Self-Defense is Knowing
What To Do

You're walking towards your car after leaving a store or movie theatre & out of the blue someone grabs you by the arm - or worse yet just punches you in the face for no reason at all.

What do you do?

WHAT DO YOU DO?

What do you do when violence breaks out? We’ve been answering that question at The Black Mountain Spirit School of Chinese Kung Fu for over 36 years, honing our talents through the practice of Traditional Chinese Martial Arts, and private security. Our experience has benefited both law enforcement and military personnel. We offer a warm, polite, and family-oriented environment in which we encourage character development, physical health, and, most importantly, real-world street-savvy self-defense.

Self-Defense is knowing what to do when someone else brings violence to you or those around you that you care about. You need to have the answers to the questions of how to block, duck, counterstrike, and even causing serious damage – and fast – the same way that a paramedic arriving on the scene knows what to do with the questions of “He’s not breathing”, “she fell and hit her head”, or “his heart stopped”. In these situations paramedics don’t panic, because they know what to do: they took specialized training and know with the utmost confidence exactly what to do in the above situations – and you have to do the same to know what to do when violence strikes.

Real World, Street-Saavy Self Defense

Our fundamental tenet is that reality comes first. We teach people a self-defense strategy that works in real life, all the time. Although we practice the art as a cultural legacy, as a competitive sport, and even as a method of fitness at our school, make no mistake that you are also learning military warfare. Unlike other institutions, we do not have a separate ‘self-defense’ class or program. Each and every course at BMS begins with time-tested, tried and effective martial fighting skills and approaches. We train in order to protect ourselves, our families, and/or those in need in the most effective and efficient manner possible if we are attacked. Every effort is made to make training a viable option. Our major goal is to develop students to the best of their ability so that they can survive a dangerous or life-threatening situation.

Because GrandMaster Black personally teaches our lessons, you will have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to learn practical self-defense tactics that will enable you to protect yourself and others. By studying with us, you will be exposed to the rich cultural tradition and history of real TCMA. This event will increase not only your physical abilities but also your mental toughness and emotional well-being. Because our seminars are just for teens and adults, the content and class sizes are targeted to your unique needs. Whether you are a novice looking to learn martial arts for self-defense or an experienced practitioner want to learn how to adapt your current skills to a realistic context, our instructors are fully certified and ready to assist you.

Self Defense: The reasons why we don't do it.

Lack of Awareness: Some individuals may not be aware of the benefits or availability of self-defense classes. They may not realize that such classes can help improve their physical fitness, build confidence, and develop skills to protect themselves in dangerous situations.

Time and Schedule Constraints: Busy lifestyles and conflicting priorities can make it difficult for people to commit to regular self-defense classes. Many individuals juggle work, family, and other responsibilities, leaving little time for extracurricular activities.

Financial Considerations: Cost can be a factor that prevents people from joining self-defense classes. Some classes or programs may require membership fees, training equipment, or additional expenses that some individuals may not be able to afford.

Fear or Discomfort: Participating in self-defense classes often involves physical contact and simulating potentially threatening situations. This can make some individuals feel uneasy or anxious, particularly if they have had past experiences with trauma or violence.

Confidence in Existing Skills: Some people may already feel confident in their ability to defend themselves or may believe that they are unlikely to encounter dangerous situations. As a result, they may not see the need to join self-defense classes.

Accessibility Issues: Limited access to self-defense classes, particularly in remote or underserved areas, can be a barrier for some individuals. Lack of transportation or proximity to suitable training facilities can prevent people from participating.

Take the first step in your martial arts journey today and discover about the numerous advantages of real-world self-defense training at our school.

"Yes, No One Ever Expects Bad Things To Happen To Them
This is MY CHANCE To PREVENT That."

What Our Students Have to Say ...

Read Clark S.'s review of Black Mountain Spirit School of Chinese Kung Fu on Yelp

Black Mountain Spirit is an awesome school where you learn self defense as well as self discipline. You meet very friendly people who has been there longer than you or who hasn't but is still willing to work with you and help you out with your practicing. The Shaolin style is a more intense type of style which will help your endurance as well as strength. Tai Chi is a more calmer style that helps you relax your mind whenever you're fighting or just relaxing. Kung Fu is a MUCH better style than Karate since it feels much smoother and gives you a better piece of mind. The price isn't bad at all, its actually the best deal I was able to find. But the instructor is very helpful and is very charismatic and is knowledgeable about everything he does or brings up in a conversation. But they are very polite and friendly and the instructor is very professional.

