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Sacred Mountain Fighting and Healing Arts provides premier martial arts instruction to Flagstaff and northern Arizona. Located conveniently in the South Side neighborhood of downtown Flagstaff, we offer comprehensive education in Shaolin kung fu, Tai Chi Chuan, practical self defense, and traditional Chinese lion dance.
At Sacred Mountain, we believe in providing a holistic, well rounded education. Incorporating hard and soft styles as well as Traditional Chinese Medicine five element theory for our Little Dragons and adult programs alike, everyone can find a home in our positive, judgement-free environment.
TRAIN HARD!
At Sacred Mountain, we offer a wide range of programs for all ages.
Adult Program
Our adult martial arts program is a comprehensive system, designed to train in and assist with the following:
- practical self defense techniques
- level of threat assessment
- responsibilities of a martial artist, both morally and under the law
- traditional form training in Five Element, Five Animal Shaolin Kung Fu
- Basic Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) five element theory
- flexibility training
- personal growth
- weight loss and physical fitness
- increased mental focus
- respect and courtesy
- possibility for rank advancement and achievement
Little dragons
We offer a children’s program tailored to the active bodies and developing minds of our youth, keeping in mind that our children today will be the leaders of tomorrow. It is designed to develop essential attributes necessary for today’s youth, such as:
- physical fitness
- focus
- control
- respect and courtesy
- listening skills
- basic 5 element theory through martial technique
- traditional for training in Five Element, Five Animal Shaolin Kung Fu
Tai Chi
Our internal arts / Tai Chi program offers an experience unique to the traditional Tai Chi program, and covers and assists with:
- comprehensive training for young adults and elderly alike
- Qigong meditation and breathing practice
- Shaolin Qigong form training
- traditional Yang style Five Element 108 Tai Chi long form
- Tai Chi as a form of self defense
- balance and flexibility
- mental acuity
Determination
Instructor Zaughsome pushing through horse stance
Drunken Boxing
Master Kaneen teaching drunken boxing to Sacred Mountain students
BOB
Instructor Higgins giving BOB a piece of her mind
Fruits of Their Labor
Mr. Rivero and Ms. Richards celebrating their Gold Sash Graduation
Selfie
Our lion Zhì Zhě showing his good side for the camera at Flagstaff's Fall Conrucopia!
Working Through the Problem
Instructor Vash assisting Little Dragons with parallel boxing
Where There's a Joint, There's a Way
Sifu Banks detailing a joint lock
Preparation
Sacred Mountain students warming up for training
Chinese New Year
Our Lion Dance Team performing at Northern Arizona University for Chinese New Year
Iron Body
Instructor Mossman using iron rings and dynamic tension to build strength
Respect
Little Dragons and Instructors bowing in before training
Weapons Training
Mr. Bustamante-Porter warming up with his nan dao, or southern broadsword
Certified Instructor Training
Sifu Banks with his peers and mentors at 9 Dragons Kung Fu in Phoneix, AZ
Partner Off!
Mr. Carpini and Mr. Mitchell-St. John practicing bridge fighting techniques under the supervision of Sifu Banks
Perfect Practice…
…makes perfect. Ms. Rasmussen working her side kicks!
Physical Conditioning
Instructor Higgins and Mr. VanEn training with iron rings
Strike a (Martial) Pose
Students of Sacred Mountain, NAU Wushu, and Jade Moon after the 2018 Jade Wushu Classic!
Close Quarters
Mr. VanEn and Mr. Quenelle training bear hug escapes
Building a Strong Foundation
Simu Banks digging deep roots with her horse stance
Train Outside
Instructor Trainees taking advantage of a beautiful Flagstaff morning
Summer Camp
Our summer camp participants showing off their hand-made lions!
Focus
Sensei Joey and Sensei Dillon of Mukei Goshin Jutsu preparing for a hard day of training
Community
Mr. Rasmussen demonstrating his nunchucks at Flagstaff's Fall Cornucopia
Reward
Mr. Doyle receives his hard-earned white sash
Precision
Ms. Rhodes and Instructor Ellis demonstrating five animal kung fu with anatomical striking
Don't Forget to Breathe
Sacred Mountain students push their bodies to the limits!
Critical Thinking
Sensei Noel dissects movement and technique for efficiency
Teamwork
Sifu Banks and students completing the Terrain Mud Run
Charity
Sacred Mountain's Little Dragons "made a muscle" and raised almost $4,000 in 2015 for the Muscular Dystrophy Association
Empowerment
Sifu Banks with Women's Self Defense Course graduates at the Hotel Weatherford in Flagstaff, AZ
Practical Defense
Sensei Alex demonstrating a take down at the annual MGJ Reatreat
Family
Sacred Mountain students celebrating a successful mud run
Flexibility
A healthy body has good range of motion. Mr. Tan demonstrates!
Healthy Living
Master Tamara Kaneed teaching a semianr on how to create a healthy, balanced raw food diet. Yum!
There's no Laughing in Kung Fu!
Well, maybe a little
Knowing is Half the Battle
Sifu Banks coaching Women's Self Defense participants through grab defenses
18 Traditional Shaolin Weapons
Students and Instructors from Sacred Mountain, 9 Dragons, Jade Moon, and Dragon Legacy practicing rope dart under Grand Master Jerry Cook
Training with a Twist
Kung fu, Halloween edition
Continued Training
Instructor Mossman and Ms. Rhodes training beyond black belt in Northern Broadsword
Lion Dancers
Can you be Jackie Chan and Jim Henson at the same time? Our lion dancers can!
Skill Through Hard Work and Effort
Ms. Harrison's post-competition bling
It's Never Too Early, It's Never Too Late
Start your training today!
"This is one of the best martial arts schools I have been to. Sifu Banks is very knowledgable and keen to help in all aspects of training. The studio is spacious, well lit and has a great number of training tools. They have dummies, practice pads, iron rings, a wooden man and a huge array of exotic weapons which the owner is only too happy to show you. The students are friendly and welcoming and the training is intense! The program is varied and runs frequently and they seem to have a number of different events always on their schedule. I would thoroughly recommend it!"
Fabio Marzo
"Throughout my life I have had trouble learning the entire form of Tai Chi. I tried 5 times. Sifu Matthew Banks has a different style of teaching that really helped me learn and stay interested in the form. He uses drills to teach the more complicated ideas, and these drills work. In just over a year I have learned the entire 108 form and now fine tuning the details. If you are interested in learning Tai Chi this school is the place."
Eddie Malooly
"Whether you are looking to improve self discipline,
self confidence, self defense, or just get more physically fit, Sacred Mountain
Fighting and Healing Arts is the place for you. The tai chi classes Saturday
morning are a perfect way to recover after a long stressful week. The Kung
fu classes are great fun, a great cardio workout, and let's be honest, who
doesn't want to know Kung fu?!? If you're in the Flagstaff area, you need to
check this place out!"
Chris Davis
"Sifu Banks is amazing! Very knowledgeable and kind. Also very inclusive and really deeply cares about your development. I would highly recommend his school to everyone!"
Tatiana Dullum
"I had never thought of doing kung fu until I randomly stumbled upon this place downtown. I wasn't sure what to expect but after attending for a year and a half now, I couldn't be happier with the experience. In classes we improve our flexibility, self-defense skills, strength, and traditional forms. It's an awesome environment to be part of!"
Danielle Richards
"A very well balanced place to gain personal knowledge! Sifu Banks and his students are excellent instructors and provide great support and motivation towards any goal you want to achieve in or out of the school."
Jesse Lupton
