Advise on a difficult decision, please...

[Charlie]

A web site that lists martial arts schools by zip code is at: http://www.martialinfo.com/. The zip code locator is near the bottom of the main page. I've found it to be amazingly compreshensive in listing most, if not all, of the available MA schools in the US.

Maybe for commercial dojos but I didn't see many (any?) of the smaller dojos that I know of that aren't store front based. I did a quick check on several very large dojos based out of health clubs or rec centers and they weren't listed.

I guess I didn't test it well enough. I tested it for my local area. I thought that it had showed both my dojo and yours for our zip code.

[Fairfax_Uechi]

A web site that lists martial arts schools by zip code is at: http://www.martialinfo.com/. The zip code locator is near the bottom of the main page. I've found it to be amazingly compreshensive in listing most, if not all, of the available MA schools in the US.

Maybe for commercial dojos but I didn't see many (any?) of the smaller dojos that I know of that aren't store front based. I did a quick check on several very large dojos based out of health clubs or rec centers and they weren't listed.

I guess I didn't test it well enough. I tested it for my local area. I thought that it had showed both my dojo and yours for our zip code.

No problem. BTW where do you train? As a check I did find a few Uechi dojos up in New England listed but not a bunch. So the list isn't horrible, just not all inclusive.

[Charlie]

I train in the Enshin dojo on Pimmit Drive and Leesburg Pike (behind the Whole Foods shopping center). I don't know exactly where your dojo is, but I understand it's not too far away.

[marie curie]

Maybe you could pick two or three schools in your area, visit each once, and let your kids vote from there?

[innocui]

I know some people slate mixed styles, but GKR Karate is very good. Its a combination of Shotokan and Gogu-Ryu and has about 60,000 members in Britain. There are many more thousands in Australia, New Zealand, and we have started some classes in the US. Its a simple(ish) style, and teaches all the basics of martial arts (discipline, honour, self-defense confidence etc.) but is not harsh for children.

I have been doing this style for 6 years, and I am nearly sixteen. If there is a class near you, it would be a great oppourtunity for you kids...especially if they become an instructor in the US. We travel all over the world for Tournaments etc, and we can enter NAS tournaments.

A list off all GKR classes can be found at http://www.gkrkarate.com

[johnnymac]

McDojo

There use to be a guy in Memphis named Don Crenshaw who use to be a great Shotokan instructor. If you want to keep them in the same system you should really look up Don. One of my old Shotokan instructors from a long long time ago use to train with him quite a bit. Heard nothing but good things.

John

[ki master]

You need to go up to the instructor and tell him off. Because if you can learn more off the internet than in a dojo their is either somthing wrong with the teacher or the student. any different type of martial arts would be fun as long as it is taught right. But if you want somthing challenging for your sons try snake style karate. It is focused around speed and it can give you alot of stamina. But this teacher if he dosent discipline your kids then their not going to learn. I know he doesnt know martial arts that good but that is just half the problem. If children are not disciplened know then they will get used to it and in any other school they could get kicked out

If you have any more questions e-mail me at

one_with_fire_rusioka@yahoo.com