Nam Yang Kung Fu Retreat Day Courses

Nam Yang Kung Fu Retreat Day Courses

Nam Yang Kung Fu Retreat Day Courses
5
About
5 minutes from Pai, we are a Kung Fu training centre with first-class facilities, a peaceful jungle location and great mountain views. Learn Kung Fu, Chi Kung, self-defense and meditation from two-time World Champion Iain Armstrong and his team of friendly instructors. We also grow and serve fresh organic food and provide comfortable accommodation. Whether you're an experienced martial artist or a beginner, a stay with us will boost your confidence, fitness, mental clarity and general well-being. If you have ever dreamed of learning the ancient art of kung fu amongst remote, forested mountains in the wilds of Asia, this is your chance! What is your kung fu dream? What is stopping you?
Duration: More than 3 hours
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5.0
5.0 of 5 bubbles181 reviews
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Andrew L
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2024 • Solo
Escape the incessant buzz of everyday life and embark on a transformative journey at the Nam Yang Kung Fu Retreat in Pai, Thailand. This is not your typical spa getaway; it's an authentic Kung Fu camp where the simple, functional accommodations contribute to a deeper, more meaningful experience. The spartan setting strips away distractions, fostering a unique serenity that refreshes both mind and soul.

During my ten-week stay at Nam Yang, I discovered a profound sense of peace. Picture this: sitting quietly outside my room, overlooking the lush Pai valley, completely immersed in the tranquility of nature—no phones, no laptops, no TV. This opportunity to unplug was not just rare; it was rejuvenating.

The retreat begins each day with early morning sessions that are as peaceful as they are meditative, greeting the sunrise amidst the tranquil Thai countryside. The Kung Fu training includes extensive stretching and conditioning, paving the way to master the art's techniques. The instructors at Nam Yang are not only highly skilled but also genuinely supportive and engaging, always ready to assist and enrich your learning experience.

Physically, I left Nam Yang much stronger, but the mental clarity and inner strength I gained were even more significant. Kung Fu here is taught as a defensive, calming art, promoting virtues like courage, confidence, and clarity—qualities that enhance life's zest without the aggressive competitive edge found in other martial arts.

Just a short distance from the retreat, the town of Pai offers a gentle, welcoming atmosphere with its laid-back, hippie vibe and exceptionally friendly locals.

Would I return to Nam Yang? Without a doubt. For anyone looking to transform physically and mentally, while finding peace away from the modern world’s chaos, Nam Yang Kung Fu Retreat is an adventure waiting to happen.
Written 22 April 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Amanda B
9 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2022 • Solo
I stayed at Nam Yang Kung Fu Retreat for 1 month to learn Qui Gong and Kung Fu. I had an amazing time getting to know everyone and Pai is a beautiful location with walking street and hot springs nearby! The training was so much fun and I left the experience feeling happier, stronger and more confident in myself. I would recommend it to anyone who's looking to feel more balanced and grounded within themselves.
Written 16 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Amanda, Very many thanks for your positive review. I am very glad that we were able to give you an amazing stay. :) In particular, I am happy to hear that you left here feeling more confident as building confidence is something which we pride ourselves on being very good at. I hope to see you here again one day in the future Amanda, Iain.
Written 7 October 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Meander63369930435
2 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2023 • Solo
Just completed the 4 week Qigong teacher training at Nam Yang and it was a truly life changing experience! The course itself was really in depth and covered so many topics and the teachers were so professional and passionate about their subjects.
The teaching quality was excellent - the knowledge and experience of the teachers was evident from day 1 and I have learned soooo much over the 4 weeks. Overall I was really impressed by the course structure and content. It was hard work, but so enjoyable and I felt like I have learnt as much as I possibly could in 4 weeks!

The place itself is stunning - you feel as though you're in the middle of nowhere, being surrounded by rolling hills and beautiful views, but actually it's only a 10 minute scooter ride away from Pai town, where there are loads of restaurants, shops and cafes, so the location is ideal. The accommodation at the retreat is simple, but to a good standard, and is well maintained. The food is great and it's lovely how everyone eats together, so there's a real community feel :)

I already miss my Nam Yang family, but hopefully I'll return in the not so far future.
Thank you so much Master Iain and all of the Nam Yang team for such an awesome 4 weeks, and now I'm a qualified Qigong teacher (!) and can't wait to put all my new knowledge and skills into practice :) 👌
Written 27 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
My most sincere thanks for your kind words. I look forward to hearing about your progress as a teacher Laura, Iain.
Written 29 November 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Jordan Y
1 contribution
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2023 • Solo
The accommodation is poor - my bed consisted of a very thin ‘mattress’ and my room had no air conditioning or proper toilet. For other students there were hot water problems, sewage smells and rats making noise around the buildings at night.

