Peaceful Mind Wing Chun

“Do it with a peaceful mind” is how Sifu Jeffrey Davis describes the way he teaches Wing Chun, and the school, which goes by Peaceful Mind Martial Arts, puts its aim as “to develop peace.” The system it teaches is a complete form of self-defense, the school says, from striking to ground fighting and take-down defense. Forms come first, as the foundation for the principles of Wing Chun, tai chi and other styles; weapons and sparring follow later.

In Wing Chun, students learn the forms and then take techniques from them into partner drills. Chi Sau, or “sticky hands,” comes next: the drills get tested against a partner who is trying to impose their own structure. From there training moves on to Gor Sau, which starts the partners without contact. Each instructor is certified as a Wing Chun teacher, and between them the teachers bring backgrounds in tai chi, Eskrima, kickboxing and grappling. Beginners have their own Wing Chun class on Monday evenings, and the Tuesday evening class includes sparring.

Sifu Jonathan Jarvie teaches the Filipino martial arts often called Kali, Arnis or Eskrima, on Friday and Saturday late mornings. Training uses rattan sticks and covers sinawali (a weaving pattern for both hands), single stick, double stick, knife, and stick and knife, with plastic knives for drills. Jarvie teaches 9 angles of attack, 9 striking methods, evasive footwork and disarms. Tai chi runs at midday on Tuesdays and Thursdays and in the early evening Tuesday through Friday, and Saturday starts with qigong and tai chi. Kids have their own classes Tuesday through Friday.

The first class is free, and the school sets up trial classes by message. The monthly plan covers unlimited in-person classes plus the school's online content; drop-in classes are available for Wing Chun, tai chi and Eskrima, and private lessons run in person or online. What to wear to a first class and whether a uniform is needed later go unmentioned, so the message that books the trial is a good place to settle both.