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Mr.Sleazy
20th February 2002, 04:02
Hello all:

I am new to MA and am requesting advice on a good MA school in Vancouver, BC. I am not very picky as to style or system, though from initial research I am attracted to Jeet Kune Do, Wing Chun, Kung Fu, and Krav Maga. (I know WC is a style of Kung Fu).

I have a few basic requirements, in no particular order:

1. Strong combative/self defense emphasis with sparring a frequent part of training.

2. Excellent instructor(s) with substantial experience.

3. Cost effective.

Any suggestions much appreciated.

BPorg

MarkF
20th February 2002, 08:56
Well, let's see. You aren't "style picky" but you mention two Chinese and one Israeli art, but you come to a forum of Japanese Arts and Culture.

Since you have limits, I'd recommend using a search engine (preferably Google.com) and see what is in your area. The phone book is sometimes a good source.

Visit some schools, watch, then ask for one or two introductory lessons (usually free of charge. If not, don't consider it), speak and question the instructor[s] and ask for background, etc. Then speak with a few students with some time in at that school.

If you are serious, Welcome to the forum!

Mark

PS: Prices are generally lowest at the YMCA or the Parks and Recs. in your area. Generally, you will find judo, aikido, and karate in those places.

Mr.Sleazy
20th February 2002, 20:15
Yes I am serious!

Even though I mentioned styles that are not Japanese, I am totally open to Japanese styles, so long as the school or instructor meet my criteria.

Its so hard to judge a school without access to word-of mouth, though visiting it sure helps.

Thanks for the welcome and the advice.

B. Porg

Joseph Svinth
21st February 2002, 15:55
If you want to see very traditional Japanese MA in Vancouver Metro, then check out the Steveston Martial Arts Centre in Richmond. How can you not like a dojo in the same building as the public library? (By the way, the Steveston Martial Arts Centre is also the first Parks & Rec dojo built outside Japan anywhere in North America.) Anyway, the Steveston Kendo Club, which meets there, dates to about 1913, and is the oldest extent kendo club in Canada (and possibly North America). See the club website at http://www.bckf.org/Steveson.htm . Steveston Martial Art Centre also offers Goju Ryu karate. See http://gojuryu.net/Dojo_List/bc.html .

The Judo BC website is currently under revision, but for a list of Canadian judo clubs, try http://www.judoweb.com/JudoClubsForeign/JudoCanada/JudoBC.html . I have met and can recommend Henry Boas in Penticton, and I've also heard very good things about John Huntley in Kamloops. But of course both those towns are a bit of a drive from Vancouver. Still, BC is the cradle of Canadian judo, and BC judo remains national class. (Realistically, you'd have to go to Ontario or Quebec to find as many good judoka living reasonably close together in Canada.)

The BC Aikido Federation is at http://www.aikido.bc.ca/ .

Keyword searches on Google are "Aikido British Columbia," "Judo British Columbia," etc.

Jeremy Hulley
24th February 2002, 00:38
I would love to train there on a regular basis. The most beautiful facilty that I have ever seen.