I have been a student at Black Mountain Spirit Kung Fu for four years. It has been an amazing experience. I used to be in the Marines, where i learned Marine Corps Martial Arts. The self defense i am learning at Black Mountain Spirit in terms of practicality and professional instruction far surpasses the system of hand to hand fighting i learned in the Marines. To say that i highly recommend this school is an understatement. Whether its Tai Chi, Shaolin, or BaGua kung fu, you will learn simple yet awesome techniques for street defense and survival. I work in a state correctional facility and the skills that i have gained in learning kung fu at Black Mountain Spirit helps me perform my duties with a certainty and confidence that did not have before. There is no doubt in my mind that i can effectively defend myself while on the job or on the street in a hand to hand, self defense, survival situation. The instructor is waterfall of deep knowledge and incite about fighting with kung fu, he absolutely has a battlefield mindset when it comes to self defense. It doesn't matter what style of kung fu you gravitate to, he can show you how to practically use any technique for fighting. There are no flowery punches or embroidered kicks, you will learn that every movement has a practical purpose from form to fight. The instructor is very knowledgeable of the rich cultural history of kung fu and lore from the land and people where kung fu was first developed and cultivated. Overall the curriculum is excellent, the people are friendly and welcoming, and the price of tuition is most likely going to be the lowest your going to find when compared to many other martial arts schools in the area.

If you are interested in Real Kung Fu, this is the place to be. Period. I've studied at over five schools and visited dozens more across the United States, and He Shan Shen has the highest level of teaching that I have encountered. Since I started learning Tai Chi and Shaolin over eight years ago I have been amazed by the friendly and awesome quality of Marc Black's lessons. Combine this with the crazy low price, and constant willingness of Marc to teach, and you get an amazing kung fu experience.

I spent 4 years practicing both Shaolin Kung Fu and TaiJi from Master Black here during my college years. There is no better place to learn authentic, effective martial arts. If you're looking for a school where you're going to learn real Kung Fu, this is it.

Read Jason B.'s review of Black Mountain Spirit School of Chinese Kung Fu on Yelp

I studied Kung Fu at Black Mountain Spirit all through college and it was a formative experience for me. Sifu Marc Black teaches a rich curriculum of traditional Kung Fu with an emphasis on practical application. This is not a school where aerobics are dressed up as martial arts, but is instead a place where students work hard and learn valuable skills. The studio itself is clean and well-equipped. The front room has full-length mirrors along the entire wall and weapons for students who are studying advanced forms. The back room has rugged and modern training equipment, with changing rooms downstairs. But even setting aside the facilities, Marc Black is a teacher second to none. He is personable and knows how to break complex maneuvers down in a way that anyone can grasp. Even more impressive, he scales his lesson to the skill level of the student. Every time Marc shows you a technique, the feeling is that what you are seeing is easily attainable with just a bit more practice. If you have ever thought about taking a martial art, you owe it to yourself to visit Black Mountain Spirit.

I've been attending Black Mountain Spirit for about four years. The instructor, Marc, teaches Shaolin Kung Fu, Tai Chi and Bagua. I've been taking the Tai Chi and Bagua classes. He's very knowledgeable about the intricacies that make a technique work or fail. What I like about the Tai Chi lessons here is that Marc teaches both the form for health benefits, as well as the martial aspects of the techniques. Sparring night is very open, with people from other styles coming to spar some nights. I find Marc to be professional with his teaching methods and practical with his technique. The price to quality instruction ratio looks great compared to some other schools in the area, and I've attended a few. I would say the best way to get a grasp on what you can expect at this school is to come view an open sparring night and see how amazing the technique looks.

The only place where my fiance and I feel at home since moving to Pennsylvanian is at Black Mountain Spirit School of Chinese Kung Fu. We are both athletes and find the classes challenging and enjoyable. Mr. Black is a very knowledgeable teacher who understands the applications behind the drills he teaches. My fiance and I look forward to our development as we continue to train at Black Mountain Spirit School of Chinese Kung Fu.

As a former student of Sifu Black's, I studied with him when he was teaching under a tree on Forbes Avenue. His knowledge of martial arts is superb, especially of applications.

I went here while I was in college and really enjoyed it. Proper form is emphasized here which really helped me improve. I liked the sparring especially as it was a great way to practice techniques you learned in a more practical setting.

Self-Defense is Knowing What To Do

You're walking towards your car after leaving a store or movie theatre & out of the blue someone grabs you by the arm - or worse yet just punches you in the face for no reason at all. What do you do?