Calgary Hapkido Clubs

[blade_cs]

I apologize ahead of time if this is not a right topic to be posted here.

Do you guys know of any good Hapkido or Japanese Jujitsu clubs in Calgary, Alberta, Canada?

I know that a lot of Hapkido places focus on high kicks simlar to TKD (although they claim their kicks are more powerful than TKD), but I'm looking for ones that are more geared towards self defense. In other words, I'm looking for Hapkido styles that do more joint locks (practical ones, not just when a partner grabs you, you "do this".. and "kill" the other guy), punching, low kicks, and a fair amount of ground techniques.

Japanese Jujitsu is very similar to Hapkido, but they're not as common anymore.

I heard Sin Moo is a good style.

Anyways, thanks for your suggestions.

[Kombat]

Hi Blade_cs.

I train at Flying Eagle Hapkido in Calgary. It is the Canadian Headquarters for Jin Jung Kwan Hapkido, certified under the Korea Hapkido Federation. I suggest you go check out the website at www.flyingeaglehapkido.com. If you like what you see/read then you can try a one week class for free (which I highly recommend as you can't really get a feel for the high level of training taught via a website).

It sounds like our school is along the lines of what you are looking for. The style is geared toward self defense not competition, and is very street oriented. There is sparring, no kata's or free forms, and joint locks, choke holds, and "practical" kicks are emphasized. That doesn't mean we don't learn all the high flying kicks, etc but they're put in context when they are taught, i.e. they look flashy but they are not practical in most self defense situations. As noted, it's geared toward street/self defense interactions and the best way to get a true sense of what it's about is to come check us out. If you don't like us, no problem. There are a lot of excellent schools in Calgary and I'm sure you'll find one that suites your needs.

I can also provide you with names of a good Brazilian Ju Jitsu or Japanese Ju Jitsu club in Calgary if you want...just let me know.

Thanks,

Kombat.

[blade_cs]

Originally posted by Kombat
Hi Blade_cs.

I train at Flying Eagle Hapkido in Calgary. It is the Canadian Headquarters for Jin Jung Kwan Hapkido, certified under the Korea Hapkido Federation. I suggest you go check out the website at www.flyingeaglehapkido.com. If you like what you see/read then you can try a one week class for free (which I highly recommend as you can't really get a feel for the high level of training taught via a website).

It sounds like our school is along the lines of what you are looking for. The style is geared toward self defense not competition, and is very street oriented. There is sparring, no kata's or free forms, and joint locks, choke holds, and "practical" kicks are emphasized. That doesn't mean we don't learn all the high flying kicks, etc but they're put in context when they are taught, i.e. they look flashy but they are not practical in most self defense situations. As noted, it's geared toward street/self defense interactions and the best way to get a true sense of what it's about is to come check us out. If you don't like us, no problem. There are a lot of excellent schools in Calgary and I'm sure you'll find one that suites your needs.

I can also provide you with names of a good Brazilian Ju Jitsu or Japanese Ju Jitsu club in Calgary if you want...just let me know.

Thanks,

Kombat.


Hi Kombat,

Thanks for the detailed info. Really appreciate it. Your Hapkido studio seems pretty self-defense oriented. Although Hapkido's main focus is on standing techniques, do you guys also have ground techniques (how much)?

Hey is Master Wade Langin also under Jin Pal Kim?

Thanks again for the info.

[Kombat]

Blade,

Glad I could help a bit.

My sense is that there is probably not an extensive ground repertoire taught in this school compared to say a Brazilian Ju Jitsu school or a mixed martial arts school (and I know the philosophy of the style is to not go to the ground if at all possible in a street fight). That said, I believe there are some ground techniques taught but to what extent I'm not really sure. I also believe that the ground techniques are taught at the higher belt levels. Sorry that I'm not being more specific or helpful but I'm not really sure so I don't want to mislead you.

It also depends on the level of ground techniques you are looking for. If you are leaning to a style that is heavily ground oriented then you may want to consider cross training with Hapkido and say Brazilian Ju Jitsu or look into a mixed martial arts club.

Or come down to the school and have a chat with Master Langin. He's very approachable and will answer every question you have in detail. The goal is to find a style that suites your needs and goals. If this style doesn't have it then there is one out there that does.

Not sure about the Jin Pal Kim association so I won't guess in case I'm wrong. But I'll pass any info. along when I find out.

Kombat.

[blade_cs]

Well, I was looking for an art that focuses mostly on stand up combat, but enough ground (around 25%).

I will be studying at the University of Calgary (and living there) so I hope your Dojang is located nearby. Are there any Japanese Ju-Jitsu places that you would recommend?

