Thomas Academy-Taiji Kung Fu

This is a top-notch Chinese Martial Arts school. The chief instructor has more than 2 decades of experience, and it shows. The forms are not dumbed down at all, and are challenging so that you will never be bored. The chief instructor spends his own money to visit China on a regular basis in order to train with his Chinese teachers. Attending a Chinese Martial Arts school is very much like being a member of a family, and that's the feeling you'll get here. Everyone truly cares about everyone else. You can't get this from a DVD. more

This is the absolute WORST Tai Chi school in town. The Shirfu Rick Thomas is a joke. I wish I could get my six months back. I had several Tai Chi friends warn me about his incompetence, but I didn’t listen. I wanted to give him a chance. My mistake! For starters his dog tried to bite my daughter luckily I was there and was able to stop the situation. It is completely unprofessional to bring a dog to a martial arts school. Who does that?! Plus the damn thing gave my wife hives because she is allergic.\r \r The school is shrinking is size literally. Mall 31 where the school is at commandeered half the school. I asked the Shirjie (assistant instructor) about it. She gave some bollocks excuse about the mall temporarily loaning the commandeered half of the school. That is crazy. The only real explanation is Rick does not pay his bills. Which is odd because he can somehow affords to visit China regularly. I guess some people see money, but don’t know what to do with it.\r \r This school is way overpriced in comparison to other more worthwhile martial arts schools. Rick wants a 100 plus dollars for private lessons, and he doesn’t even know proper applications to forms. He literally told me in a competition to just make it up as I go. No one will know the difference. He must think everyone is stupid. \r \r On top of Shirfu Rick Thomas being short tempered and rude he is also completely creepy he was in some type of weird longhaired phase where he was trying to act Native American. Which is completely offense and racist to anyone Native American Like my wife for example. Rick also dates his students. Which is another completely unprofessional trait. I guess his ex wife was a student, and his current bed buddy is a student. There are also rumors I not sure how true that he actually bunks/has student bunk with him. Based on rumors from current students. This place is totally weird.\r \r My advice is look elsewhere. Stay away from the cult drama. It is not worth it. Plus there are plenty of competent schools with flexible schedules and lower prices. I wish his China teachers knew how poorly he represents them. It is insulting! \r more