Greetings All, Thanks for the great site! I have been reading through this site, the yellow pages and internet specific sites and I have narrowed a list of schools I am interested in learning more about. I am a big UFC fan and I am leaning toward a school that offers cross training as I see the benefit of learning multiple styles would help in a real world situation. It seems based on what I am looking for either Krav Maga or Wing Chun Kung Fu is going to be the way to go. I am open to any other ideas or forms but these two seem to be regarded as quick to learn and real world effective. Believe it or not I have not been able to find a school in Austin that teaches Wing Chun, although there is a Wing Tsun academy. I have read they are simimilar in many ways but most people prefer Wing Chun. I am 35 years old, I am in Real Estate and I weigh between 260-280 pounds depending on how dedicated I am to my Gold's Gym work out routine. I am also interested in Jeet Kune Do. There are so many styles that interest me that it is proving to be very difficult to make my decision. Living in Austin, TX I have the good problem of having several schools to choose from. No matter which style I choose I think the most important thing is selecting the best instructor possible. The better the teacher the more you get out of the training. I may be relocating to the west coast in the next few years so Krav Maga and Wing Chun sound good because they are effective and quick to learn compared to other styles. But still, I am seeking the best instructor possible so this is proving to be a difficult process. After reading this forum it seems as if TKD and Black Belt Academies are the least street effective arts and are more for point fighting so I have not looked in to any of those schools, although several of them are highly regarded here. I am not concerned about cost, but I do not want to be ripped off. So any general advice you can offer is greatly appreciated. If anyone has Central Texas/Austin/Round Rock information that is also greatly appreciated. On to the links. 1. http://www.fitandfearless.com/ Krav Maga taught by real MMA fighters with cross training available on site. I love what they offer but horrible location for me. Traffic is bad and school is clear across town from where I live. 2. http://www.selfdefensetexas.com/ Krav Maga close to my home. Instructor has a great back ground, but the S.Austin location offers the mixed class schdule. Tough to decide between these two. 3. http://www.rrma.net/ Very close to my house, not sure about the styles they teach. I am still going to check it out. 4. http://www.centerofmartialarts.com/ Great school with lots of different styles under one roof, location is ok, haven't updated their site since 2003? 5. http://www.blankenshipmartialarts.com/ 50 years experience,30 years in Austin several styles under one roof, seems like an Academy type school. Not sure if I want that. Impressive credentials. Probably a very large school. 6. http://www.austinwt.com/index.php Wing Tsun Kung Fu, can't find Wing Chun in Austin. 7. http://www.usakfa.com/main_sub.html?src=overture Different Style of Kung Fu 8. http://www.masteryi.com/ Sounds VERY intersting. This is a South Korean martial art similar ( I think) to Krav Maga. It is taught to all of the S.Korean special forces that guard the wall between N. and S. Korea. This is a very highly regarded school and his credentials are incedible, but I have never heard of Tukoong Moosul. 9. http://www.spiritwarriors.com/ Sounds very interesting. The Bujinkan (BOO-jin-Kahn) Dojo is the collective name for the nine remaining systems of the authentic Ninja. They only take students 18 and up. Does this mean they are a more difficult style to learn or is this an art for adults only? 10. http://www.texaskungfu.com/ Kung-Fu close to home. 11. http://www.swshaolin.com/ Kung-Fu across town, still no Wing Chun>? 12. http://www.austinjj.com/ Gracie jj here in Austin, way on the other side of town, but it is a Gracie school so I want to check it out. They offer cross training. 13. http://www.kimsoo-austin.com/ Many different styles! Way across town. 14. http://www.austinkenpokarate.com/ http://www.kenpo-texas.com/index1.html I don't think I want to take Karate, but the first school cross trains in Kung Fu and I wanted to give the Karate experts a chance to give their two cents. 15. http://www.sijo.org/index.htm Not sure about this, wanted to see if anyone has heard of this guy. Well that's the list. Now I want to narrow it down, start observing classes and get started. I left off several TKD,ATA, Karate schools so anyone that has any info on schools other than what I have listed feel free to chime in. I am trying to be as open minded about this as I can possibly be. I am looking forward to all of your comments,suggestions and advice. Best Regards, Jon
What do you think about it? Prices aren't bad, no contracts, one of the few sites that has pricing on it. Is it a good work out?
A new member who is a Soryu Karate Instr. posted this the other day and I happened to remember he was teaching in Austin TX Not sure if you're interested but the price is right http://www.floressoryumartialarts.com
If you're in Austin and Praying Mantis Kung fu tickles your fancy.. Sifu Jeff Hughes at the Texas Kung Exchange is phenomenal! If I was in Austin, I'd train with him over any other. Honestly Wing Chun is going to be no more or less effective to learn rapidly like any other style of kung fu. After all .... Kung fu = Time & Effort. Big Guys + Mantis Boxing = Scare the hell out of me. 260 pounds of Tong Bei energy just sounds like pain.
There's at least two Kuk Sool Won schools in Austin. Kuk Sool Won is a Korean art with some Chinese influence, Mantis being one I've heard. http://www.kswnaustin.com/ http://kuksool.home.texas.net/
Thanks for the response. As luck would have it this place is way across town for me. I live in N Round Rock and this is in S. Austin. That means I would have to drive through Dell Computer and University of Texas traffic to get to class. That's at least a 2 hour Round Trip drive. I am going to check the place out because I have seen several of your posts while reading this forum, so if you say he is good I believe it.
Good luck with it all man! I spent almost 2+ years looking for my current school.. And in all honesty.. It was worth the wait. Better to spend 2 years looking for a great teacher than to waste two years of time and money with a poor teacher. At least with 2 years of looking and doing research you'll find exactly out what you want to do.
I am taking my time with it. I want to make sure it is friendly with my work schedule, has a good instuctor, and has a program I am on board with. When those three things fall in to place I will be ready to make a move.
I wasn't sure if it'd be up your alley, it's totally your choice. There's at least one MAPper from each of those schools who've posted in the KSW forum. You might be able to ask them questions if you like.
BJJ is always a good workout, it's definetely athletic. I can't reccomend my academy highly enough, but then again, I go there, so that's to be expected.
If you live very close to one of the ACC campuses you can get a very cheap enrollment for Aikido and a few other MAs at the North Ridge campus. I'm pretty sure Mark Leidig (a really great instructor) still heads up the Aikido classes, unless he has taken up the reigns of the Shin Bodu Kai Aikido association. When I was there they were adding more MA classes and styles, so there may be a very nice selection all at one location. The Relson BJJ school is real nice. I trained there for a few months a couple years ago. If you don't want to drive down to Manchaca there is BJJ school at Spicewood Springs and 183. Its just a few shops down from Thor's Hammer Comic Shop. I was hoping to try it out when I was in Austin, but was to busy with my brother's wedding. There's a karate school (just ok in my book) on Anderson Mill between 183 and Parmer. Good fit students, traditional discipline, but little to no sparring. The KSW school on Pond Springs has been there for years. Surviving all the changes that area has seen, they may have something to offer. Impact Martial Arts offers a free month of training if you fill out their little form at Jamba Juice. And oddly enough their school is right next to Dunkin' Donuts. Coincidence? Or not?
I am going to check out the Gracie BJJ school for sure. Everyone I have made contact with that knows anything about it, likes it and recommends it. No doubt that style of fighting works.
Texas Combatives Association..... Offering small classes in a variety of martial arts styles on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7:00-8:30pm http://www.freewebs.com/combativearts/index.htm