Thanks for your time.

PS: What's the tuition fee your master charges?

[Sweeet]

Blade! You're lucky I've seen this thread.

There are 2 other places in Calgary, I attend one of them. The head instructor of both is Master Hyun Soo Park - 9th Dan with the Korean Hapkido Federation. I won't comment on the training as I hope you'll come in and see for yourself!

The phone number for the Korean Martial Arts School (as it is called) is (403) 252-1151. The address is 105A - 9705 Horton Road S.W., Calgary, Alberta. It's the first right after passing through Mcleod trail going east on Southland Drive, and then a left turn at the sign. It's at the rear of the building facing the train tracks.

There is also another school, a bit farther to the north of which I can get you the address if you'd like.

If you're not completely sold on Hapkido (and personally, I think you should give a few others a try first before you decide) then I have another recommendation as well! If you want to call me for more info, the # is 726-0474 (Andrew).

Edit: decided to add, I also go to a Ninjutsu/JKD place - we do mostly stand up with about 25% on the ground, as you've said. If you're looking primarily for self defense, I'd say it's the best bet of any in the city :) The # for Wayne May (Sensei) is 560-0516. I'm sure he wouldn't mind answering any questions if you're interested in training.

[blade_cs]

Originally posted by Sweeet
Blade! You're lucky I've seen this thread.

There are 2 other places in Calgary, I attend one of them. The head instructor of both is Master Hyun Soo Park - 9th Dan with the Korean Hapkido Federation. I won't comment on the training as I hope you'll come in and see for yourself!

The phone number for the Korean Martial Arts School (as it is called) is (403) 252-1151. The address is 105A - 9705 Horton Road S.W., Calgary, Alberta. It's the first right after passing through Mcleod trail going east on Southland Drive, and then a left turn at the sign. It's at the rear of the building facing the train tracks.

There is also another school, a bit farther to the north of which I can get you the address if you'd like.

If you're not completely sold on Hapkido (and personally, I think you should give a few others a try first before you decide) then I have another recommendation as well! If you want to call me for more info, the # is 726-0474 (Andrew).

Edit: decided to add, I also go to a Ninjutsu/JKD place - we do mostly stand up with about 25% on the ground, as you've said. If you're looking primarily for self defense, I'd say it's the best bet of any in the city :) The # for Wayne May (Sensei) is 560-0516. I'm sure he wouldn't mind answering any questions if you're interested in training.

Hello Sweeet,

Thanks for the detailed info. :)

I found both schools on mytelus.com, but the one located on 10th avenue is closer to the University of Calgary.

May I ask you a few questions regarding the Hapkido studio?
1) Does your master teach anything else besides Hapkido?
2) How many students are in a typical class?
3) What is the tuition fee? (I can't afford to go to a school that's too expensive because I already have to pay a tuition fee for the university, not to mention the cost of living.)

I searched for a Ninjitsu place in Calgary and I think this is the one you're talking about: http://www.ittacanada.com/. Although it looks expensive, I'll check it out. It seems like they're doing mostly self defense techniques.

Thanks for your time.

[Sweeet]

Thanks for the quick reply Blade, wasn't expecting anything quite that fast.

For my replie(s) I'll assume you're only asking about my Hapkido club, for the other one I'll address it at the end with another idea/recommendation (I'm full of them :p).

1) Master Park is also a 5th Dan in Tae Kwon-Do, a 4th Dan in Kum Sul-Do (weapons fighting) and 4th in Judo. So you can be sure that you get a well-rounded mix (as if Hapkido wasn't well rounded enough in the first place :p).

2) It really depends on the day, and which class you take. There are 8 afternoon classes a week (offering lots of flexibility) with 'Kids' classes (although many adults attend, including me occasionally) from 6:00 pm to 7:30 every weekday. Adults classes are monday, wednesday, and friday night from 7:30 to 9:00 (or when we're done :p). The numbers in each class range from 10 to 50. The studio is quite minimalistic, yet spacey enough to be comfortable. Generally the kids classes have higher numbers, with a 'normal' average being about 30-40 students. The adults would range from about 15-30.

3) The tuitions are 75$ a month, plus 'testing fees' every 3 months (to start, and in general) or whenever you test. The testing fees which start small and go up incrementally each belt level. All said and done, it probably works out to an average of about 100$ /month.

The training, as you would expect with an instructor with said qualifications (has been doing it every day of his life since he was 3ft tall) - is well worth it, in my opinion. You should come and check it out for yourself. As opposed to many schools, (and my Ninjutsu club, for example) almost a full HALF of the training time is spent doing excercises. The first half hour at least of every class is spent going through a rigorous excercise 'ritual' including your 4 different pushups, 100 situps (in the adults class) Tan-Jon breathing, cobra breathing, lots of stretching. It's amazing how effective that workout has been (for me) at making my entire body just all around harder. I've gone from having a flat stomache a year ago to now having a toned 6 pack, ect. ect.

