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Flying Tortoise Kung Fu
5 ★★★★★ 28 Google reviews · Tai chi studio in Portland, Oregon
Certified instruction — reviews and the studio's own info point to a recognized tai chi program or lineage (think Tai Chi for Health / Dr. Paul Lam, the Taoist Tai Chi Society, or a named family-style teacher). If credentials matter to you, ask which program the instructor is certified in and which style they teach.
Plan your first class
- Tai Chi for Arthritis & fall prevention gentle, joint-friendly classes — often based on the Arthritis Foundation / Dr. Paul Lam program — that may help with balance and stiffness; check the studio's schedule
- Great for seniors welcoming to older adults, with slow, low-impact movement for balance, mobility and fall prevention
- Beginners welcome all levels welcome, including total beginners — you don't need to be fit or flexible to start
- Qigong & breathing qigong and breathing practice — gentle "moving meditation" — taught alongside the tai chi form
- Today see hours ·
- Website & schedule flyingtortoise.org — see the live class schedule and book
- Phone +1 503-880-5537
Hours
| Monday | 2–8 pm |
| Tuesday | 3:30–9 pm |
| Wednesday | 5:30–8:30 pm |
| Thursday | 5:30–8:30 pm |
| Friday | Closed |
| Saturday | 9:30 am–5 pm |
| Sunday | 9:30 am–12 pm |
The classes they run
“He has raised students from beginner to mastery.”
“A great program that has helped this senior citizen rebuild strength and mobility!”
“The school offers disciplines or arts for all ages, skill levels, is welcoming to all comers new and otherwise, and is FUN.”
“A great program that has helped this senior citizen rebuild strength and mobility!”
What students say
“Teaching is comprehensive, and the head instructor continues to work with the best in the world in his systems.”
“Joseph and his wife Kate, who manages the studio and teaches Capoeira, have created a welcoming and safe school that challenges students to train hard and have fun.”
“Amazing, high caliber classes with a wonderful, inclusive community and heart-centered focus.”
“A great program that has helped this senior citizen rebuild strength and mobility!”
“You gotta respect a teacher, Joseph Haber, that takes time each year to return to China and train within the direct lineage of both the Cheng and Liang family styles.”
“You'd be hard pressed to find a more fun and friendly environment, while still providing challenging training in health, longevity, and practical self-defense.”
From the reviews
I've been involved in martial arts since 1989, and rarely have I found a school that comes close to the quality of Flying Tortoise. The commitment to authentic Chinese kung fu, combined with a welcoming and constructive atmosphere, are a breath of fresh air in a country where quality traditional martial arts are…
I have been a student at Flying Tortoise Academy for over 10 years now, and my training and the community at the school has been nothing short of a transformational force in my life.
I am so thankful that I have an opportunity to train with Joseph Haber at Flying Tortoise Kung Fu. I have been practicing internal martial arts, including I-chuan, tai ji, xing yi and ba gua for about twelve years and started training at Flying Tortoise two years ago.
I have studied traditional external martial arts in the past and have built up some aches, pains, and injuries over the years. The foundational Kung fu exercises taught at Flying Tortoise have worked better for pain relief than anything I’ve tried before. They are more fun and superior to yoga or physical therapy.
New to tai chi? Start at Flying Tortoise Kung Fu
Flying Tortoise Kung Fu comes up as a beginner-friendly studio, going by its listing and students' reviews. If you've never tried tai chi, that's exactly who a good beginners class is for. A few things worth knowing before your first session. First, you don't need to be fit or flexible to start — the movements are slow and gentle, you set your own pace, and many can be done seated if standing is hard. Second, there's nothing to buy and nothing to keep up with — wear comfortable clothes and flat, flexible shoes, and simply follow along. Third, all ages and abilities really are welcome — ask whether there's a dedicated beginners or all-levels class time so your first session is alongside others who are also starting out. Most studios are happy to let you watch or try a class first, so reach out before you commit.
Your first tai chi class at Flying Tortoise Kung Fu
Nervous about walking into a tai chi class for the first time? Almost everyone is, and good instructors expect beginners to come through the door. Here's what to know. What to expect: a typical first class is a gentle warm-up, then learning a few slow movements of the form, step by step — no pressure to get it perfect, and you can rest or sit whenever you need to. What to wear: loose, comfortable clothing you can move in, and flat, flexible shoes (some studios practice in socks or bare feet). What to bring: water, and that's about it — there's no equipment to buy. Arrive a few minutes early to say hello to the instructor and mention it's your first class. It comes together faster than you'd think — most people feel far more at ease by their second or third visit.
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🤲 Tai Chi for Arthritis & fall prevention — check their schedule