Some students were unhappy about the specific training programs (monk/ warrior) and they felt there wasn’t much difference between the two. Others were promised that their limited physical mobility needs would be adhered to, and then on arrival, felt let down.

Some teacher training classes felt a bit unprepared - worksheets or diagrams would have been nice.

The retreat isn’t within walking distance of a shop and there was no greeting package of a toilet roll or a bottle of water on arrival. This wasn’t very welcoming as the nearest shop is a 10 minute cab ride, most students hire mopeds to get around.

In the promo video there is a real emphasis on air quality but it can be very poor some days, due to farmers burning their fields.

But the major issue for me they overcharge hugely, around £70, when they arrange transport from chiang mai to pai. Which I feel is really wrong, considering we are ‘one big Kung fu family’ as Iain said.

The criteria for passing the course felt a bit unclear too and they said students would have three attempts and then only given two.

I hope that they make some changes and proceed to treat people fairly. I think they really overcharge for the courses.

I think it’s important also to mention serious moped accidents are very common in pai so please be careful if you hire one.
Written 28 February 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Jordan, Indeed you left on bad terms with a feeling of bad energy so a bad review was to be expected. Your main complaint seemed to be that I gave you a level 1 pass, not a level 2. This was a compromise - I was indeed quite reluctant to award you a pass but you persuaded me. Making these decisions is always going to be difficult - but it is my job and I have to do it. Our school has a very strong reputation for maintaining high standards. This gives our certificates a great deal of power. If I compromise our standards, the people who have worked really hard to gain our certification lose out and this is unfair. At the introductory meeting, I pointed out that Pai has a ‘party town’ side to it and that this can be a distraction, best avoided while studying with us. In reality, a number of the group, you amongst them, got quite into the partying and it your training suffered as a result. This culminated in your room mate’s motorcycle accident. It certainly brought everyone down and affected the course. Common sense says, though, that after drinking heavily from 8.00pm to 2.00am (6 hours) to ride off on a motorcycle without a crash helmet is a very bad mistake. I realise that the accident affected you very much and that things would likely have ended much better had it not occurred. About this, I feel very sorry. We are not a luxury resort, nor do we ever make any pretense to be. We are a place of serious learning. Our facilities, whilst not luxurious, fit their purpose well. The major issue for you was the taxi ride from the airport. I sat down with you and discussed this at length and then canceled your return taxi and gave you a full refund of 90 British pounds with which you said you were fully satisfied. As I explained to you, we actually lose money on the taxi bookings. And of course, it is going to be much cheaper of you get a public bus. The only reason we provide a taxi booking service is that many people are worried about arriving in a foreign country whose language they do not speak and having to get from the airport to our Retreat. We don’t particularly encourage people to book taxis through us. I often consider withdrawing the service but a lot of our students do want the peace of mind so, for the time being we will continue to offer it. I encourage anyone who wants to save money simply to book a public bus. At our meeting on the first day I explained the culture of our association, which has a long tradition stemming from China. It is a culture of respect and dignity. At our Retreat we strive to provide a ‘safe space’ in which everyone can grow. Psychological studies show, without any doubt, that people thrive when they feel safe, valued and accepted. On the second to last day of the course you asked to speak with me privately then, quite unexpectedly, became rude and aggressive and demanded a further refund, even though you had already accepted the refund that you had been given and had received the taxi service that you had paid for. I appreciate that you were affected by your room mate’s accident and that you were unhappy that you did not get the highest level pass. You had the option to speak politely, though. I have to maintain behavioral standards at all times to keep our Retreat that ‘safe space’ for the students. I can not accept aggressive outbursts. I asked you about six times to reconsider and complete the course. I would much rather that you had done so and left on better terms feeling that you had succeeded. It is a loss for us and for me personally when someone leaves dissatisfied. I regret it. It is very rare and I will work hard to try to prevent a recurrence. I wish you well in the future. I am sorry that you left unsatisfied. I hope that you will still practise what you learned from us and that it will benefit your health in the future Jordan, Iain.
Written 1 August 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Jenny D
Broome, Australia11 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2023 • Friends
We travelled from Australia to do our 200 hr QiGong ( Chi Kung) Teacher training course & have enjoyed every minute. The retreat is situated in a most beautiful part of Thailand & the course was extremely comprehensive being taught by some fabulously experienced teachers lead by Master Iain Armstrong. The teachers are passionate about their skills & teach with enthusiasm & expertise. We have just finished our 4week intensive course & are leaving very satisfied & much more confident & enthused to share & teach our QiGong experience back home in Australia. I was most impressed with Master Iain being so hands on with our course, very professional & encouraging which truly enhanced our time at Nam Yang Kung Fu/ QiGong retreat.
Written 23 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks so much for your positive words. I am really glad that we were able to give you such a positive experience Jenny, Iain. 🙏🏻
Written 29 November 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

