Shaolin Temple USA

What Shaolin Temple USA does

Shaolin Temple USA is a California-registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2007 by 34th-generation Shaolin Monk Master Shi Yanran to deliver traditional Shaolin Kung Fu Chan (Zen) training in the United States. The organization operates three physical culture centers, in San Francisco, Fremont (headquarters), and Vienna/Herndon VA, plus an embedded wellness program at Stanford University's School of Medicine Health Improvement Program. Its core product is an 18-level Kung Fu curriculum integrating fist forms, weapon forms, qigong, and Chan meditation, taught by credentialed Shaolin monks and shifus under formal accreditation from the Shaolin Temple of China. Supporting offerings include the annual Shaolin Warriors Meet intramural competition, a Black Belt certification program, Lion Dance camps, instructional video content, and a calendar of public performances at events such as the San Francisco Chinese New Year Parade.

The business model combines recurring class tuition and membership fees with one-time specialized program fees (e.g., Lion Dance Camp at $400 per 10 lessons), corporate and private performance engagements, and event-based revenue. Customer segments span children and families, adults and seniors, and corporate/institutional wellness partners, with 1,500+ lifetime participants aged 4 to 80+. Distribution is community-led and primarily physical, though the organization pivoted to online instruction within three days in March 2020 and continues to host virtual competitions. The organization holds no patents, has no funding rounds, and operates independently of venture or private equity capital; its strategic priorities are cultural transmission, brand authenticity tied to the Songshan Shaolin Temple, and institutional partnerships in the education and healthcare sectors.

Name

Shaolin Temple USA

Legal name

Shaolin Temple USA

Website

https://shaolinusa.us

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Shaolin Temple USA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating three culture centers (San Francisco, Fremont, Herndon VA) that teach traditional Shaolin Kung Fu and Chan meditation through an 18-level curriculum, serving 1,500+ students aged 4 to 80+ and institutional partners including Stanford and UC Berkeley.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Martial Arts Training & Cultural Education

NAICS

Fine Arts Schools (611610)

akta.pro primary industry

Traditional Martial Arts Schools (Karate, Taekwondo, Kung Fu, etc.) (HSADADAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Yoga, Pilates & Mind-Body Movement Education (EDAAAHAC)

Keywords

• Martial arts training
• Shaolin Kung Fu
• Chan meditation
• Wellness Qigong
• Cultural education

Headquarters

HQ city

Fremont

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Class Tuition and Membership Fees: Ongoing fees for Kung Fu classes at culture centers and university programs. Classes offered for children and adults at multiple skill levels.
2. Specialized Program Fees: Fees for specialized programs such as Lion Dance Camp at $400 for 10 lessons.
3. Performance and Event Services: Revenue from performances at public events, corporate events, and cultural exhibitions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Shaolin Temple USA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that delivers traditional Shaolin Kung Fu and Chan (Zen) meditation training through three physical Culture Centers (San Francisco, Fremont CA, Herndon/Vienna VA) and a long-running Stanford University partnership. Its core offering is an 18-level curriculum from beginner to Black Belt taught by 34th-generation Shaolin monks, combining martial arts forms, weapons training, Qigong wellness exercises, and Chan meditation.

Product overview

Shaolin Temple USA is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization offering traditional Shaolin Kung Fu Chan (Zen) martial arts training through multiple delivery channels. The core offering consists of in-person Kung Fu training at three Culture Centers (San Francisco, Fremont CA, Herndon VA) and weekly classes at Stanford University, featuring an 18-level curriculum from beginner to Black Belt. Supporting offerings include instructional videos, the annual Shaolin Warriors Meet competition, Lion Dance Camp programs, and formal belt testing/graduation ceremonies. The organization integrates Chan meditation and wellness qigong with martial arts training in a unified discipline for physical and spiritual development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Shaolin Kung Fu Training Classes Traditional Shaolin Kung Fu instruction at Culture Centers in San Francisco, Fremont CA, and Herndon VA, featuring an 18-level curriculum from beginner to black belt, including fist forms, weapons, qigong, and Chan meditation. Offered to children, families, adults, and seniors.
• Stanford HIP Shaolin Kung Fu Class Weekly Shaolin Kung Fu classes offered at Stanford University School of Medicine Health Improvement Program (HIP), teaching faculty and staff traditional Shaolin martial arts, wellness exercises, and meditation.
• Shaolin Warriors Meet Annual intramural Kung Fu competition for Shaolin Temple USA students featuring individual and team events, scholarships, and awards across multiple divisions from beginner to advanced.
• Lion Dance Camp Cantonese Lion Dancing and Drumming program teaching the art of Southern Lion Dance, offered as a seasonal camp at the Fremont Culture Center, priced at $400 for 10 lessons.
• Black Belt Program

