Austin, TX Beginner, What's the best way to start?

Greetings All,
Thanks for the great site! I have been reading through this site, the yellow pages and internet specific sites and I have narrowed a list of schools I am interested in learning more about. I am a big UFC fan and I am leaning toward a school that offers cross training as I see the benefit of learning multiple styles would help in a real world situation. It seems based on what I am looking for either Krav Maga or Wing Chun Kung Fu is going to be the way to go. I am open to any other ideas or forms but these two seem to be regarded as quick to learn and real world effective. Believe it or not I have not been able to find a school in Austin that teaches Wing Chun, although there is a Wing Tsun academy. I have read they are simimilar in many ways but most people prefer Wing Chun. I am 35 years old, I am in Real Estate and I weigh between 260-280 pounds depending on how dedicated I am to my Gold’s Gym work out routine. I am also interested in Jeet Kune Do. There are so many styles that interest me that it is proving to be very difficult to make my decision. Living in Austin, TX I have the good problem of having several schools to choose from. No matter which style I choose I think the most important thing is selecting the best instructor possible. The better the teacher the more you get out of the training. I may be relocating to the west coast in the next few years so Krav Maga and Wing Chun sound good because they are effective and quick to learn compared to other styles. But still, I am seeking the best instructor possible so this is proving to be a difficult process. After reading this forum it seems as if TKD and Black Belt Academies are the least street effective arts and are more for point fighting so I have not looked in to any of those schools, although several of them are highly regarded here. I am not concerned about cost, but I do not want to be ripped off. So any general advice you can offer is greatly appreciated. If anyone has Central Texas/Austin/Round Rock information that is also greatly appreciated. On to the links.

1. http://www.fitandfearless.com/

Krav Maga taught by real MMA fighters with cross training available on site. I love what they offer but horrible location for me. Traffic is bad and school is clear across town from where I live.

2. http://www.selfdefensetexas.com/

Krav Maga close to my home. Instructor has a great back ground, but the S.Austin location offers the mixed class schdule. Tough to decide between these two.

3. http://www.rrma.net/

Very close to my house, not sure about the styles they teach. I am still going to check it out.

4. http://www.centerofmartialarts.com/

Great school with lots of different styles under one roof, location is ok, haven’t updated their site since 2003?

5. http://www.blankenshipmartialarts.com/

50 years experience,30 years in Austin several styles under one roof, seems like an Academy type school. Not sure if I want that. Impressive credentials. Probably a very large school.

6. http://www.austinwt.com/index.php

Wing Tsun Kung Fu, can’t find Wing Chun in Austin.

7. http://www.usakfa.com/main_sub.html?src=overture

Different Style of Kung Fu

8. http://www.masteryi.com/

Sounds VERY intersting. This is a South Korean martial art similar ( I think) to Krav Maga. It is taught to all of the S.Korean special forces that guard the wall between N. and S. Korea. This is a very highly regarded school and his credentials are incedible, but I have never heard of Tukoong Moosul.

9. http://www.spiritwarriors.com/

Sounds very interesting. The Bujinkan (BOO-jin-Kahn) Dojo is the collective name for the nine remaining systems of the authentic Ninja. They only take students 18 and up. Does this mean they are a more difficult style to learn or is this an art for adults only?

10. http://www.texaskungfu.com/

Kung-Fu close to home.

11. http://www.swshaolin.com/

Kung-Fu across town, still no Wing Chun>?

12. http://www.austinjj.com/

Gracie jj here in Austin, way on the other side of town, but it is a Gracie school so I want to check it out. They offer cross training.

13. http://www.kimsoo-austin.com/

Many different styles! Way across town.

14. http://www.austinkenpokarate.com/
    http://www.kenpo-texas.com/index1.html

I don’t think I want to take Karate, but the first school cross trains in Kung Fu and I wanted to give the Karate experts a chance to give their two cents.

15. http://www.sijo.org/index.htm

Not sure about this, wanted to see if anyone has heard of this guy.

16. http://www.eastwindtraininghall.com/index.html

Kung Fu, Mantis, sounds interesting. Works perfect with my work schedule.

17. http://appliedkungfu.com/brice/my3.nsf/allbytitle/Home%20Page?OpenDocument

Not sure about this one, any advice is appreciated.

Well that’s the list. Now I want to narrow it down, start observing classes and get started. I left off several TKD,ATA, Karate schools so anyone that has any info on schools other than what I have listed feel free to chime in. I am mainly interested in Kung Fu, so please feel free to offer any advice on how to get started, and what to look for.

I am trying to be as open minded about this as I can possibly be.

I am looking forward to all of your comments,suggestions and advice.
Best Regards,
Jon

Bro, you’re in Austin. Go train with John Wang’s guys.

http://www.austinkungfuacademy.com

That’s my school, feel free to get in touch!

My recommendation is to get a foundation first before thinking about crosstraining. You should learn the proper body mechanics of how to maximize your body’s power in the most efficient way, and develop a really solid structural balance.

