Karate Lessons

[joyridder]

Looking to get my 9yr old nephew (beginner) into Karate and was considering these places

http://www.karatecalgary.ca/
http://www.calgarywadokai.com/
http://www.calgarykarate.ca/index1.htm

These are a good start but almost all of the locations are kind of far away. We live near Lakeview (SW)
Does anyone have any recommendations, exp to share for the above mentioned?
Any info is appreciated~~

[Inzane]

I would say you probably can't go wrong with the Wado Kai club you listed. I see on their website that they are an associate of the Shintani Federation, which I used to be a part of (in Edmonton).

Sensei Shintani was a great man (RIP), and he left a great legacy behind in Canada.

[nj2Type-S]

sorry to go off topic, but have you considered muay thai as an alternative?

[icecreamvan]

Originally posted by nj2Type-S
sorry to go off topic, but have you considered muay thai as an alternative?

Or maybe Krav Maga.

[joyridder]

muay thai and Krav Maga. I am not familar with those at all....but am googling as we speak
in your opinion, what would a 9yr old enjoy and learn alot easier?
edit: the Muay Thai - or Thai boxing looks interesting....

[treg50]

I'd say Taekwondo or Karate to start since he's just 9 and more likely to find more classmates his own age. I'd say in a year or two, see if he wants to move to Thai boxing.

[nj2Type-S]

i like muay thai because there's less "forms" and more practical stuff....krav maga is good, too! mike miles, i believe would have kids his age.

[The Cosworth]

although this is TKD I really enjoyed training at lightning family martial arts when I lived in town. I drove from Country Hills twice a week to train here.

Chris Howes is the man, he is super good. One of the highest ranking Black Belts in the world.


Mr. Howes has trained in the traditional style of Taekwon-Do since he was a child and began learning how to teach the martial arts in his early teens. Over the years, Mr. Howes has had the privilege to train directly under the founder of Taekwon-Do General Choi, Hong Hi 9th Degree Black Belt, and has travelled the world as a direct assistant to General Choi's only son Grandmaster Choi, Jung Hwa 9th Degree Black Belt.

http://www.lightningtkd.com/

[ecstasy_civic]

Im down for Muay Thai:thumbsup: :thumbsup:
My little brother is making the transition from TKD to MT and is absolutley loving it. He's 10 and has a great base, just needs to work on technique and power and he'll be an awesome striker in a couple years.
For the most part the local gyms are great, just have to go through a few free classes to see if its the right fit for you (or your nephew)

[TomcoPDR]

Originally posted by treg50
I'd say Taekwondo or Karate to start since he's just 9 and more likely to find more classmates his own age. I'd say in a year or two, see if he wants to move to Thai boxing.
:werd: kick boxing (muai thai) is kinda too hardcore for little kids.

To the OP, I think you (or the nephew) needs to decide what sport (within the martial arts world) he wants to end up doing, with that, you find the right foundation of style. Like Kung Fu (the lion dancing and stuff) would be all show, less go; but really cool in front of the neighbours with swords, staff, spears, etc... Then your Japanese based kicking and screaming stuff (karate, Tae Kwon Do, etc..)... then your strength/power building stuff (muai thai, boxing, etc...)

If you want the ultimate wrecker nephew, If you care for my opinion, I'd say put him in basic neighbourhood Karate (to learn rules, respect, discipline) at the same time a good Kung Fu school (yes, it can be done doing 2 things)... Because he's young, he'll remember the moves in kung fu, more flexible, and I think kids like working with all the swords, bo-staff, weapons... and between the summer, put him in gymnastic camps (this is NOT gay, trust me, go youtube "urban ninja" or something; not even guys with JUST martial arts background can do those flips, jumps, etc...)

Then, after 3-4 years. (so he'll be about 12-13 y.o.), ditch the community karate (by then he'll be so called black belt, which won't give him street credit though)... keep the kung fu class for about 1 more year (or till he gets bored)... then encourage the gymnastic's thing again (and have him keep on practicing all the kung fu/karate lessons in the back yard)... and THEN you introduce some type of boxing/kickboxing (muai thai)... because of his background in kungfu/karate... he'll have more flexiblity and movement and speed than other kids, and at the same time he hasn't burned out his muscles (died cells from those types of training), and yet he's at a growing age to be building strength/power.

Then if he can handle it (muai thai), gymnastics (even part time)... join nijitsu or aikido (because now he's growing up and stronger and the moves involved in those are more technical; but since he's a teenager 15-16 and had martial arts background, he'll catch on quick and to apply the moves)... and by the time he's 16 or 17 that's when you keep pursuing the heavy sports like kick boxing, depending on how many poon-tang lessons he's had (this is a catch-22 if he's already started then good for him, but really bad for his concentration; if he hasn't started, sucks for him but he'll become a lethal angry raging fighter :thumbsup: ) This sounds funny but true, I've seen guys (back when we were teens) who were really really great sportsman, but once they've mastered the secret of hitting the gong, everything fell apart; skipped practices, got all soft, too relaxed and not enough anger of "not getting laid" power. You can totally tell the teens who aren't gettin' any at those tournments, messy hair (the players usually pimp out their hair even going to a fight), double twitching feet, always bouncing.

