Best Wing Chun School Costa Mesa Near Me

4worldlovers: Led by Sifu Derrick Mansell, our Lake Forest/Irvine kids Kung Fu classes teach kids the martial art of Wing Chun - a Kung Fu system known for practical self-defense, calm nerves and its compassionate philosophy. In our kung fu classes, Sifu Derrick teaches children how to directly and realistically handle bullies and protect themselves with a calm confidence. Kids gain razor-sharp focus, learn thru our Lake Forest / Irvine martial arts classes what it means to be a true leader!

Specializing in the devastatingly effective martial art of Wing Chun, our training means a fearless new sense of calm...

...and an enormous boost in self-confidence that infuses into every part of your life.

So if you want to know how to fight to win on the street, then take action.

Wing Chun Kung Fu is a martial art known for its devastatingly close-quarters combat effectiveness. However, Wing Chun Kung Fu is not only a fighting art! Its reputation for close-quarters hand-to-hand combat overshadows the art's multi-faceted benefits. Its classification continues to confuse even some of the most experienced martial artists.

Wing Chun Kung Fu - A Life Philosophy Beyond Martial Arts

Wing Chun's mental and philosophical applications to everyday life, and journey of self-improvement, are truly endless. Within each of Wing Chun concepts, are life-changing principles that have the ability to revolutionize the way you look at things. Through the lens of Wing Chun, you learn to look at everything in whole new way... more balanced, simplifying issues, clarifying opportunities, prioritizing tasks, operating in the present, becoming more efficient, confident and self assured, relaxed and calm, focused and aware, and much, much more!

Wing Chun Kung Fu is in complete harmony with Traditional Chinese Medicine. Its movements includes powerful healing postures and exercises. Wing Chun uses deep breathing, moving meditation, postural healing and energy sensitivity drills to cleanse, balance, and circulate Chi (the life energy of the body). What's more, Wing Chun also builds flexibility, muscle strength and endurance in the legs, abdominal muscles, arms, hips and back. It puts emphasis on spinal and pelvic alignment, breathing, a rooted connection to the ground, healthy movement habits, developing a strong core and improving coordination and balance. Make no mistake, Wing Chun can lead to improved health, vitality and a more relaxed mind and body!

Our Kung Fu Irvine / Lake Forest school (Wing Chun Orange County) is proud to be able to offer authentic Ip Man lineage Wing Chun Kung Fu in Irvine / Lake Forest. Our Kung Fu classes bring martial arts to Palm Coast presenting both the practical applications of Wing Chun along with the brilliant science behind its time-tested principles.

Our Kung Fu heritage began in Hong Kong in the 1950s with Ip Man and his famous martial arts student, Bruce Lee. Our Wing Chun instructors teach Dragon Family Wing Chun, part of the Leung Sheung lineage (Ip Man's senior-most student in Hong Kong). Dragon Family Wing Chun is a practical self-defense martial art system which works to allow a smaller person to overcome a bigger, stronger attacker. It does this by using the ground for power and solidity, tactile sensitivity to use the force of the other person and efficiency to become quicker than them.

Here is our Lake Forest martial arts school class schedule for our adults, juniors and kids. Our Lake Forest school caters to many looking for Kung Fu Irvine, Wing Chun Irvine, Martial Arts Lake Forest and more in the surrounding Orange County area.

Our adult Wing Chun Kung Fu classes include warm-ups, kung fu forms, drills, a lesson of the day and application-based training and/or sparring.

You can expect small class sizes and a cooperative learning environment.

Our focus is on both practical application of the art for self-defense as well as long term development of the student.

We recommend wearing comfortable workout attire and sneakers for Wing Chun class at our Irvine/Lake Forest martial arts school.

You can expect a safe and encouraging kids martial arts environment for your child. An environment that, in addition to teaching kids practical martial arts for self-defense, also teaches kids focus, respect and discipline.

Beginners Kids Kung Fu classes are for new students (children ages 5-11).

