Hello all...

[DOCBROWN1705]

Hi, my name is Ron..... I am currently living in Penticton BC, but I am originally from the Calgary area.

I have been practicing Ninpo Martial arts for about 12 years, and have also studied Judo, and Aikido forms. I am not currently doing any formal training, however I would love to get back into it....

I am interested in cross training in Kung fu, so if anyone knows of a good school out my direction, that would be great......

[disgruntled]

too cool! i am from calgary! funny, most people are moving here right now, not moving away.... but i cannot say i blame you! i have given up on ever hoping to own a house here or have any service through any business (we still have a labour shortage crissis and now many companies are freezing hiring!!)

i have a hapkido background which shared the same origin as aikido and hapkido uses yudo (korean version of judo) as well. so i am familiar with a lot of the judo and aikido techniques. and i could recommend a great japanese martial arts school, but unfortunately it is here in calgary

good luck finding a school out there. unfortunately you might have to do it the hard way of grabbing the phone book and sitting in on some classes. too bad you do not live closer to the coast. there is a really big asian population on the coast and thus i assume much more MA schools.

[DOCBROWN1705]

It's funny, I've been in the Okanagan for about four years, and I'm now looking at moving back to Calgary....lol . The cost of living is about the same here right now, as it is there (Go figure).... Anyway, thanks for the input.... What do you know about ITTA in Calgary??

"Live not out of your history, but from your imagination"

[disgruntled]

ITTA.... they teach ninjitsu don't they? is that were you went? if i am thinking of the right school, i looked into it and found they also taught guns, which confussed me. i was not sure if they were a martial arts school or a wanna be millitary comando place. unfortunately wasn't able to watch a class and i do not know anyone that goes there so i never did find out what they do there.

[DOCBROWN1705]

They do have a tactical training center, from what I hear its pretty good. I'm just kinda looking into option for when I move back.. mind you that won't be for a few months, so who knows.

How long have you been training?... Do you Study any weapons forms?

[Shirindo]

Hey, welcome to the forums Doc!

Lots of ninjutsu type stuff huh, look forward to reading some of your poats

[disgruntled]

i have not gotten into weapons yet. i have always been more interested in empty hand techniques, but i do plan to eventually start it up. i know a place that teaches Iaido that looks pretty good.

have you heard of calgary budo? i was very impressed with this school. i looked into it for my younger brother. he did not end up going, but the school is very good from what i can tell. the instructor knows her stuff. it teaches jiujitsu, karate (don't know which style), and aikido. the only thing i did not really like is that it is a little expensive.

i started martial arts when i was 12 (25 now), but i studied formally on and off for about 8 years. i studied hapkido for 5-6 years (first degree), taekwondo for a year (blue belt), and muay thai for a year (no fight record). currently i am still taking muay thai. i was hoping to cross train in something, but my finances keep getting buggered over. with how much money this city has, i would like to see some trickle down to me....

[sirdarksol]

Welcome to the forums.
I look forward to seeing you around the threads.
I am currently focusing on weapons training, so if you have any questions regarding it, I can see if I can help.

edit: If you are looking to go into weapons, you might want to take a look at the two posts on wooden weapons in the "Weapons" section of the forum. They are the cumulative applicable knowledge of a dozen different books, a sensei (and thus all those who taught him), a few different websites that sell wooden weapons, and a martial arts supply store owner, all condensed into a few pages' work.

[DOCBROWN1705]

Iaido... there's a nice "easy" lead in to weapons . They do say it is one of the best practices for finding balance, and control with your weapon. I would also Suggest Kendo, or a varied for of Kenjutsu.

There are many good Tai Chi practices that can provide some nice weapons form.
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"Kenjutsu should not be confused with iaidō or iaijutsu, where the former being a modern development with both sporting, artistic, and meditative features. The role of iaijutsu is as a practice performed against an opponent who is visualized most often to be armed with a sword. There is often strong biomechanical symbiosis between the iaijutsu and kenjutsu of most schools. Iaijutsu allows the practitioner to perfect the execution of techniques, body position and displacement which he will later employ in his kenjutsu without the stresses of a partnered kata. Iaijutsu therefore remains a distinct and yet a complementary practice to kenjutsu in most schools.

Another general distinction between iaijutsu and kenjutsu is the condition of the sword at the start of the kata. In iaijutsu, the sword starts in the sheathed position with the emphasis on the draw as well as the few initial cuts. Traditionally, koryū focus on shifting smoothly in the pace of execution within the iaijutsu kata with little focus is given to the speed of draw. This is contrasted with kenjutsu, where the sword begins unsheathed, and the emphasis is on both attack and defense. This distinction is however not consistent as some kenjutsu kata start with the sword sheathed." - - Taken from Wikipedia (not a bad reference, and far more articulate than I would word it lol....)

[disgruntled]

you and sirdarksol with have a lot to talk about

as far as the tai chi weapon forms go, i do not think any schools around here teach weaons... ther might be one that teaches out of the dragon's den, but i am not sure.