Quantifiable outcome

• Students have earned 130+ prizes and scholarships exceeding $10,000 at various competitions
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• UC Berkeley Chinese Martial Arts Program / CMATcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2019Long-standing partnership with UC Berkeley's Chinese Martial Arts Tournament (CMAT). Shaolin Temple USA serves as founding partner for the Shaolin Division created in 2019. Master Yanran served as Head Judge of the Shaolin Division. The partnership supports competitions and cultural exchange between Shaolin practitioners across North America.
• UCSF Osher Center for Integrative MedicineminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2014Visit by Venerable Abbot Shi Yongxin to UCSF Osher Center for Integrative Medicine in March 2014 to explore fusion of East-West medicine and mind-body wellness approaches.
• Stanford University School of Medicine Health Improvement Program (HIP)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2011Ongoing partnership since January 2011 delivering weekly Shaolin Kung Fu classes to Stanford faculty and staff at the School of Medicine. Classes held Fridays at 11:30am in the MSOB Courtyard. Shaolin Temple USA provides certified Shaolin monks as instructors teaching the same curriculum as the culture centers. The program was featured in Stanford Report (2/28/2012) and is part of Stanford's wellness initiative.
• China Songshan Shaolin TemplecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2009Formal affiliation with the ancestral Shaolin Temple in Henan Province, China. Master Yanran is 34th generation Shaolin disciple. The organization is an accredited Shaolin Kung Fu training center by Shaolin Temple of China. Regular delegations from China visit for events, competitions, and cultural exchange.
• San Francisco Chinese Chamber of CommerceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual participation in San Francisco Chinese New Year Parade, ranked among world's top ten parades with millions of viewers.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• USA Wushu Kung Fu Federation: The national governing body for Wushu and Kung Fu competition in the US, where Shaolin Temple USA competes; comparable in that it unites the same community of traditional Chinese martial arts schools and competes in the same tournament circuit.
• China Institute: US nonprofit dedicated to Chinese cultural education and exchange. Comparable as a similar nonprofit cultural organization with parallel community programming, though focused on broader arts/culture rather than specifically martial arts.

Direct peers

• U.S. Wushu Center: Specialized Chinese martial arts training center that teaches traditional Wushu and Kung Fu including Shaolin-derived forms, directly competing for the same student demographic in the US.
• Quest for Harmony Tai Chi Center: Traditional Chinese internal martial arts school offering Tai Chi and Qigong instruction with similar wellness/mind-body positioning targeting adult students seeking stress reduction and physical wellness.
• Shaolin Kung Fu Centers (regional US schools): Network of regional Shaolin Kung Fu training schools across the US (e.g., Los Angeles, Atlanta) offering similar beginner-to-black belt curriculum and competing for the same students seeking authentic Chinese martial arts training.
• USA Shaolin Temple (Shi Yan Ming): The most direct competitor in the US: another Shaolin temple founded by a different Shaolin monk (Shi Yan Ming) in New York City, offering authentic Shaolin Kung Fu training to American students with a similar lineage-based positioning.

Broad incumbents

• ATA Martial Arts: One of the largest national martial arts franchise chains in the US, offering Taekwondo-based programs for children and adults. Comparable as a scaled, multi-location martial arts education business model, though it does not specialize in Chinese martial arts.
• Tiger Schulmann's Martial Arts: Established US martial arts chain with 50+ locations offering mixed martial arts and kickboxing. Comparable target market (families and adults seeking fitness/discipline) and franchise location model.

Emerging players

• 10 Percent Happier: Digital meditation and mind-body wellness platform offering scalable access to meditation and mindfulness training. Comparable in solving the same wellness/stress-related pain points via structured curriculum, though delivered digitally rather than in-person.

Others

• UCSF Osher Center for Integrative Medicine: Integrative medicine partner of Shaolin Temple USA, blending East-West mind-body wellness. Comparable as a complementary wellness provider rather than a competitor, sharing the integrated mind-body wellness positioning.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC1M1n-g-hQ0ZLR7qZ5Z9Q1w
• Facebookfacebook.com/ShaolinTempleUSA
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/shaolin-temple-usa

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Shaolin Temple USA