rgg@aplvax.UUCP (Richard G. Greenberg) (06/11/85)
I am looking for a good martial arts school, especially a Wing Chun Kung Fu school, in the Baltimore-Washington-Northern Va. area. I would appreciate pointers to good schools that emphasize respect and dedication. I am also interested in the spiritual aspects of the martial arts. I have had some less than enjoyable experiences with Karate schools, where the students tended to be teenagers with hormone problems and the instructors were more interested in heavy-contact fighting than teaching, and supervision. I am NOT interested in repeating these experiences. Having read much about Wing Chun (Bruce Lee's original fighting style), I am especially interested in this style of Kung Fu. Aside from the Balto-D.C. area, I would like to compile a list of Kung Fu schools around the country (or the world). Please send me any info. you might have about schools or this system. I would also be interested in hearing about any schools ANYWHERE that you think are EXCELLENT. Thanks in advance. Richard Greenberg
loucl@homxa.UUCP (L.CHANLIZAROO) (06/21/85)
<for the mythical line chewer> <tried e-mailing this, but couldn't get through> > I am looking for a good martial arts school, especially a ... > I have had some less than enjoyable experiences with Karate schools, > where the students tended to be teenagers with hormone problems > and the instructors were more interested in heavy-contact fighting > than teaching, and supervision. I am NOT interested in repeating > these experiences. ... > I would also be interested in hearing about any schools ANYWHERE > that you think are EXCELLENT. > > Thanks in advance. > Richard Greenberg > > Some of the better schools are not schools at all, but are clubs. The ones that come to mind (for Karate) are JKA (Japan Karate Association) and SKA (Shotokan Karate of America). Both these clubs claim a common ancestor, Gichin Funakoshi, with the only difference between the two clubs being political differences among his students. The techniques taught are very similar in both clubs, although minor differences can be detected (at the black belt level). These clubs are normally run by non-compensated instructors, and can usually be found on university campuses. Richard, try Georgetown or U. of Md. I'm sure they have one of those clubs there. Just sit in on one of their sessions and see the type of instruction they provide. Of course, each instructor has his/her own method of teaching and the teaching methods can be quite different as each instructor emphasis different aspects of karate: sparring, basics or kata. I belong to the SKA club here in New Jersey. If you are interested in joining SKA, write me and I'll try to find a club in your region. Places that have SKA clubs include MIT, U. of Pittsburgh, U. of Delaware, U. of NC at Chapel Hill, U. Mass Amherst, Los Angeles (SKA headquarters), New York (Manhattan and Bronx), New Jersey (Monmouth County), among others. -- louis chan
loucl@homxa.UUCP (L.CHANLIZAROO) (06/21/85)
<for the line eater> Oops, forgot to add: My path is ..!ihnp4!homxa!loucl -- louis chan