The Ninjutsu place you've mentioned is not the one I attend. I've heard things about that place, and well, I'd recommend the place I go to vastly above it. Which is extremely biased, but suffice to say I have checked everything out for myself :) I don't like to down-talk any martial arts place though, so of course you should still check it out and develope your own opinions - just make sure to try other things as well :)

Other recommendation is this:
http://members.shaw.ca/estokada/estokada.html
You can get the address from the location link found in the site map on that website. I have done a seminar with Guro Dan Rutano, and it's obvious that he is extremely skilled, and an excellent instructor. I wish that I could train with him but it's a bit far away from me and I'm already training in 2 other places.

So there you have it - lots of options and places to check out. Hope to see you at one of my clubs sometime soon :) (and feel free to give me, or either of the club #'s I've listed a call if you'd like more info)

[blade_cs]

I'm sure your Hapkido instructor is very talented, but I cannot afford $75/month for the tuition fee. The 2 most important factors for me are: distance (because I will not have a car) and cost. If I lived in Calgary to begin with, a tuition of $75/month (plus additional costs such as belt tests) would be fine.

Well, as for the Ninjitsu place, don't worry about talking down other martial art places. The more opinions I get, the better it is for me. :)

I myself don't think the place I found [http://www.ittacanada.com/] is a good one either. It looks like a place that's for business. That's it. I believe that instructors should worry very little about making money by teaching martial arts. And that the only reason there are tuition fees (and other fees, like belt tests) are to keep the training centre running (ie: cost of rent and electricity).

Btw, how much is the tuition in the Ninjitsu place you train?

Thanks again.

[Kombat]

Originally posted by blade_cs
Well, I was looking for an art that focuses mostly on stand up combat, but enough ground (around 25%).

I will be studying at the University of Calgary (and living there) so I hope your Dojang is located nearby. Are there any Japanese Ju-Jitsu places that you would recommend?

Thanks for your time.

PS: What's the tuition fee your master charges?

Hey Blade.

Glad to see you're getting some options thrown your way. Some additional advice that I'd offer is to check out as many schools as possible (websites and phone in your case )and talk to the Masters/Instructors first (little time consuming but it's worth it). I checked out at least 6 (including the ones listed) before settling on my school and my Master. Couple of additional things to consider are who teaches the majority of the classes, i.e. the Master or his black belts and the student to instructor ratio. And, of course, is the instructor a businessman or a teacher (as you noted).

Back to your questions. I'm actually getting a better sense of what you're looking for now. I had originally thought you may be leaning to more of a ground fighting art. Actually, Jin Jung Kwan may have about the amount of ground fighting you're looking for. I have seen the guard position used and I have seen demonstrations on how to escape the mounted position and how to defend when on the ground or your knees (including multiple attackers). Jin Jung Kwan's grappling aspects include a wide array of chokes, arm locks, joint manipulation, leg locks, and ground manipulation. Keep in mind though, that you are taught that ending up on the ground is always the last resort to any street fighting situation. You'll also learn in-fighting, how to keep your distance to avoid the ground, and throws and takedowns.

If you want to get an idea of the curriculum taught at our school I'd direct you to the Korea Hapkido Federations website at www.koreahapkidofederation.com/. Under "ranking requirements" you'll see the general requirements that the certified schools must follow. Additionally, under the "school directory" you'll see Master Langin's name so you know his credentials are sound.

Additionally, seeing a demonstration is always nice so I think you'd be very interested to see this style first hand. As such, I'd direct you to Master Chris Garland's website at http://www.jinjungkwan.com/jinjungkwan.htm Under the "demonstration" link you'll find videos entitled "Demo Reel #1 and #3" of Master Garland and Grandmaster Lee Chang Soo (Master Langin's teacher) demonstrating some techniques.

The only Japanese Ju Jitsu school I know of now is the Calgary Ju Jitsu Academy. There used to be another school (Bissett rings a bell) that I checked out a few years ago that I really liked (this the one I was going to recommend) but I can't seem to find it anymore so I'm not sure what happened to them (shame because they seemed very good).

The bad news is that school fees are around $85.00/month (this is, unfortunately, around what you'll find as the average in private schools in Calgary) but there may be some light here as there may be a discount or arrangement for students or financially strapped individuals so I suggest mentioning that if you do inquire (I know that there has been for other students so so inquire). The Dojang is located on the corner of 32 Avenue and 19 Street NE. Driving would take about 15 minutes from the U of C but the C-Train/bus may be an option and you should look into how long it will take you.

