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Shaolin Garden Martial Arts

5 ★★★★★ 4 Google reviews · Tai chi studio in Pineville, North Carolina

Tai Chi for Arthritis Certified

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
  • Free / donation / in the park free, donation-based, or outdoor park classes — a low-cost way to try tai chi; confirm times on their site
  • Today see hours ·
  • Website & schedule shaolingardenmartialartsllc.com — see the live class schedule and book
  • Phone +1 704-266-2740

Hours

Monday 9–10:30 am
Tuesday Closed
Wednesday 9–10:30 am
Thursday 5–8 pm
Friday Closed
Saturday 9 am–12 pm
Sunday Closed

Hours shift for holidays, workshops, and seasonal outdoor sessions — worth a quick check before a special trip, and class times can differ from the studio's front-desk hours.

The classes they run

Tai chi and qigong classes on the schedule at Shaolin Garden Martial Arts, drawn from students' own reviews and the studio's info — not guessed from the sign out front.

⚖️ Fall Prevention & Balance 2 mentions

“With regular attendance and practice at home, I have experienced increased strength and flexibility, and better balance and mental focus.”

All studios that run fall prevention & balance →

🌳 Tai Chi in the Park

“This is an all-outdoors school.”

All studios that run tai chi in the park →

Styles taught here

Tai chi grew into several family styles. Here's the lineage students mention learning at Shaolin Garden Martial Arts — mined from their reviews and the studio's own info.

Styles are mined from reviews and the studio's own info — they show what students mention learning, not a formal guarantee of the current timetable. If you specifically want a certain style, confirm the schedule with the studio.

What students say

The things reviewers bring up again and again across 4 Google reviews — in their own words.

🧑‍🏫 patient, skilled instructor 2 mentions

“Sifu Starnes is a great teacher, with a dedication to the martial arts he teaches and a commitment to the success of his students.”

🧓 great for seniors & mobility 2 mentions

“With regular attendance and practice at home, I have experienced increased strength and flexibility, and better balance and mental focus.”

⚖️ improved balance & health 6 mentions

“With regular attendance and practice at home, I have experienced increased strength and flexibility, and better balance and mental focus.”

🤝 strong, friendly community 6 mentions

“His warm and personable nature coupled with his strong dedication to his students make me feel very fortunate to be under his guidance.”

From the reviews

Sifu Starnes is a great teacher, with a dedication to the martial arts he teaches and a commitment to the success of his students. This is an all-outdoors school. We train out in nature and build lasting relationships with each other.

★★★★★ — Ann, Feb 2024

Shaolin Garden Martial Arts is a wonderful outdoor martial arts school that offers traditional Shaolin kung fu, tai chi, and meditation classes for every fitness and skill level. Sifu Starnes is an extraordinary teacher with a deep knowledge of the arts.

★★★★★ — Rita, May 2024

Thank you Sifu Starnes. I’m back on the path and am making real progress in my Tai Chi.

★★★★★ — David, May 2024

Great instructors and teammates. They do an awesome job! Everyone, from Sifu Starnes to the students, they are considerate, caring, and supportive. I have already experienced increased strength improved flexibility, and better balance and mental focus.

★★★★★ — George, Feb 2026

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 4 reviews →

Your first tai chi class at Shaolin Garden Martial Arts

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.

Tai chi is gentle and low-impact, but it's still exercise, and the health notes here are general information, not medical advice. If you have any injuries or health concerns, mention them to the instructor before class, and check with your doctor before starting a new exercise program.

Where to find Shaolin Garden Martial Arts

909 Lakeview Dr, Pineville, NC28134

Get directions

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Listing verified July 2026 from public business records and student reviews. Something out of date? Report a correction. Teach here or own this studio? Claim your listing — it's free.