Let's pretend that I was interested in taking Aiki-Kai Aikido. How would I find a school that specifically teaches that form of Aikido? I'm not sure there are that many Aikido schools in my area and I have doubts that any teach that form. Is there a second best aikido? Anyway, I'm not new to martial arts. I've taken probably 3 years or Isshin Ryu karate (good for punches and kicks but, I thought it lacked with style and circular motions), about a few months of Aikido (I don't think it was Aiki-Kai, also I was going through another turbulant point in my life and didn't give it the attention it deserved), and about a year of Tang So Doo and Hapkido (I really liked the Hapkido but the teacher taught mostly the Tang so Doo which I thought was better than the Isshin Ryu Karate but, I really joined the school for the Hapkido). So, I wouldn't say that I am entirely unschooled. This kung-fu/wushu or whatever I'm learning seems to just be learning forms and stances. There is some weapon work but, other than how cool it looks what good is learning to fight with weapons right out of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon? Learning a sword is one thing, especially if you're into aikido because they seem to go together. Anyway, one of the reasons I wanted to get back into martial arts was for the self defense aspect. This kung fu school, I think it's been 3 weeks or so, really seems to be teaching movements without application. Sure, I could stick with it and practices forms/stances/obscure fighting weapons for a few years. But, when it comes down to it, if I got in a fight practicing things like a horse stance double hammer fist in a form won't do me any good. It would be a good martial art if I thought practicing the moves on "thin air" would give me the ability to use them in a real fight. I just have my doubts.