LOL. Blade, I think you've got a good deal of information to digest now so have some fun. :) Let us know which school you choose and how things are progressing with your training.

And if you have any problems finding a school close to your residence and one that fits your budget, let me know, as I may have another option for you to look into.

Thanks,

Kombat.

[Sweeet]

I'm sure your Hapkido instructor is very talented, but I cannot afford $75/month for the tuition fee. The 2 most important factors for me are: distance (because I will not have a car) and cost. If I lived in Calgary to begin with, a tuition of $75/month (plus additional costs such as belt tests) would be fine.

That's unfortunate, I'm not sure if Master Park would be willing to give you a discount if you are financially strapped. I'm positive he would not mind if you called and asked, however.

The good thing about this particular location in terms of distance is that it is right on the train tracks, and within easy walking distance of the C-Train station!

The tuition for the Ninjutsu place I train in is variable. For me and my sister, and since we train together, we each pay 60$ a month. Wayne is a very 'approachable' and in my opinion nice, reasonable guy. I'm sure if you explained your situation to him, he may be able to help you or come to an agreement. He is definitely not a businessman, currently we don't have that many students (a mear fraction of that in my Hapkido club) and certainly any tuition goes toward the rent for our club.

The problem in the case of the Ninjutsu place is more likely to be location - it's located in a fitness center in a mall that I'm not sure is easily accessible by public transport. I think that one person has taken train/bus to come though and walked the rest (don't think it was that far). He was also a university student seemingly in much the same situation as you.

So far, my final recommendation seems to be the best one for you - did you check out the site? It seems to be the closest to the university, as well as having discounted tuition for University/College students. If I could go back in time, to be perfectly honest, I would be training in there instead of one of the other places I go to. The instruction there is beyond repute, as I know from personal experience. If you'd like more information about the Estokada (Kali) place I'm refering to just check my last post for the link towards the end. It also includes a fair amount of grappling (as the instructor is the author of a book on Haribong Dumog - grappling!). I would really love to train there myself, and what more can I say to show how much I would recommend checking that particular place out?

Once again, hope to see you at one of my clubs (or seminars?) sooner rather than later :) Good luck and tell us how it goes. As with Kombat, if none of these options will work, I know of a few other clubs as well.

[Kombat]

Blade,

Hopefully, you have some good options to pursue now and you can find a good Hapkido school to train at.

I do know that Sweeet's school is excellent and Master Park is an excellent and well respected Hapkido martial artist and instructor. The location is very favourable (much more so than mine) so this may be a good option.

Of course, the price may be of issue still so I suggest (as Sweeet also noted) as calling and asking. Phone around and ask for prices and see if they can provide a more reasonable price structure based on your budget. Can't hurt to ask and they can only say no. But you may be suprised at their flexibility and may end up getting a great deal.

My other option is to go check out the martial arts offered at SAIT. It's only a 5 minute C-Train ride from the U of C and they're pretty cheap. They offer Aikido, Jeet Kune Do, and more interestingly related to your case, they offer Hwarang Do :cool:, which is historically related to Hapkido (not sure of the history, I'm sure someone here does) but they seem very similiar. I would go check them out as it's only a short distance from where you are and this may be a very good option for you to get the training you want at the price you want.

As I noted before let us know how your journey pans out.

Good luck Blade.

Kombat.

[blade_cs]

Originally posted by Sweeet
That's unfortunate, I'm not sure if Master Park would be willing to give you a discount if you are financially strapped. I'm positive he would not mind if you called and asked, however.

The good thing about this particular location in terms of distance is that it is right on the train tracks, and within easy walking distance of the C-Train station!

The tuition for the Ninjutsu place I train in is variable. For me and my sister, and since we train together, we each pay 60$ a month. Wayne is a very 'approachable' and in my opinion nice, reasonable guy. I'm sure if you explained your situation to him, he may be able to help you or come to an agreement. He is definitely not a businessman, currently we don't have that many students (a mear fraction of that in my Hapkido club) and certainly any tuition goes toward the rent for our club.

The problem in the case of the Ninjutsu place is more likely to be location - it's located in a fitness center in a mall that I'm not sure is easily accessible by public transport. I think that one person has taken train/bus to come though and walked the rest (don't think it was that far). He was also a university student seemingly in much the same situation as you.