Kids Level II are for students (children ages 5-11) that have been with us for a longer time.

4worldlovers: In ancient times it was said "a student will take three years to find a good teacher, a teacher will take ten years to find a good student." Finding the right place and the right team to help you craft the version of yourself you seek is no small task. We are often in a rush to get what's expedient at the expense of what is great. Here we are always working toward greatness in our approach, staff and programming to help each athlete reach their own unique potential.

4worldlovers:
“There is no quick way of learning Wing Chun, you must train diligently at it. What you put in will form the basis of what you get from it. I have shed a lot of blood for Wing Chun. Broken bones, cuts, etc., are common for this kind of training. This may scare many people but you are learning a combative art and we are not here to play about. Superficial training will only mislead people into believing that they have special skills which in fact no one can possess. Fighting is savage business and will usually cause injuries to both parties. Soft training will not prepare you for this”

“If you always put limits on everything you do, physical or anything else, it will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them.

4worldlovers: Supporting your child in their martial arts journey can be an incredibly rewarding experience for both parent and child. Martial arts not only teach self-defense but also foster personal growth, discipline, and confidence. By understanding the benefits of martial arts and adopting a positive mindset, parents can create a supportive environment for their child’s practice. Key suggestions include being present at classes and events, establishing a consistent routine, providing necessary resources, and fostering open communication. By embracing these principles, parents can help their child develop valuable life skills and a lifelong passion for martial arts.


Discover the transformative power of discipline in martial arts with our latest article, “Developing Discipline Through Martial Arts: A Confucian Approach.” Learn how embracing Confucius’s wisdom can help you set clear goals, maintain a consistent training schedule, overcome challenges, and conquer the fear of failure. Plus, find out how to apply martial arts discipline to daily life through routines, setting boundaries, and practicing mindfulness. Begin your journey towards self-improvement and unlock your full potential with our insightful guide.


Embark on a rewarding journey towards better health and personal growth by embracing martial arts as a means to improve your fitness. This article dispels the common misconception that one must be fit before starting martial arts and highlights the importance of fitness in martial arts practice. Discover how Wing Chun, a popular martial art, can be an accessible and effective solution for individuals of all fitness levels looking to enhance their physical and mental well-being.


Motor programming plays a significant role in learning Wing Chun and is essential for mastering the techniques. Motor programming refers to the process of creating neural pathways in the brain that allow for the execution of movements with precision and efficiency. In Wing Chun, developing proper motor programming is crucial for executing techniques with speed and power, as well as for adapting to different situations. Without proper motor programming, Wing Chun practitioners may struggle to execute techniques effectively, and their movements may lack the necessary power and precision. Therefore, developing proper motor programming and correct Wing Chun technique is essential for improving effectiveness in self-defense situations.

Martial arts training can be a powerful tool for children and adults who are dealing with bullying. By developing self-confidence, assertiveness, and a range of physical and mental skills, martial arts can help individuals stand up for themselves and others in a safe and effective manner. Whether it’s through learning self-defense techniques, developing a strong sense of self-awareness, or cultivating a mindset of respect and peace, martial arts can equip students with the tools they need to deal with bullying in a way that promotes safety, well-being, and confidence.

Martial arts do not promote violence. While some may view martial arts as a form of aggression, the opposite is actually true. The discipline, respect, and self-control that are integral to martial arts training emphasize the importance of avoiding conflict whenever possible and using physical techniques only as a last resort. The goal of martial arts is not to harm others, but to develop oneself physically, mentally, and spiritually. Through rigorous training and practice, martial artists learn to control their emotions and reactions in high-pressure situations, which can help them become more peaceful and compassionate members of society.

Our own, Sifu Kim Squiers was Featured in Wing Chun Illustrated, V58.

Family Wing Chun Classes have been added to our Online Programs.

Learn more about how you can you child can train Wing Chun together!