kalman2017
Jerusalem, Israel7 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2023 • Solo
This is the "Real Deal". My objective was to tweak my ongoing Qi Gong practice, rejuvenate my body and soul, and to be around like-minded people. I met all of my objectives and so much more. The typical day starts early as there were a lot of activities to fit in; practical classes in Qi Gong, Tai Chi, stretching, calisthenics, and meditation, Theory classes on how to teach Qi Gong and a highlight in the morning Tea time with Master Iain. BTW Master Iain himself taught many of the classes assisted by the other instructors. All the instructors were skilled, competent, and patient. Classes ran 5 days a week with Wednesday and Saturday off from formal training although all facilities were available 7 days a week Breakfast and dinner was provided. on formal training days with only breakfast provided on off days. There was always a vegan option available, which I found extremely satisfying/tasty. You ate as a group including with Master Iain and the instructors. The retreat is located right outside of Pai (4 KM from the center of Pai). Many students rented scooters for the duration of training (around 100-150 baht (3-5 USD) a day ) and could drive into town within minutes. I chose to walk which took about 30 minutes. All in all, loved the place and plan to return for Level 2.
Written 2 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Very many thanks for your positive words. 🙏🏻 We do try very hard and I am glad that we were able to give you such a positive experience. You will certainly be very welcome back for the Level 2 teacher training course, Iain.
Written 1 August 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Ciara
4 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2022
I loved my two weeks at Nam Yang Kung Fu Retreat! The tuition is fantastic with very encouraging and knowledgable instructors creating and supportive yet challenging learning environment. Master Iain is kind and considerate and truly makes the retreat feel like a home.

The retreat itself is in a beautiful setting, and is located near to many attractions including the town Pai, a great place to go for food and drinks, and many waterfalls and viewpoints and hot springs in the surrounding area. It was amazing to wake up every day in such a fantastic location.

A wide range of people from all over the world come to the retreat so you will likely meet many interesting people to expand your horizons and worldview.

I left the retreat feeling strong and rejuvenated - it was a much needed break from years of living in London during the pandemic.

I can't wait to return!
Written 31 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Ciara, Sincere thanks for your complimentary review. I am very glad that we were able to give you such a positive experience - we do work very hard to do our best for each of our students. We too would love you to return - I look forward to having your here with us again in the future Ciara, Iain. 🙏🏻
Written 7 October 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Mathis
France3 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2023 • Solo
I spend 10 weeks in Nam Yang. I met kind and helpfull people, beautiful place and a very good team of teachers. The schedule is well balanced and the food very healthy. I really felt that I learned pure Kung Fu, with its applications, its soft and hard part and It's artistic side. We evolve slow enough to learn completely.
Written 10 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Mathis, My most sincere thanks for your most positive review. You are a great student who learns really fast and trains really hard. I hope that you will keep up your training and that you will return in the future to learn more Mathis, Iain. 🙏🏻
Written 1 August 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Joris L
3 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2022
I have spent a little over a week at Nam Yang Kung Fu retreat.

It was an amazing experience which I am very grateful for! It feels like I have been there for two months, but actually I was there for just 10 days. Interesting how time can be experienced like this.

Anyway, the peace at the retreat in combination with the training was an incredibly nice balance between rest and action. I felt like I could surrender to the program and let it "work on me". The Chi-gong, meditation and kung-fu practice gave my body the attention that it deserves. Really taking the time for myself in this way feels really good.

Only being here for 10 days, I definitely feel like there is so much more to explore in this martial art system that is being taught at the Nam Yang retreat. And it gave me an impression that I will never forget.

All in all a very powerful and refreshing experience!

Thank you very much :)
Written 28 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sincere thanks for your kind words. We all work very hard to give each of our students the best possible experience and it means a lot to us to hear that we have succeeded. 🙏🏻 I hope that you will be able to return for a longer stay in the future. Thanks again, Iain.
Written 1 July 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Wanda W
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2022 • Solo
I was spending nearly 3 month at the retreat and it was one of the best experiences I have ever made!
The training scedule is very well organized; a great mix of Kung Fu, Chi Kung, workouts, meditation and weapons.
All of the instructors are very competent and helpful and each of them has a different style of teaching, so it never gets boring. The training is hard, but doable, even if you never did any martial arts before.
Besides the physical aspect you learn a lot about asian history and culture, as well about life in general and about yourself.
And Pai also offers a lot to explore during the free periods: beautiful nature, good food and amazing people!
I highly recommend a stay at Nam Yang to everyone who likes sports or is interested in martial arts.

Can't wait to come back!
Written 1 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Very many thanks for your detailed comments. I hope that they are helpful to anyone thinking of coming here. It was great to have you with us - I hope to welcome you back in the future, Iain. 🙏🏻
Written 1 July 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

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NAM YANG KUNG FU RETREAT DAY COURSES (2025) Everything You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

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