A dojang of a Dilemma!

[Azmyth]

I will try not to drag this out too long.

I live in a tiny town.. population 456..

the nearest martial arts studio is 5 minutes north of me....

I've been out of it for almost a year, and after having "kung fu" theater this weekend with my bandmates (one is a 2nd degree in TKD), I got the urge to get back into it.

a while back.. I had a few options.

One school was 30 minutes away.. and taught TKD and a tiny bit of jiu jitsu. The classes were free because it being a church that was in charge of it.. I cannot seem to find a website for them anymore, or any way to contact to see if its still going on.

One was 30 minutes away, near where i work. I went to their site a few minutes ago.. and they shut down last month.. so scratch that.

There is another one closeby that I would love to go to.. but, its not traditional martial arts.. more of a mixture of different styles..

https://www.lionhearttifton.com is the website for it. I used to be a student of the instructor when i was younger when he had a pure TKD school near me. The problem with this school.. is I am so close to getting my black belt in TKD.. i don't want to move to something else without getting my 1st degree first.

the last option..

the original school i went to a year ago..

He teaches TKD traditional..

However.. I wasn't going to go back to him because of a few things.

this is a run down of an average class..

-enter-

light log around dojang while techno music plays

stretching

go through the blocking/punching combos

go through the kicking/blocking/punching/stances as a group.

work on kicks with bag

forms

end of class

on thursdays its the same.. except for we spar. We don't do any one step sparring or anything.. he has no tournaments, seminars, nothing..

the classes are almost 100% kids. so i will wind up having noone to spar hardly ever. and he went up on his prices.

the last thing.. that gets me the most..

is the fact that if anyone comes in the store to buy something, he will put the class on hold for as long as it takes to serve the person coming in to buy something. I just think that during classes.. the store should be closed to walk ins wanting to buy stuff.

The worst thing is the stuff they are buying that he actually sells them..

People come in who are getting ready to take drug tests for a new job.. will come in a buy some sort of drug that will flush your system so that you cannot tell you have done any drugs over a very short period of time. He actually sells this stuff for that purpose, even though it has other uses. What should I think of this?

should I go ahead and go and finish up the BB or keep looking.

[ninjanurse]

Changing styles is not so bad a thing considering your concerns with the TKD school/owner. Given your background you should do fine....and since martial arts are for a lifetime, time in grade is relative don't you think?

[YoungMan]

It is most important to go with the school that best fits your needs, not necessarily the one you started with. Any time before black belt, you are always free to make a new beginning.

Stopping class to make a sale is a great way to bring an entire class down, and it sounds to me like he's putting money before all else. You gotta make a living, but it would be better to either have class after the shop closes, or put up a sign saying the store is closed during class hours.

Other than that, it is best to go with the class and Instructor you feel most comfortable with, and it doesn't have to be in Tae Kwon Do, if the local TKD classes do not fit your needs. Ideally they would, but they don't always.

[bushido_man96]

Changing styles is not so bad a thing considering your concerns with the TKD school/owner. Given your background you should do fine....and since martial arts are for a lifetime, time in grade is relative don't you think?

This is so true. I don't think I would work out under someone who does such shady things as you mention. And if it means that you have to start over to get your black belt, then so be it. The Martial Arts have no time limit, so just get to it!

[IKyokushinO-4]

Try kyokushin

OSU!

[KarateEd]

I think I would opt for a different school. Though being close to attaining your BB may influence you in favor of your old school, you might want to consider whether you will be satisfied with a BB from this school. It might be best to switch now and face a delay in attaining your goal rather than getting your BB, being dissatisfied, and switching to another school and starting over anyway.

Ed

[HKD_Florida]

If you want to try this "lionheart" thing, go ahead, but I will say there are many warning signs on their website that, personally, I would stay away from.

If Albany isn't too far of a drive, there are several reputable Taekwondo instructors there. It really depends on the flavor of Taekwondo that you are interested in.

Regardless, just make sure that you are happy in whatever you choose, and watch out for contracts that won't let you cancel if you are unhappy with their instruction.

Jeff

[Azmyth]

Could u clarify what things u see on the site that stick out as warning signs?

I've known the instructor for years..

half of my teaching thus far in TKD was taught by him. he was 2nd dan ITF TKD and I always enjoyed his teaching methods. We used to have some ATA fighters train with us, who were moving to the area.. and I thought we were always stellar compared. He broke free of the organization he was with to branch out to other avenues of martial arts. When his school moved to tifton we were just getting started with modern arnis.

I wouldn't mention them if I didn't think they are reputable. If there are any reputable schools in albany, I have yet to see one. Most close just as fast as they open. Only one I know of thats still open, is an ATA school and thanks but no thanks.

I called lionheart today, and got some more information. They do not have contracts of any type, and the rates are very reasonable.. just as he had always been from when I studied under him before. He's been doing martial arts for years.. I was 14 when i started taking from him, I am 26 now. I think he's ok but if you saw anything out of the way, PM me or reply because I'd like to know.

[HKD_Florida]

Hey, it's a public website, so I have no problem talking about it.

So, you have a Master, and founder of his own art with less than 10 years as a black belt? Well, believe what you will, but I have seen this sort of thing all too often. No matter what certifications, seminars attended, fancy photos, or whatever your friend claims it all boils down to time spent on the mat, and as shown on his very own website, he doesn't have it.

If you're comfortable with whatever "art" he's shoveling out there, it's your money, but remember caveat emptor

I trained with Master Young for a short time while I lived in Albany, it's the only school I would recommend for Taekwondo if it's still there. He has several good instructors that come in on different nights. I'll admit, I didn't learn very much there, Taekwondo isn't my thing, but it was a good place to sweat and they were nice. The ATA instructor in Albany is questionable at best and basically runs a kids program. There was also a Tang Soo guy that I worked out with on occasion, Crawford I think??, he was pretty hardcore but I don't know if he's still open either.

[DWx]

Something that was a bit iffy for me was the number of different styles he had gained blackbelt rank in.

http://www.lionhearttifton.com/index-3.html

This guy is a

4th degree in American Karate

2nd degree in ITF TKD

1st degree in WTF TKD

5th degree & founder of Universal Kempo/Juijitsu

blackbelt in Modern Arnis

certified coach in USA boxing

assistant director of Sogo Budo Kyokai (I'm not sure what this and can't find anything on it, can anyone explain it to me???)

+ several "Hockheim's knife / Counter knife combatives"

all within the space of 10 years and the only one he has told us when he started is the TKD (which I am assuming is the ITF as he got his blackbelt in that first)...

Oh and I'd like to know which USA Martial Arts Hall of Fame he was inducted into because I can't find him at all and I've looked in quite a few.

I'm not trying to pick at the guy, I just seem very dubious because its a lot blackbelts in a short space of time...