Anyone from calgary?

[Mproulx5]

Am looking for input from anyone who practices karate in calgary or anywhere in southern alberta, I am interested in learning karate and would like to know which dojos are for serious practitioners. I don't live in the city so I don't know anything about anything thanks.

[Kuma]

My first recommendation would be Calgary Kyokushin Karate.

http://www.kyokushincalgary.ca/ck_tmpl.php?content=about#contact

I would also recommend looking into Goju Ryu as there seems to be one close by.

http://www.iogkf.ca/dojo-listing.html

[blacknebula]

I'm in Calgary and train in shotokan karate at two different dojos associated with the ISKF (International Shotokan Karate Federation).

NW: http://www.shotokankaratecalgary.com/

NE: http://www.iskfcalgary.ca/

If you have any questions feel free to send my a private message.

[Kusotare]

These guys are very good...

Trained with them many a time.

They are a very serious but also relaxed and understanding group.

http://www.guseikaicalgary.com/About_us.html

K.

[Mproulx5]

Thanks for the replies. Cannot send private messages until I have 25 posts. To Blacknebula, how serious are these places you go to? and what is the sparring like? I have heard some shotokan karate dojos do not even allow contact. And I know most kyokushin are full contact. But I have heard negative from every style.

[blacknebula]

My dojos are pretty much no contact up until about brown belt, then some light contact is allowed. If that is what you are looking for then you are probably better off investigating kyokushin. The dojo that I mentioned in the NE is more 'serious' just because it has been around longer, and is much larger both in student population and number of classes offered. It is run by a husband and wife team that are both 7th dan, and he teaches seminars at the international level. Several people from that dojo won medals at the world shoto cup in the Phillipines last November. Both dojos are more than happy to offer a free lesson if you want to drop in and try it out.

[Mproulx5]

After reading a LOT on the many styles, I have to say from what I see, shotokan is very... nice to watch and I like the mix of defense and offense. Kyokushin seems like offense orientated karate, very up close but whats with the hands? I think I might have to go watch a few different styles before I decide...

[bushido_man96]

After reading a LOT on the many styles, I have to say from what I see, shotokan is very... nice to watch and I like the mix of defense and offense. Kyokushin seems like offense orientated karate, very up close but whats with the hands? I think I might have to go watch a few different styles before I decide...

What do you mean, "what's with the hands?" Are they doing something funny?

[Mproulx5]

After reading a LOT on the many styles, I have to say from what I see, shotokan is very... nice to watch and I like the mix of defense and offense. Kyokushin seems like offense orientated karate, very up close but whats with the hands? I think I might have to go watch a few different styles before I decide...

What do you mean, "what's with the hands?" Are they doing something funny?

Just the low guard I thought of this shot of the geat gretzky.

http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_md6raaZM0n1qe1x8qo1_1280.jpg

[mal103]

Looking at the comments then I wouldn't worry about the style but try to find a club that trains the full syllabus with plenty of variation, ultimately a full/complete training regime including contact, SD and anything else!