Looking for Martial Arts

[stormsdotter.livejournal.com]

I did some basic karate when I was a kid, and would like to get into it again. I know there are a lot of places that offer lessons in all sorts of marital arts, but I had a very bad experience with the one in Arlington Center.

To put it simply, I hate people yelling at me. Most martial arts teachers I've seen treat their students like a drill instructor chewing out new recruits, and I absolutely refuse to pay money to have someone scream at me.

Can anyone recommend a place to learn martial arts with polite, helpful instructors? I don't have much of a preference for the type of art, though I think Akido would be interesting. I am looking for some place on public transportation, preferably on the Red Line.

Do you have any suggestions? Thanks!

Comments

[oneagain.livejournal.com]

I suggest messaging lyonesse via message. She has taught before (and I have considered learning from her before; I don't like people yelling at me or otherwise behaving in a way I consider inappropriate either). I don't recall if she is currently teaching, but I expect she would at least be able to point you in a very good direction.

Best of luck.

[oneagain.livejournal.com]

Actually, I recall a friend mentioning something about a wonderful place near Union Square in Somerville when I told him I thought about Aikido--will poke him and get back.

[stormsdotter.livejournal.com]

Thank you very much!

[joylewis.livejournal.com]

I believe that's Shobu Aikido. My boyfriend has been going there for almost two years after training at a couple of other Aikido dojos. He loves it and says it's the best training he's ever gotten.

http://www.shobu.org/

[oneagain.livejournal.com]

Yes, that does sound right. I have danced with the man who recommended them to me for a couple of years now (know him through dance) and from knowing him and seeing how he moves, I would trust his judgment as well.

[oneagain.livejournal.com]

Friend gave me the link. Here it is:

http://aikidotjboston.org/

Good luck!

[lyonesse.livejournal.com]

oh, hi :) yeah, i'm not really a yeller, although yelling (kiai) is taught as part of aikido practice. i don't currently have a regular teaching schedule, but i do seminars (3 hours) on weekends now and then, and you're welcome to let me know if you'd like to be on my mailing list.

i teach kokikai aikido, with an emphasis on aikido's goal of safety for all parties in conflict and nearby. i'm the senior instructor at aikido kokikai littleton. (i *am* looking for a more-local dojo space -- i live in davis but my current mat space is in littleton -- so if anyone reading this knows of any please to ping me :)

now that it's spring i'm also considering teaching more informally outdoors, likely in powderhouse park (a ten-minute walk down college ave from the davis t-stop) but have not yet set a schedule for that.

[stormsdotter.livejournal.com]

Please do put me on your mailing list! Littleton is out of my range, but powder house park would be lovely!

[lyonesse.livejournal.com]

cool, could you email me your contact info at lyonesse@livejournal?

(others invited as well of course :)

when we go to littleton we usually carpool from davis, so i wouldn't discount that entirely, but it might be a ways from now anyway :)