Established in 2010, The Dragon Institute isn’t just a Kung Fu school; it’s a gateway to transformation. Our passion is nurturing the growth of individuals aged 5 and up, from kids to teens and adults, through the beautifully practical art of Wing Chun. We believe that martial arts is not merely a physical pursuit, but a path to inner strength and limitless potential.
At The Dragon Institute, we instill the values of continuous commitment to ourselves, empowering our students to:
- Become Better: Each day, we strive to be better versions of ourselves, fostering personal growth and excellence.
- Conquer Obstacles: We equip our students with the skills to face life’s challenges, even when they seem insurmountable.
- Persist Unwaveringly: Our unwavering commitment is to never give up on ourselves, inspiring resilience and self-belief in all that we do.
For us, this is a deeply spiritual journey of self-discovery, where Kung Fu is not just a martial art but a way to live a fearless, boundless life.
The History of The Dragon Institute
The Dragon Institute is a private martial arts school founded by Sifu Adam Williss in 2010. Upon its founding, it became the first professional martial arts school dedicated to Wing Chun in Orange County, California.
In 2016, a second location was added in Irvine, CA headed by Sifu Derrick Mansell, Sifu Adam’s top student (Wing Chun Irvine).
In 2019, Sifu Adam Williss created The Dragon Institute’s 90-day beginners course to learn (Wing Chun Online).
In 2022, the Irvine school moved to Lake Forest setting the foundation of what would later become The Dragon Institute’s Orange County headquarters (see Kung Fu Irvine/Lake Forest).
The next year in 2023, Sifu Adam Williss moved to Florida and opened The Dragon Institute’s first Florida location in Palm Coast, FL (Palm Coast Martial Arts). Upon its opening, it became the first professional Wing Chun school in the greater Palm Coast area.
Over the years, The Dragon Institute has grown to become one of the most well-known Wing Chun schools in the world. It’s reputation of quality over quantity stems from its obsession with time-tested Wing Chun principles coupled with a focus upon alive, pressure-based application. The school has Wing Chun programs for adults, juniors and kids ages 5 and up. Its specific approach is referred to as Dragon Family Wing Chun, and is part of the Leung Sheung lineage, Ip Man’s senior-most student.
The Dragon Institute has won several awards since its opening including Best Martial Arts in Orange County 5Xs in CityGuide’s Annual OC Hotlist as well as winning DP Times’ Golden Lantern Award 7Xs for Best Martial Arts in the “Best Of” People’s Choice Lantern Awards.
In 2019, The Dragon Institute opened its online school at wingchunlessons.com. The online school features Sifu Adam Williss’ 90-Day Online Wing Chun Course for Beginners and has been called “the clearest and most detailed instruction to learn Wing Chun online”. As of 2021, its Online Wing Chun program was ranked #1 in America by Google’s ranking algorithm.
Roots of The Dragon
The Dragon Institute’s roots include traditional Ip Man Wing Chun lineage along with additional influences from Bruce Lee’s Jeet Kune Do philosophy, Jack Dempsey’s bare-knuckle boxing and Leonardo Terrone’s fencing.
The Dragon Institute founder, Sifu Adam Williss, is a 7th generation lineage holder under the Leung Sheung lineage of Wing Chun. Leung Sheung was the senior-most student of Ip Man in Hong Kong.
Sifu Adam began training under his Sifu, Bill Graves (Wing Chun Jacksonville), in 1995 in the Jacksonville Beaches area of Florida, USA. He began teaching out of his garage in San Clemente, California in 2005.
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