So far, my final recommendation seems to be the best one for you - did you check out the site? It seems to be the closest to the university, as well as having discounted tuition for University/College students. If I could go back in time, to be perfectly honest, I would be training in there instead of one of the other places I go to. The instruction there is beyond repute, as I know from personal experience. If you'd like more information about the Estokada (Kali) place I'm refering to just check my last post for the link towards the end. It also includes a fair amount of grappling (as the instructor is the author of a book on Haribong Dumog - grappling!). I would really love to train there myself, and what more can I say to show how much I would recommend checking that particular place out?

Once again, hope to see you at one of my clubs (or seminars?) sooner rather than later :) Good luck and tell us how it goes. As with Kombat, if none of these options will work, I know of a few other clubs as well.

Thanks for the information...

Sorry for the late reply.. I didn't have access to the Internet for a couple of days.

I think I will like your Ninjitsu place better than your Hapkido place. 1) You said Ninjitsu is better for self defense. 2) I like the class size

Could I have the instructor's email?

Thanks so much

[blade_cs]

I found another Hapkido place:

R D W Martial Arts Academy Ltd
4880 32nd Avenue Northwest, Calgary, AB T3A4N7
(403) 286-0808

Have you guys ever heard of it?

[Sweeet]

^^ haven't heard of that, perhaps worth checking out.

My Ninjutsu instructors cell phone # (I believe) is 560-0516.

I don't have his email address, but I can probably get it for you if you really want it (don't see why you would). Wayne is a very approachable, nice guy. I recommend giving him a call and discussing your options.

[blade_cs]

Originally posted by Sweeet
^^ haven't heard of that, perhaps worth checking out.

My Ninjutsu instructors cell phone # (I believe) is 560-0516.

I don't have his email address, but I can probably get it for you if you really want it (don't see why you would). Wayne is a very approachable, nice guy. I recommend giving him a call and discussing your options.


Sweeet,

Alright, I'll give your Ninjitsu Sensei a call (once I get a phone).

Oh, I found the Website for the Hapkido place I posted: http://members.shaw.ca/vacation/

Thanks again for the help.

[tpb]

I live near the university and attend the "North" school. Funny, I just stumbled across this thread. You should come down and watch a class sometime. If you need a ride, let me know. At the north school, we do some ground fighting after class on occasion for those that are interested. As far as I can tell, we do MANY things differently from the south school. The largest class size I've seen at the north school was about 10 people. We get ALOT of one-on-one time with the blackbelts.

Also visit Campus Recreation. They have a list of various martial arts that are offered to students for cheap. Kendo comes to mind. I took Tae Kwon Do there for a while, but at only twice per week, I found that I forgot more than I learned.

There is also a hapkido school beside the liqour store at Market Mall. I haven't heard anything about them. There's a third hapkido school... the tao of peace... or something like that just a little further north across from Chapters at dalhousie station... or thereabouts.

If you are concerned about the pricing, just let the instructor know upfront. Odds are that they'll find some way to help you work it out. I remember not being able to afford testing once, and I was able to work something out with my instructor.

If you want to email me, feel free: tpb at the purple buffalo dot net.

Good luck.

[Sweeet]

Good luck blade, pm me or post here and tell me how it goes. I will be starting up in Ninjutsu again sometime next week, so hopefully I will see you there (put it on hiatus for the summer) :D

[blade_cs]

Originally posted by tpb
I live near the university and attend the "North" school. Funny, I just stumbled across this thread. You should come down and watch a class sometime. If you need a ride, let me know. At the north school, we do some ground fighting after class on occasion for those that are interested. As far as I can tell, we do MANY things differently from the south school. The largest class size I've seen at the north school was about 10 people. We get ALOT of one-on-one time with the blackbelts.

Also visit Campus Recreation. They have a list of various martial arts that are offered to students for cheap. Kendo comes to mind. I took Tae Kwon Do there for a while, but at only twice per week, I found that I forgot more than I learned.

There is also a hapkido school beside the liqour store at Market Mall. I haven't heard anything about them. There's a third hapkido school... the tao of peace... or something like that just a little further north across from Chapters at dalhousie station... or thereabouts.

If you are concerned about the pricing, just let the instructor know upfront. Odds are that they'll find some way to help you work it out. I remember not being able to afford testing once, and I was able to work something out with my instructor.

If you want to email me, feel free: tpb at the purple buffalo dot net.

Good luck.

Hey tpb,

The North school sounds like one I'm looking for. How much did you say it was?

It's strange how your North and South school train differently. I thought the guy down at the South school would have followed your Master.

I also visited the martial arts offered in the Campus Recreation at the U of C. I don't want to join any of them is because neither of the arts are complete ones. If they had either Hapkido, Jujitsu, or Ninjitsu, then I would sign up.

Thanks for the info.