I’ve been training here for almost a year and by the guidance of Sifu Bryan Talbot and Sifu Kim Squiers, I’ve grown into becoming the best version of myself. If you are looking to learn authentic Ip Man Wing Chun Kung Fu for yourself or for someone you know and love, this is the place to go.


The information in the course is solid. The drills are well planned and the instruction is top Notch. In the boot camp class, there are typically 4 certified instructors. Everyone is really nice and the attitudes are fantastic. The instructors have a lot of patience and are really good at explaining the techniques and forms. The progression system is really well thought out and tiered in a manner that makes sense. I cannot recommend this school highly enough.

4worldlovers: Shaolin Kungfu was formed in the cultural environment of the Songshan Shaolin Buddhist Temple. It was historically formed faith-based to the Buddhist god. It fully embodies the wisdom of Chan Buddhism and the Wu (Kung Fu) practiced by the Shaolin monks. Shaolin Kung Fu embraces both the defensive and offensive skills of combat simultaneously though variations of routines. “Every block a strike and every strike a block”. Routines can be combined allowing for a great amount of fluid combat variations. The routines were developed upon the ancient Chinese medical knowledge on the human body in the lines of human motion. It combines static and dynamic human movements which are stressed through routines. It provides a yin and yang balance, hardness and softness both physically and spiritually. “The chi follows the mind in harmony with the breath”. Shaolin Kung Fu is in a way, a distillation of continuous refinement, innovation and development. It forms the most natural structure in line with the movement of the body for optimal combat performance.

Shaolin Kung Fu is composed of the manifestations of the traditional cultural system which has a complete set technical and theoretical qualities. The qualities include: the martial art skills, the routines, the wisdom of Chan Buddhism and its culture. Shaolin Kung Fu contains a very diversified technical system which differs greatly from the traditional “boxing” methods. According to historical records, Shaolin Kung Fu has the highest level of technical systems in the martial arts genre. The system has been passed down for generations through the ancient Kung Fu routines which total up to several hundred different sets. It also practices another 70 different skills such as: grappling, fighting, unloading bone, acupuncture, qigong and other categories of unique exercises. The skills are taught in accordance to the degree of difficulty in which students will learn as their experience increases.

Shaolin Kung Fu is manifested deep within the cultural connotations of the Chan wisdom. It embraces the Buddhist beliefs, including the belief in the strength and wisdom of faith. It relies in believing in the wisdom of the ancient Shaolin Kung Fu master Bodhidharma, who is the father of Chan Buddhism. Shaolin Kung Fu is the soul of Chan Buddhism. It is considered to be the original form of meditation introduced by the 6th century Indian monk Bodhidharma. It relies mainly on the Buddhist goal which is the extraordinarily divine desire to pursue wisdom. It is within these roots which sets Shaolin Kung Fu greatly apart from other martial arts. Chan, condensed by the Chinese ancient monks and outstanding literati elite group, is composed of the mysteries of the universe, the essence of life experiences and insights. As time progressed the quality of the content of the faith of Shaolin Kung Fu began to evolve into what is known, “Chan(meditation) Wu(Kung Fu)” in one system. Chan Wu became the mainstream way of thinking of Shaolin Kung Fu. Shaolin monks attributed the arts of Kung Fu as a daily practice in order to express their Chan Buddhism beliefs. Its practices provided a thorough way of life and empowered individuals with tremendous courage and wisdom. Chan Buddhism also contains similar beliefs as to those of Christians. The five basic precepts of Buddhism included: no killing, stealing, prostitution, drinking, and lying. The five basic precepts are the foundation of the environment found within the Shaolin Temple. Shaolin Kung Fu practiced being: dapper, modest, restrained, subtle and to be composed of exquisite interior strength both mentally and physically.

In everyday situations, people find their minds filled with confusion, worries, and afflictions. A disturbed, confused mind is not tranquil and pure as the mindset of Chan. Chan refers to a state of mind that is absorbed in meditation; it is about seeing the true nature of one’s own mind in being the master of all life’s conditions.