signalnoise

Thanks for the replies everybody! With regard to Wado-ryu, youtube leads me to believe it uses point-sparring. I don't mean to be dismissive, but I'm not sure that's right for me. Ashihara or Enshin I'll be on the lookout for, though. It's interesting that they share some basic ideas with the Aikido I'm learning. This leads me to another question: As a beginner, and therefore unable to really leverage any developed skill with Aikido, is it really significantly to my advantage to cross-train a system that 'compliments' it? Maybe it's misguided, but I wonder if I wouldn't benefit from more diversity in my training regime. Appreciate the specific recommendations, tallgeese. I'll definitely go up and visit Mr. Schlosser, when I have a chance. bushido_man, I picked up the yellow pages and did a google search before I posted here. If it helps, I'll compile a list after I do some basic follow-ups. There's an MMA club here that has a Muy Thai class. I'll talk to them also. (http://www.dragonzlairmartialarts.com/) One of the reasons I decided to ask you fine people was a yellow-pages ad that boasted "WE DO BIRTHDAY PARTIES!". I fear direly the McDojo.

Hi, First off, I've been lurking here a while and this place is great. Thanks to the whole community! I've been studying Aikido for a few months and have been enjoying and benefitting from it thoroughly. However, I originally became interested in MA for self-defense and 'spiritual honing', which I don't feel I will get without some kind of harder system with more confrontational training (sparring/kumite) Anyway, I'm thinking of cross-training in Karate so I can include those kinds of elements. I'm not very knowledgeable though. From my cursory research, Kyokushin seems ideal, but Shotokan or anything with sparring/kumite may fit my needs. Thoughts? Finally, and this is probably asking and hoping too much, but if anyone can recommend a specific dojo in or around Champaign, Illinois, I'd be in your debt. I don't mind searching around, and I think I know what questions to ask to find one myself, but any input is appreciated. Thanks much! Frank