[blade_cs]

Originally posted by Sweeet
Good luck blade, pm me or post here and tell me how it goes. I will be starting up in Ninjutsu again sometime next week, so hopefully I will see you there (put it on hiatus for the summer) :D

Hey Sweeet,

I phoned Sensei Wayne May a few days ago. The price of $65/month is good, but I'm not sure about the location. It's at a Japanese Community Centre, right?

blade_cs

[tpb]

The North school sounds like one I'm looking for. How much did you say it was?

It's strange how your North and South school train differently. I thought the guy down at the South school would have followed your Master.

I also visited the martial arts offered in the Campus Recreation at the U of C. I don't want to join any of them is because neither of the arts are complete ones. If they had either Hapkido, Jujitsu, or Ninjitsu, then I would sign up.

A few days ago I heard that the fee structure is changing. Really, the best way to find out is to ask our instructor. His number is 371-4455. Let him know that you're a student and that cash is a little tight.

As for the differences in training, the north school was originally operated by Grand Master Park's brother, Master Park. We are slowly getting closer and closer to the South school as far as manorisms, but there are still some... other... differences.

I saw in another post that $65/month was within your reach. I think that as a student you should be able to get that price or better. Just remember that no prices are written in stone.

Before you make any decisions, you should come down and watch a class. Like I said before, let me know via email if you want a ride. Secondly, the bike trails and roads are fairly good if you decide to ride a bike down to the school. The first time you go, it can be a little hard to find the place. If you need directions or anything else, just let me know.

ttyl
mark leonard

[Sweeet]

I phoned Sensei Wayne May a few days ago. The price of $65/month is good, but I'm not sure about the location. It's at a Japanese Community Centre, right?

To be quite honest, I'm not entirely sure! I haven't been to a class since the end of June, although I plan on calling Wayne tomorrow and starting up again on Monday along with my sister.

Last time I went to class, the location was at a fitness center in the Woodbine mall approximately at the end of Anderson road in the south. It's quite possible that the location has changed in the 2 months I haven't been training there though, it's happened before.

I'll have all the relevant information for you tomorrow or monday, I guess. I would just recommend that regardless of location you make it out to at least 1 class to try :) The quality of the training and how much you enjoy the class just might make any transportation hassles completely worthwhile for you. :D

[blade_cs]

Originally posted by tpb
A few days ago I heard that the fee structure is changing. Really, the best way to find out is to ask our instructor. His number is 371-4455. Let him know that you're a student and that cash is a little tight.

As for the differences in training, the north school was originally operated by Grand Master Park's brother, Master Park. We are slowly getting closer and closer to the South school as far as manorisms, but there are still some... other... differences.

I saw in another post that $65/month was within your reach. I think that as a student you should be able to get that price or better. Just remember that no prices are written in stone.

Before you make any decisions, you should come down and watch a class. Like I said before, let me know via email if you want a ride. Secondly, the bike trails and roads are fairly good if you decide to ride a bike down to the school. The first time you go, it can be a little hard to find the place. If you need directions or anything else, just let me know.

ttyl
mark leonard

Thanks for your information.

I went down to GM Park's Dojang (the one on Horton Road) and talked to the instructor. The techniques that the black belts were doing seemed quite effective. Everyone there were quite well-mannered.

Getting there won't be a problem because it only takes around 15 minutes via C-Train (from the University of Calgary), but I doubt I will be able to afford the tuition. I was offered $85/month (discount from the adult fee), but my cash is still tight.

Btw, does GM Park do any ground work?

[blade_cs]

Originally posted by Sweeet
To be quite honest, I'm not entirely sure! I haven't been to a class since the end of June, although I plan on calling Wayne tomorrow and starting up again on Monday along with my sister.

Last time I went to class, the location was at a fitness center in the Woodbine mall approximately at the end of Anderson road in the south. It's quite possible that the location has changed in the 2 months I haven't been training there though, it's happened before.

I'll have all the relevant information for you tomorrow or monday, I guess. I would just recommend that regardless of location you make it out to at least 1 class to try :) The quality of the training and how much you enjoy the class just might make any transportation hassles completely worthwhile for you. :D

Well, I'll see if I can make it and watch/attend one class. Woodbine is located very south of the UofC :)

[Sweeet]

Getting there won't be a problem because it only takes around 15 minutes via C-Train (from the University of Calgary), but I doubt I will be able to afford the tuition. I was offered $85/month (discount from the adult fee), but my cash is still tight.

Btw, does GM Park do any ground work?

