Whether you’re keen to sharpen your combat skills or just looking for a fun sport to burn calories, martial arts offer plenty of physical and mental benefits for kids and adults alike. Check out the two different disciplines offered by these Hong Kong martial arts schools – jiu-jitsu and taekwondo.
#SHBJJ HONG KONG (SHANGHAI BRAZILIAN JIU JITSU)
Fact File
Founded: End of 2017
Location: G/F, 1-3A Ping On Lane, Sheung Wan (Off Hollywood Road)
Popular offerings: Jiu-jitsu classes for all ages, backgrounds and fitness levels; a kids’ programme for jiu-jitsu, hip hop dance and Muay Thai
Facilities: Showers, towels and training areas on two levels
A word from the team
SHBJJ is a family, and that sense of community keeps our students coming back to train with us. We have families where both the parents and their children train.
With our kids’ programme, most of the young members are students in local or international schools. With the adult jiujitsu program, we have a mix of white collar professionals who are hobbyists and looking to hone their skills on the mat, as well as younger athletes who are keen to compete and train more intensely.
In 2023, we’re continuing our focus on our kids’ programme, and we hope to expand on our student numbers. In the past year, we have brought on additional instructors – a new black belt, a new hip hop instructor and a new Muay Thai coach to round out our professional team.
The pandemic really emphasised the importance of physical wellness, and the community nature of training together. This hunger is evident as we re-open the city, and we’re seeing a strong interest in people getting involved with a group of like-minded individuals to make jiujitsu a lifestyle choice.
WhatsApp 9794 5154 | info@shbjjhk.com
shbjjhk.com
# CHEUNG DO KWAN (CDK) TAEKWONDO HONG KONG
Fact File
Founded: 1988
Locations:
- CDK Schools: Fortress Hill, Shek Tong Tsui, Discovery Bay, Wong Chuk Hang (Marina 8) – newest branch, opened January 2023
- Clubhouses: The Repulse Bay Club, Aberdeen Marina Club, The American Club
- International Schools: Korean International School, Island School, CAIS
Popular offerings: Taekwondo classes for people of all ages, backgrounds and fitness levels, plus, Special Sunday classes for the domestic helper community in Hong Kong.
A word from the team
Our Grandmaster first started teaching traditional Korean Taekwondo in Hong Kong 35 years ago, with the aim of helping students strengthen their mentality and learn the value of respect. Our slogan is “Strong Mind, Strong Body”.
Sparring classes are among the most popular Taekwondo classes at CDK. We believe that sparring is crucial for students to fully utilise Taekwondo effectively as it teaches timing and distance management. In fact, we think sparring should be compulsory and not an optional programme.
We currently have a total of 12 coaches at CDK. Our Grandmaster is the current Hong Kong National Team Poomsae Coach, and our other coaches are previous national team members – so students can rest assured that they’ll be getting the best Taekwondo education.
Taekwondo is a great way to keep fit because it involves lots of large muscle groups when performing kicks and jump kicks. It’s also a mix of strength and cardio training like HIIT, and most importantly provides many unique exercises that are new to the body (and fun to do!).
Our students range in age from three years to adults; many of them are international school students.
Upcoming! The annual CDK Taekwondo Competition starts on 1 May, with other clubs around HK invited to compete.
We hope you enjoyed this article on martial arts in Hong Kong. For more health and wellness tips, visit our Health & Fitness section!
This article first appeared in the Spring 2023 issue of Expat Living magazine. Subscribe now so you never miss an issue.
