SoCal Applied Wing Chun Academy - Temecula, California

Dawn B.

I strongly recommend taking martial arts instruction from Sifu Don Pesto (SoCal Applied Wing Chun, Temecula, CA). I began lessons at 65 (on the bucket list), and just earned my yellow belt. Sifu Don develops the student's skills expertly and has great patience. Sifu Don is one of the few who has studied directly under the master-of-masters Duncan Leung, who developed Applied Wing Chun. Sifu Don has mastered this art for 40 years, and has gone beyond the black belt level. This is a wonderful opportunity to benefit from his instruction.

Learning in these classes is both challenging and fun. Not only have I developed skills in the martial arts and fighting, but my strength, endurance, balance, and stability have greatly improved. This experience (and I hope to continue for years and years) has greatly improved my health and longevity!

ZackG87

I've been training with Socal Applied Wing Chun for a little over 2 months now. Found them completely by accident and I'm very happy I did! This is legit Wing Chun! Sifu Don is an excellent teacher, fellow students are all friendly and encouraging. Classes are structured well and are a great workout. Whether you're looking to learn self defense or have a general interest in kung fu/martial arts, I highly recommend this school! Great place overall to learn authentic, proven effective Wing Chun!

Robert A.

My wife and I started training at SoCal Applied Wing Chun, with Sifu Don Presto, 5 months ago. We enjoy training together and the physical and mental challenges. The classes are very supportive and interactive allowing each student to progress at their own speed. Sifu Don is very knowledgeable and attentive. The classes are structured to build upon concepts and ideas reinforced by repetition and application, intended to build confidence, muscle memory and consistent reaction. It is the most intuitive and practical self-defense training I have experienced. We are very pleased with the benefits of training in SoCal Applied Wing Chun.

Elijah F.

SoCal Applied Wing Chun is a great martial arts class. The environment of the class is very friendly; nobody is trying to oust each other. Instead, classmates will kindly point things out to each other, allowing students to develop and hone their skills. Sifu Donald Presto is a very experienced Wing Chun practitioner and an even better teacher, providing insight that will ensure improvements.
As for Wing Chun itself, the style remains in touch with traditional martial arts, all while ensuring that you can protect yourself on the streets. Wing Chun isn't flashy and extravagant like many other Chinese martial arts, but it is straight to the point, allowing you to take down the threat effectively and immediately.
Really great class!

blake

I've trained here since August 2017 and I like it a lot.
The lineage is legit. The community is super cool and the Sifu is a very competent teacher. Everyone kind of helps each other learn and there are advanced senior students that attend the beginner classes to offer guidance as well. It's a solid school.

Jesse S.

Sifu Donald Presto has given the Inland Empire an incredible opportunity to experience authentic Chinese martial arts. He has exceptional technique, insight, and patience to offer his students. SoCal Applied Wing Chun is a great place to train.

Justin C.

Great Wing Chun School for all ages! From group classes to private lessons Sufi Don will teach you the Martial Art at your pace and he is very knowledgeable and patient!

Stacy W.

My Intentions:
I have been training with SoCal Applied Wing Chun Academy for 3 months. My intention behind weaving in martial arts into my life again, was to work with intrapersonal growth in that setting. Safety, trustworthy character and good ethics were paramount to me in finding an instructor. I began with much apprehension as I have had past martial arts experiences with unethical “Sifus” and settings that were more damaging than conducive to inner and outer growth.

Instructor Qualities:
My experience at SoCal Applied Wing Chun Academy has been a very reparative one, from my past experiences. What I have found most impressive and trustworthy, is the quality of consistency in this school. Sifu Don Presto, senior students, and other students have been consistently patient, clear in communication, and earnest in their approach. Sifu Don and his senior student, David, who also instructs class, teach in a clean, intentional, straight-forward way and are keen on tracking the progression and readiness of each student. They know how to create a safe and relaxed enough atmosphere for students to absorb the material, yet also know when to create just enough stress to push students to respond to more realistic, stressful situations. They have strong mastery of theory and skill application and are able to communicate highly nuanced details in a digestible way. As an extension of their instructors, I have found other students in class to be good, helpful, solid people.

It is hard not to encounter some form of inflated and frail ego in a martial arts school, as well as heavy patriarchal, hierarchical structure that I find stifling to development. As a female, I am wary and avoidant of these qualities. This school has offered me a refreshingly different experience. Sifu and instructor students have confidence that is grounded with humility, an earnest desire to teach students to the best of their abilities, and are encouraging of feedback. I have appreciated their capacity to listen and respond to their students individually. The strong sense of ethics and good character they have demonstrated, has kept me coming back to class.

Drills and Application:
This school finds that balance between conditioning, forms, and drills, and the application of technique. We are always blending and bridging the repetition of forms and drills to real-life application. Conceptual theory and practical instructions are explained in detail and individualized for the progression of each student.

During conditioning drills, students are rotated very often amongst each other, so we are constantly learning how to work with someone new and never getting too comfortable and stuck doing something one way. We are challenged to adapt our bodies to different situations. This allows for faster learning and a broader range of response to people of different size, strength, approach.

In Summary:
I highly recommend this school if you are interested in solid, knowledgeable, ethical training. In all of this, I forgot to mention how much fun I have in class each day. I found having some fun assists in the learning process 😉