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

[whitefire.livejournal.com]

Look, you can't quietly and politely ask someone to please sweep the leg if they wouldn't mind.

[stormsdotter.livejournal.com]

Perhaps I did not explain this clearly. I don't mind being given directions or orders; I object to excessive volume and harshness in commands.

I will not take lessons from a teacher who demonstrates a move once and then screams when a student fails to do the move correctly. A teacher who demonstrates something once or twice, at different angles, and then helps students who execute the move incorrectly--without raising their voice--is fine.

[perich.livejournal.com]

Ignore the other person; they're trolling. There are a wealth of martial arts programs in the Boston metro area that get students psyched about learning - and teach you how to actually fight - without belittling their students.

(I echo knowthyself's recommendation for Theodorou Academy (http://bostonselfdefense.com/), having studied and taught there for over 9 years. It's a short walk from the #71 bus out of Harvard, if that helps)

[cosinezero.livejournal.com]

There just simply isn't pain in this dojo.

[lyonesse.livejournal.com]

whyever not? certainly just expecting a beginner to *do* this is rather demanding, yelling adds nothing at all to the educational process.