helping students discover what they most need in life. The program becomes more than fitness — it becomes a path toward balance, health, and personal achievement.
For those seeking Kung Fu classes in Pittsburgh, Northern Shaolin offers both tradition and modern conditioning in one dynamic package.
The most recent of the NeiGong or Internal Skills martial arts, BaGuaZhang is based on the 64 Hexagrams imagery of the Yi-Jing, or Book of Changes. It’s exploration of Yin & Yang through the medium of Traditional Chinese Martial Arts (TCMA) is unquestionably the most expansive in it’s breadth & depth of technical skill, & expression.
TaiJi: Balance, Health, and Self-Defense
TaiJi is an internal Chinese martial art practiced for its defensive training, health benefits, and meditative qualities. Originally developed as a martial art, it is now embraced for many reasons. Students explore TaiJi for longevity, internal and external martial skills, artistic expression, movement meditation, and even competition.
The benefits of practice are extensive. Training improves balance, circulation, and aerobic conditioning while enhancing strength, flexibility, and mental focus. Students also report weight loss, improved clarity of thought, and greater resilience in daily life.
At Black Mountain Spirit in Pittsburgh, TaiJi is taught in its authentic form. Instruction blends tradition with modern understanding, giving students tools to develop body, mind, and spirit in harmony.
For those seeking Tai Chi classes in Pittsburgh, Black Mountain Spirit provides training that strengthens health, focus, and self-defense together.
Kickboxing at Black Mountain Spirit is not the usual “hook, jab, cross, kick” class. In Pittsburgh, instructors teach techniques as they were meant to be used in combat. The focus is simple: get home to your family safe and sound.
Techniques derive from Chinese kickboxing traditions spanning more than a millennium. Consequently, every movement taught is tested for effectiveness under pressure. All drills emphasize practical application rather than aesthetic form.
Courses follow two branches: Health and Fitness, and Street-Savvy Self-Defense. Students improve fitness, build confidence, and release stress through focused training. Moreover, they train to act decisively if protection becomes necessary. Therefore, when faced with danger, students know what to do.
I and my staff help children from age to begin developing the traits that’ll take them farthest in the society9 they’ll grow up to live in. We instill in them a sense of both confidence and responsibility, which leads to incredible character development. Our talented staff is enthusiastic and highly motivated in helping each child regardless of ability or background achieve their own personal goals and highest potentials. Having undergone the Traditional Chinese Martial Arts curriculum for a number of years themselves, these well-trained and highly qualified individuals represent the best of what can be experienced through TCMA training.
For almost 40 years, ShiFu Marc Black has practiced Traditional Chinese Martial Arts (TCMA). While well-versed in many styles of Kung Fu, his deepest expertise lies in Ho’o Chin Pai Northern Shaolin, Ming Hsien Kuei Shou BaGuaZhang, and Yang Jia TaiJiQuan.
Motivated by a commitment to his community, ShiFu Black has developed programs for people of all abilities seeking better health and well-being. He has taught after-school classes for youth, workshops for seniors, and specialized training for police, military personnel, and private security professionals.
Respected by his peers as both an instructor and an ongoing tournament champion, ShiFu Black brings this broad experience into every class. His life reflects dedication to each student — supporting them in achieving both martial arts goals and personal growth.
At Black Mountain Spirit in Pittsburgh, students learn from an instructor who unites tradition, experience, and genuine care.
Ms. Angelova has trained in Northern Shaolin and TaiJi, for nearly 20 years, studying exclusively under the guidance of ShiFu Marc Black.
As a member of the Black Mountain Spirit teaching staff, her skill and dedication make her a valuable contributor to every program offered in the community. She supports each student with the same care and commitment that define the school’s mission.
Her devotion to Traditional Chinese Martial Arts (TCMA) is evident in her practice and teaching. She serves as a Gatekeeper, preserving the high standards passed down through her training at Black Mountain Spirit. Acting as a bridge between the masters of old and today’s students, she helps ensure the art’s life-changing benefits remain accessible.
A First Place Tournament Champion, Ms. Angelova strives to uphold the integrity of TCMA and carry its legacy forward into the next century and beyond.
Absolutely! The only requirement is that you understand that Private Lessons are typically one on one with the instructor, and that the information is going to be very dense with tons of technique details and principles designed to maximize your retention of the information and expression of that information physically. In other words, come prepared to LEARN. 😉
All of the public classes are listed here and under their respective categories.
For information concerning the times available for Private Lessons, please fill out the Contact Us form and we’ll be glad to help take care of your specific interests and needs.
Yes it Is! Please bear in mind that it’s an Introductory Lesson, and is designed to offer a cursory understanding of the most basic techniques and applications of the specific system of TCMA that you’re interested in pursuing.
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