How to find good martial arts gym?

[Turin39789]

For starters, ive never taken any martial arts before, age 20. Im interested in somethign along the lines of Jeet kun do or kempo. I am in louisville ky, though i may be moving to lexington over the summer. I have found a few kempo schools in the area, though i havent seen any listings for jeet kun do. Are there any particular websites/resources that rate such institutions? Any way for me to get a good idea of the quality of a place before i plunk down my hard earned and sparse college coin?

 

[Schadenfreude]

If you're in college, look around the college clubs - most clubs will charge around $50-80 a semester, while other private dojos/studios will easily charge that per month.

-If the instructor tries to coerce you into joining, leave. You're in charge until you sign up.

-Try to ask as much questions as you can. I know it's kinda intimidating to do that in person, so you might consider emailing him/her/it first: it'd be a good idea to contact them before you arrive too. Common courtesy.

-Most places will allow first timers to try out for the first class. If you don't like it, leave.

-Try to get a feeling of the people in there. If you sign up, you're about to spend a lot of time in that place, and usually people of similar personalities gather at different schools. If you don't like the instructor/student, it's probably not a good idea to stay there.

-Visit as many places as you can. Let them know that you're looking around, and give them a timeframe by when you'll have a decision made. stick by it. If you find a studio you absolutely love, you might find the next one even better.

-If you know anyone who's been in this stuff for a while, ask them to accompany you as well.

Good luck!

And just out of curiosity: why JKD? I'm kinda biased against Bruce Lee, I suppose, but why?

 

[Turin39789]

Originally posted by: Jehovah
If you're in college, look around the college clubs - most clubs will charge around $50-80 a semester, while other private dojos/studios will easily charge that per month.

-If the instructor tries to coerce you into joining, leave. You're in charge until you sign up.

-Try to ask as much questions as you can. I know it's kinda intimidating to do that in person, so you might consider emailing him/her/it first: it'd be a good idea to contact them before you arrive too. Common courtesy.

-Most places will allow first timers to try out for the first class. If you don't like it, leave.

-Try to get a feeling of the people in there. If you sign up, you're about to spend a lot of time in that place, and usually people of similar personalities gather at different schools. If you don't like the instructor/student, it's probably not a good idea to stay there.

-Visit as many places as you can. Let them know that you're looking around, and give them a timeframe by when you'll have a decision made. stick by it. If you find a studio you absolutely love, you might find the next one even better.

-If you know anyone who's been in this stuff for a while, ask them to accompany you as well.

Good luck!

And just out of curiosity: why JKD? I'm kinda biased against Bruce Lee, I suppose, but why?

all the reasons that ignorant people usually want to do things. I really dont know that much about martial arts, I plan on picking that up on the way. I've heard good things said about kempo and jeet kun do, and of course there is always Kung Fu/Kung Fu the legend continues and Enter the Dragon/Cowboy Bebop.

 

[Schadenfreude]

Haha. I take Wing Tsun Kuen, the father style/the style that Bruce Lee stole from for Jeet Kune Do (depends on who you talk to - apparently, he was not very good at WT) if you're interested in that, I'll give you a link here: linky

And I said this before, finding a school that is good is a combination of luck and enthusiasm. You have to keep on looking until you find the one - I hope you find it!

EDIT
Whoops, there's a Kentucky school there, but it's not linked yet, apparently. Email Sifu Mike Adams, (my Si-Fu, coincidentally, and he's on the board of directors for the North American Section ) - and he'll tell you where you can go. Follow the link to the Illinois section, and he should be there.

 

[loosliptcomptrola]

If you are interested in Jeet Kun Do you should look into Wing Tsun. Jeet Kun Do was created only because Bruce Lee could not learn Wing Tsun correctly. If you don't believe me seek the facts. This is what I have learned the first day of Wing Tsun. Kempo is nice but not practical.

 

[Schadenfreude]

Originally posted by: loosliptcomptrola
If you are interested in Jeet Kun Do you should look into Wing Tsun. Jeet Kun Do was created only because Bruce Lee could not learn Wing Tsun correctly. If you don't believe me seek the facts. This is what I have learned the first day of Wing Tsun. Kempo is nice but not practical.

Sweet! Another WT'er! Honestly, I'd never thought I'd meet one here -

 

[loosliptcomptrola]

Originally posted by: Jehovah

Originally posted by: loosliptcomptrola
If you are interested in Jeet Kun Do you should look into Wing Tsun. Jeet Kun Do was created only because Bruce Lee could not learn Wing Tsun correctly. If you don't believe me seek the facts. This is what I have learned the first day of Wing Tsun. Kempo is nice but not practical.

Sweet! Another WT'er! Honestly, I'd never thought I'd meet one here -

Wing Tsun is the best!

 

[Turin39789]

e-mail sent

 

[Schadenfreude]

Originally posted by: Turin39789
e-mail sent

cool

Wing Tsun is the best!

Damn skippy - just out of curiosity, where do you train at?

 

[loosliptcomptrola]

Bay Mountain Wing Tsun in Northern Cali. I train under Sifu Simon Mayer who trained under Giuseppe something rather and Keith Kernspecht. How about you?

 

[Schadenfreude]

Ah, I'm in the Bloomington-Normal Illinois Wing Tsun Kwoon under Si-Fu Mike Adams and Si-Hing Steve Jurovic. Si-Fu trained under SiHing . . . hmm, the name escapes me at the moment, but Si-Fu Mike's been doing WT longer than I've been alive . . ..