HI all,
some might have read my other posts but i'll give a quick run down:
I practice Shotokan Karate, Judo and Ju Jutsu. I had been learning Iaido after some advice off this forum and the class was fantastic! but to be honest, a good friend of mine wanted me to attend his Ju Jutsu class and loyalties prevailed (plus I used to train there when I was alot younger so it's been a nice home coming so to speak)
MY aim with the arts is to become rounded. Judo is great for throws, holds strangles and fighting spirit, Karate...well i've a love hate relationship going on with Karate at the moment - I think if I were doing proper karate I would have little need of the others but there it is, i'm just about to try to earn my purple white stripe and I really don't want to quit so it's here to stay with the rest. But it's certainly great for striking techniques just a shame that kumite has become a game of bouncing tag! Ju Jutsu is just a nice way to put them all together!
Now, I'd like to start training in Japan annually, maybe for 10 days at a time. The Mrs is happy for me to make it a training trip rather than a holiday (alhtough it's gunna cost me on the holiday after of course!)
My query is what to do? where to do it and how! Judo is looking a likely candidate at the moment and they certainly have regular courses in summer along with daily training sessions outside of those set dates. Karate again is well represented and being a member of JKS means I can hit the HQ and hopefully expect a great experience. JJ i'm not sure about, have trouble finding anything really.
My martial goal is to be effective. I don't want to win tournaments (well Judo I do, I have to compete for belts so it goes with the territory) I just want to improve every day and get that little bit better and hopefully should the situation ever arise that I need to use the skills I want that confidence that I will be able to, in mind and in body.
any advice would be great - even if it's to put my mind to rest and what I'm expecting from Japan no longer exists