Perhaps that was you that I saw the other day in his office then? I'm only a mear green belt :)

To answer your question: depends what you mean by groundwork. We do 'sitting way' and various ground-based defense, but in terms of BJJ type stuff, or flat out ground fighting, not really. Myself and some of the Blackbelts, as well as a Blackstrap and a few other people have unofficially iniated a little 'grappling session' after thursdays evening class. That along with the little bit of grappling I do in Ninjutsu and what I can do in grappling seminars is enough grappling for me - at least until I can dedicate myself to a grappling art.

Honestly, you might be disapointed at the amount - or lack of amount of grappling we do, but you can always supplement it with practice, and seminars if you have the opportunity.

Hope that helps.

[blade_cs]

Originally posted by tpb
A few days ago I heard that the fee structure is changing. Really, the best way to find out is to ask our instructor. His number is 371-4455. Let him know that you're a student and that cash is a little tight.

As for the differences in training, the north school was originally operated by Grand Master Park's brother, Master Park. We are slowly getting closer and closer to the South school as far as manorisms, but there are still some... other... differences.

I saw in another post that $65/month was within your reach. I think that as a student you should be able to get that price or better. Just remember that no prices are written in stone.

Before you make any decisions, you should come down and watch a class. Like I said before, let me know via email if you want a ride. Secondly, the bike trails and roads are fairly good if you decide to ride a bike down to the school. The first time you go, it can be a little hard to find the place. If you need directions or anything else, just let me know.

ttyl
mark leonard

Really? The fee structure is changing? I phoned the North school and the price was $70/month. Maybe that was before the fee structure changed. :confused:

The North School's distance from the U of C is pretty good, compared to the South school.

So the North School do way more grappling than the South one? Cause that's what I'm seeking (25% grappling and the rest standing techniques, is what I am looking for, actually).

[Sweeet]

I've met the instructor of the 'North' school on several occasions. IMO, he is a fantastic instructor, and just generally a very cool, nice guy. I would certainly recommend his school solely based on my limited experience meeting him.

After a testing (that I was testing at) the he was whatching once, he pulled me aside after the fact and showed me a little detail that has helped immensely ever since.

Much to my dismay (was hoping you'd come to my ninjutsu or hapkido class :p) that should help you make your decision :) Tell us how it goes :)

[blade_cs]

Hi guys,


Sorry for the late reply; I was waiting for some parts for my computer. Well, I finally found a martial arts place that I like: http://www.ju-jitsu.ca/.

Thank you so much for your help!

blade_cs

[Kombat]

Hey Blade.

Great news. I'm glad you found a school that you like. I actually mentioned this school in one of previous posts, although they go by the Calgary Budo Academy now I believe. I've heard they're a good school and I'm glad you found it.

Good luck and let us know how the training goes.

Kombat.

[blade_cs]

Kombat,

Yeah, I've been do several try out classes, and they're extremely technical about joint locks. For example, some wrist locks when done improperly would allow the opponent to roll out, but the way they taught it, completely trapped the opponent's arm. As for the chokes, they work pretty well too - even against big guys.

The only draw back is that I have to take 1 hour (bus + C-Train) just to get there, so I'm looking for other alternatives. Since you said Ninjutsu is a good self-defense art I found 2 places from the Bujinkan website (http://www.bujinkan.org/new_schools/searchresult.asp?dojoname=&country=Canada&province=alberta&city=calgary&search=Search):

1)
Bujinkan Coulter Dojo
The Edgemont Club 7222 Edgemont BLVD NW
Calgary, Alberta
T2M-1C8
403-371-8885
Instructor: Rod Coulter (Sandan)

2)
Bujinkan Tenchijin Dojo Calgary
2236 29th Street S.W.
Calgary, Alberta
403-225-2865
E-mail: info@tenchijin.calgary.ab.ca
WebSite: http://www.tenchijin.calgary.ab.ca
Instructor: Randy Ouellette

Since I live near the U of C, the first one (NW one) is much closer. However, I am unable to reach the instructor through email or phone. Do you know if the instructor, Rod, moved? I even called The Edgemont Club, but they only have Karate there.


Thanks.


blade_cs

[Kombat]

Blade.

Ouch, that commute does sound a little long. I'm not sure what would have happened to Rod but I believe the Edgemont Club no longer exists...it is now a World's Gym, if I'm not mistaken, so that Ninjutsu club may no longer exist.

The other club may be a little far too. Additional options would be to check out RDW Martial Arts Academy at Market Mall (I think you actually mentioned that one already in another post). I believe they offer Hapkido and would be very close, although I'm not sure of the price or training quality.

The Tao of Peace in Crowfoot would also be close but I believe they are a bit pricey. I know they have a really nice gym/training area but I'm not quite sure on how good their instruction is.