Tom Co = 1997 Best of the Best tournment teen's black belt city champ :D

Unfortuntely you can all feel my life is heading downhill, I've kinda traded in my peaceful mind of meditation to sitting in my lonely motel room downloading hardcore porn for masterbation. :cry:

[Konj]

I suggest boxing. I did all that shit martial arts, kickboxing, karate and boxing. Boxing is where the money is at if you want your nephew to go pro one day. I also would like to mention that with boxing I was getting some serious work outs and cardio compared to other one's.

[Vagabond142]

I've trained for well over 15 years now in martial arts. I would say that for the highest enjoyment at a young age, a good, fast paced, physical art like TKD or Muay Thai (semi or non contact to start) would be great for a 9 year old. Just make sure you get a good school (heard good things about Lightning TKD, I studied TKD at Master Yu's TKD and then the splinter school from that, Calgary TKD Academy), and if the instructor at any time gives your nephew or you any feeling of discomfort or suspicion, remove yourself and your nephew from the school.

Any martial artist will agree, the very first thing one needs to be able to train effectively is a feeling of comfort. Most if not all schools will allow a free lesson or two to get the feel of the class and the school and to see if it's for you. Use that to your advantage and STAY there during your nephew's class to observe and see. A good school is structured, has excellent assistant instructors, always answers questions easily and comfortably (ie no tense voice, shifty eyes, etc), and shouldn't charge an arm and a leg for lessons (if they charge at all.)

[Vagabond142]

As TomCo mentioned aikido, I do have to put my two cents in on that. I first want to mention that aikido is NOT a competitive martial art, in fact O-Sensei (Ueshiba Morehei, the superb samurai/philosopher that created the art from Daito-Ryu and meditation) banned any form of competition in the art. It is a purely defensive art, as there is not a single striking motion to be found anywhere in the art, apart from the "Attacker" faking a punch or some such. Aiki deals entirely with body mechanics, inner self and ki (body energy, which I believe in, laugh at me if you wish. The chinese call it chi). Another great tenet of aikido is that it is, for the most part, 100% free. No charge to learn, which follows the tenet of passing on knowledge freely to those that wish to be there to learn it.

Another benefit to Aiki is that it develops discipline in a very gentle, meditative way. What I mean by that is that aiki doesn't teach an hierchical structure of discipline, ie boss at the top, weakling at the bottom, but teaches a group discipline, ie how can I better myself as well as bettering those around me. Once you get it (and it takes time to sink in), it's one of those really profound moments, and you're instantly better for it :D

I know, I sound like I'm waxing philosophical, but aikido changed me from a hyperactive, reactionary, somewhat out-of-control tween to a mature, hyperactive (it's genetic, so it's unavoidable :P), meditative type. So yeah, I believe in it. Also, at the dojo I attended (and will attend again once I find where it bloody well moved to :P) practiced iai, which is a sword art focused not on striking and killing, but on the movements associated with striking and killing, ie the sword and the swordsman as one.

Okay, I'll stop boring you all :P

[Vagabond142]

A couple of good aiki videos:

(In Japanese) Ueshiba Morehei (really old guy, he was like 85 at the time these videos were recorded of him) and his son (the guy that defends against on, then three, then many attackers and has black hair) in a "history of aikido" film. THe dates listed are NOT O-Sensei's life span, but the life span of aikido until when the film was made, 1998. O-Sensei passed in 1969.

y4_3TdHBAvA

A general overview of Aikido vs a kicking art, such as kickboxing or taekwondo. Notice the aikidoka never actually strikes the kickboxer, just manipulates body mechanics and uses ki and smooth, relaxed movements to disable his opponent. One of the very first rules I ever learnt in aikido is.... never present your foot to your opponent, as it is SO easy to manipulate and control :D I learnt that the hard way... I was the demonstration student when Sensei was teaching kicking defense T_T

Bn59zha-uAQ

[TimG]

Jiu jitsu.

kids (especially boys) love nothing more than wrestling around on the ground :)

The most important thing would be to find a good school with a good kids instructor.

[TomcoPDR]

Originally posted by Vagabond142
I studied TKD at Master Yu's TKD

Diana Yu's such a sweetheart :love:

[nj2Type-S]

bjj + muay thai + wrestling + capoiera = bdb gym :thumbsup:

[1-Bar]

^werd BDB, but its in the NE. Kinda of far commute. Especially for the kids classes @5:00pm.

Krav Maga would be too much, nothing really concrete to base stuff of vs. traditional karate/TKD schools.

BJJ would be great IMO, they have a lot fun drills for kids to help them learn, not just standard block/kick/punch drills and kata's. I don't know anywhere else where you can play red-rover and tackle people as a drill :thumbsup:

[ecstasy_civic]

Originally posted by nj2Type-S
bjj + muay thai + wrestling + capoiera = bdb gym :thumbsup:

BDB is a GREAT place and the instructors are top notch

[Trini]

any good kick boxing places around the NW?

[nj2Type-S]

^mike miles nw gym in ranchlands?

[ecstasy_civic]

Trevors gym, im not sure whos running it right now, I think hes in Asia.
Willing to goto Airdrie?:D

[nj2Type-S]

hey ecstasy_civic, how do you know nick from bdb? i don't think i've mentioned you to him before (since you were the one who referred me to bdb in the first place), lol.

[ecstasy_civic]

Originally posted by nj2Type-S
hey ecstasy_civic, how do you know nick from bdb? i don't think i've mentioned you to him before (since you were the one who referred me to bdb in the first place), lol.

I know Nick through friends who trained with him while he was at Mikes. I havent seen him in quite a while.