Martial arts schools in my area

[ZenLateralus]

Here are a few martial arts schools in my area. I know I need to call around to see which ones have evening classes and find out prices along with sitting in on a class to see what it is like.

There's a
Aikido school
Eastern arts and Holistic Health acadamy (not sure what they teach)
Kung-Fu, Tai Chi Center
Tai-Chi, Kung-Fu, Yoga, and ComboRobics school
and a Shaolin school and I don't know what that teaches.

I guess you can see that my interests lie in either Aikido or Kung-Fu/Tai-Chi.

What do you think of Kung-Fu as a self-defense martial art? Is it as powerful as it is "fancy"?

 

[Littledragon]

Here are a few martial arts schools in my area. I know I need to call around to see which ones have evening classes and find out prices along with sitting in on a class to see what it is like.

There's a
Aikido school
Eastern arts and Holistic Health acadamy (not sure what they teach)
Kung-Fu, Tai Chi Center
Tai-Chi, Kung-Fu, Yoga, and ComboRobics school
and a Shaolin school and I don't know what that teaches.

I guess you can see that my interests lie in either Aikido or Kung-Fu/Tai-Chi.

What do you think of Kung-Fu as a self-defense martial art? Is it as powerful as it is "fancy"?

I love Kung-Fu but you have to ask yourself, will Kung-Fu hold up in a street fight, will the traditional aspects of the ancient art hold up in a street situation? It is not the art it is the person which makes it affective. Stick to what you want but remember if you want self-defense, the best style is no style.

 

[ZenLateralus]

I love Kung-Fu but you have to ask yourself, will Kung-Fu hold up in a street fight, will the traditional aspects of the ancient art hold up in a street situation? It is not the art it is the person which makes it affective. Stick to what you want but remember if you want self-defense, the best style is no style.

That is interesting. So, you are suggesting that practicing a particular marital art will not make you a better fighter? Are you saying someone who never practices martial arts could out fight someone who practices any martial art for a few years? If someone who's practiced Aikido the same amount of time as a kung-fu artist will the outcome of the fight be a draw? I just really like seeing people like Jet-Li, Van Damme, Mark Dacascos, and Steven Seagal use their skills to beat up people bigger and stronger than them. I know it is only a movie but in real life martial arts isn't considered an advantage (guns aside, of course.)

 

[Littledragon]

That is interesting. So, you are suggesting that practicing a particular marital art will not make you a better fighter? Are you saying someone who never practices martial arts could out fight someone who practices any martial art for a few years? If someone who's practiced Aikido the same amount of time as a kung-fu artist will the outcome of the fight be a draw? I just really like seeing people like Jet-Li, Van Damme, Mark Dacascos, and Steven Seagal use their skills to beat up people bigger and stronger than them. I know it is only a movie but in real life martial arts isn't considered an advantage (guns aside, of course.)

I did not say that, you first have to start off with a base Martial Art, but what I am saying no one style has it all, you need to know how to strike, grapple, defend against multiple attackers, defend in close range, etc...

 

[ZenLateralus]

I did not say that, you first have to start off with a base Martial Art, but what I am saying no one style has it all, you need to know how to strike, grapple, defend against multiple attackers, defend in close range, etc...

Yeah, so what you do is practice a certain martial art, any will do, and adapt that style to realistic street fighting. Right? Also, could you not strike, grapple, defend against multiple attackers, defend in close range, etc... with kung-fu? As a matter of fact, don't all martial arts teach those things? One difference, I guess, is that Aikido doesn't really have many offensive movements while a style like kung-fu has many offensive and defensive. Of course, Aikido has a bunch of disarming techniques and an array of grappling techniques. Does kung-fu?

 

[Littledragon]

Yeah, so what you do is practice a certain martial art, any will do, and adapt that style to realistic street fighting. Right? Also, could you not strike, grapple, defend against multiple attackers, defend in close range, etc... with kung-fu? As a matter of fact, don't all martial arts teach those things? One difference, I guess, is that Aikido doesn't really have many offensive movements while a style like kung-fu has many offensive and defensive. Of course, Aikido has a bunch of disarming techniques and an array of grappling techniques. Does kung-fu?

There are over 2,000 styles of Kung-Fu Zen, each style concentrates on a different thing. No not all Martial Arts teach all those things, that was the main problem with Martial Arts, and that's why in order to be a good Martial Artist is cross training. Start out with wichever art you choose to do, and as you advance you will then realize one art does not have it all.

 

[ZenLateralus]

That's pretty unfortunate. I think the school I'm looking into right now teaches a northern style of kung-fu (with jumps & weapons). I still think taking a martial art is better than never taking a martial art. That is what sparring is for. Learning to street fight with the skills acquired.

 

[Littledragon]

That's pretty unfortunate. I think the school I'm looking into right now teaches a northern style of kung-fu (with jumps & weapons). I still think taking a martial art is better than never taking a martial art. That is what sparring is for. Learning to street fight with the skills acquired.

Yes it is better than learning martial arts than never taking a martial art.

But when you say that is what sparring is for to learn to street fight with skills, only to a certain extent you are right, remember sparring in the Dojo is different than sparring in the street. In the dojo you are limited and restricted to the rules of that style, on the street it is anything goes, so make sure you are able to switch into that atmosphere if you ever have to do so.

 

[Aikilove]

Just try out any of the places (I would of curse go for the aikido myself ) and see if you find it enjoyable. If you do stick around. Don't worry so much about street fights.

/J

 

[tenshinaikidoka]

One thing to maybe do, is when you start your art (whichever it is), is to look for seminars in your area and attend. Many seminars will be open to all styles and focus on different things. I have recently attended a seminar in which Small Circle Jujitsu was taught however the focus was finger locking (yubi dori) and pressure points. I got alot out of it and it is good to cross train. And I agree that you definately need to be well rounded for all possibilities. But again, checking out seminars is a good way to grasp basic concepts as they tend to focus on one or two parts of thier style (ie ground fighting,finger locking etc.). Anything you can do to compliment your style is not wrong, it is actually smart!!!!

 

[ZenLateralus]

How did you go about finding seminars in your area? They don't just advertise in the newspaper here.

 

[tenshinaikidoka]

Well,one thing to do is find local dojos and see if they are affiliated with any orginazation. If that particular orginazation has a website, they might have seminar info (most do). Another thing to do is just go and ask, usually the dojo's are open about seminars. Unless it is a seminar design specifically for that school, or private, you should be able to attend. But the best advise isto just go and ask, that is what I have done. And they are more than receptive!!!!!