The only other close option that offers a grappling, joint locking oriented type of martial art related to Hapkido or JuJitsu would be Hwarang Do, which at one time was offered at SAIT (not sure if it still is). The Hwarang Do website is: http://www.hwarangdo.com/ if yout want to get an idea of what they're all about.

Kombat.

[blade_cs]

Originally posted by Kombat
Blade.

Ouch, that commute does sound a little long. I'm not sure what would have happened to Rod but I believe the Edgemont Club no longer exists...it is now a World's Gym, if I'm not mistaken, so that Ninjutsu club may no longer exist.

The other club may be a little far too. Additional options would be to check out RDW Martial Arts Academy at Market Mall (I think you actually mentioned that one already in another post). I believe they offer Hapkido and would be very close, although I'm not sure of the price or training quality.

The Tao of Peace in Crowfoot would also be close but I believe they are a bit pricey. I know they have a really nice gym/training area but I'm not quite sure on how good their instruction is.

The only other close option that offers a grappling, joint locking oriented type of martial art related to Hapkido or JuJitsu would be Hwarang Do, which at one time was offered at SAIT (not sure if it still is). The Hwarang Do website is: http://www.hwarangdo.com/ if yout want to get an idea of what they're all about.

Kombat.


Actually, I have checked out the RDW Martial Arts Academy and the Tao of Peace in Crowfoot. Both places have prices that are way above my budget.

As for the Ninjutsu place in Edgemont, although they've changed their name to World's Gym, I phoned them and asked for Rod Coulter. The reception there claims that Rod is a Shotokan instructor, not Ninjutsu. The strange thing is, they have the exact name.

Okay, this may sound like a dumb question. Now I understand that Ninjutsu membership can be very exclusive, but is it common for these instructors to cover up which martial art they're teaching?

My other option now is this place:

Bujinkan Tenchijin Dojo Calgary
2236 29th Street S.W.
Calgary, Alberta
403-225-2865
E-mail: info@tenchijin.calgary.ab.ca
WebSite: http://www.tenchijin.calgary.ab.ca
Instructor: Randy Ouellette

It's still far, but it's closer than the Calgary Budo Academy.

Thanks for your help again.

[Sweeet]

One more option for you (the school I train at, which is also probably far - but possibly closer than the other?)

We've recently set up a website - I believe I'll be helping out with it this weekend :)

It's at http://www.martialcombatsystems.com/

Good luck once again Blade :)

[blade_cs]

Originally posted by Sweeet
One more option for you (the school I train at, which is also probably far - but possibly closer than the other?)

We've recently set up a website - I believe I'll be helping out with it this weekend :)

It's at http://www.martialcombatsystems.com/

Good luck once again Blade :)

Sweeet,

Thanks for the reply.

I think I've actually talked to your instructor a while ago. If I'm not mistaken, your training centre is located at 101-2255 Woodview. I'm not exactly sure where that is, but I think it's far from the U of C (I live near there).

[Sweeet]

Originally posted by blade_cs
Sweeet,

Thanks for the reply.

I think I've actually talked to your instructor a while ago. If I'm not mistaken, your training centre is located at 101-2255 Woodview. I'm not exactly sure where that is, but I think it's far from the U of C (I live near there).

It's a solid 20 minute drive from the U of C. I've driven approximately from our location to the U of C before. I guess it depends how your driving is, though :D

That's the address, yes, but more obviously it's in the fitness center in the 'mall' type thing there, or off to the right of the big safeway.

It's just right off of anderson road, which really is fairly easy to get onto - and I don't think the drive is quite that bad, personally. Quick zip down crowchild, off to elbow drive (or glenmore to mcleod - or any # of better routes that I forget the names of :p), onto anderson, couple of turns and you're there.

At least I don't think the drive is bad enough to prevent you from coming down once and trying it out :D

[hapkiyoosool]

There will be a seminar in Florida during November, there is more info about it on the website.

http://www.hapkiyoosool.com



See you there!

[Sweeet]

Uh....... the word 'spam' comes to mind...

[panthr1]

Dynamic MMA Calgary has started a spot for us to get back to training.
Bissett Jiu Jitsu/Tai Jitsu. (japanese jiu jitsu) as in not Brazilian....


Headed by 2nd dan black belt in our style, so it is not a "attempt" at our style but current curiculum as printed. They understand that not everyone wants to step into the cage, and selfdefence is a concern. so here we are.

There were a couple people interested, so here is a update.

Out of my basement dojo and into the light.
free to check it out, in the NE, easy to get to just off deerfoot tr.
also many many training options.

[Hannibal]

Or you could come train with me in the SW - I teach tonight so pop by....