The people who I find are the most skilled martial athletes are the ones who’ve developed a really strong foundation in an art, and then expand after that.

If you’re going to the West Coast eventually, you could train with my master (Tat Mau Wong, http://www.tatwong.com ), who regularly trains full contact fighters.

??? Which school?

I will check them out tomorrow. Thanks.

How does Choy Lay Fut differ from Wing Chun? Cliff note response is fine, I am sure its’ on the site somewhere.

What Water Dragon said.

www.combatshuaichiao.com

Wing Tsun is Wing Chun; it is sometimes called “WT Wing Chun” also. There are different Wing Chun masters and Master Leung Ting spells his art “Wing Tsun” to differentiate it from other teachers. Several years ago his senior student in the US (Sifu Emin Boztepe) split off and started his own school, giving his Wing Chun the name “Wing Tzun” to set himself apart also. I believe he has a school in Austin, a quick web search turned up this: http://www.awtk.us/

I no longer train Wing Chun (I train the internal arts now), but in the past I attended seminars with both Grandmaster Leung Ting and Sifu Emin Boztepe, and they are both very good. I would check out both WT schools and see which group you feel more comfortable with.

Btw, Boztepe has been discussed before on this forum, here is an old thread if you want to read more about the politics: http://forum.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?t=38077

Oh, and one last thing: there used to be a guy in Austin named Ray Parra who taught Jeet Kune Do, I studied with him very briefly, before I moved. If he’s still around, check him out.

Here’s a much more extensive list:

http://www.txmma.com/modules.php?name=Web_Links&l_op=viewlink&cid=7

I’m leary of muay thai taught at mma gyms (bad experience), unless it’s a separate program with a separate instructor.

My own advice is to join a boxing gym (they tend to be real cheap) and then take one day a week to take a free class at as many different spots as is convenient so you can make an educated decision.

If you want the UFC thing go with BJJ, Boxing and Muay Thai…Boring

I’d stay away from any school that teaching more that 2 styles unless they have separate instructors for each art.

I’d also stay away from any Korean art, I just have a bad taste for them.

Krav Maga is not really used for ring sport. Neither is wing chun. Both are good arts though. Their are no quick fixes in the Martial arts so learning quick may get you started but you have to keep training for the rest of your life to maintain your skill.

If you want kung fu, and you do realize you are on a kung fu Site?

I’d go with one of these

www.combatshuaichiao.com Shuai chiao
Mostly a throwing art, getting your opponent off their feet and hitting him with the ground.
http://www.austinkungfuacademy.comhttp:// Choy li fut and Tai chi
Choy li fut has a huge curriculum with 100’s of forms, using sweeping punches to generate extra power through centrifugal force.
www.eastwindtraininghall.com/index.html Northern shaolin tiger
UNK family style, teaches the 7 animal styles of Northern style kung fu. Tiger, crane, leopard, snake, dragon, mantis, monkey. My dad was a junior student to with this instructor, and my dad has good kung fu so…
http://usakfa.com/main_sub.html Mantis

Out of time, GTG.

Very true about the extra power generation. Our particular lineage doesn’t have hundreds of forms, actually. In fact, the first year of our training is spent a lot more on developing a foundation of power generation, footwork, position accuracy/reflexes, and joint locking, with very very minimal emphasis on learning forms.

My personal opinion is that people need to be mentally ready to take on Choy Lay Fut forms (or full contact sparring for that matter), so I don’t expose the forms world to beginner right away, as it is usually daunting, and the source of attrition (so is sparring too hard too soon). I give our combat vocabulary first as a foundation. Then later on, we move more towards the route of forms and full contact sparring.

-123

I have always been intrigued by this school, I think they used to be here in San Antonio but then moved up to Austin. I wish I had studied with them before they moved…

Avoid the Sd school in Austin

You will learn a whole lot of nothing.

I’d go on the John Wang reccomendation. Met him once a long time ago, very solid, decent teacher. As for UFC stuff? dont waste your time with all that. You will make more money in real estate than you will in UFC. (your face will look better as well;)

                                                                               As Always,TWS

chud,

I know for a fact that It was in San Antonio at one point, Before Sifu Don took over the school. Back then “Master” Li (Don’s instructor) was teaching, who I’ve always known as “Fred”. When I was born in 80 my father, mother, and sister where in the class. What happened after that I don’t know.

yutyeesam,

That sounds like a good approach. How many forms are in your lineage? I’ve always thought of choy li fut as having the largest curriculum next to shaolin-do :rolleyes:

Thanks for all of the responses.

www.eastwindtraininghall.com/index.html Northern

This works perfectly with my work schedule.

http://www.awtk.us/
I would love to check this out, but it will not work with my schedule at all.

http://www.austinkungfuacademy.com
Sounds good, not sure if it will work with my schedule just yet.

http://www.usakfa.com/main_sub.html?src=overture
Sounds good, but it is 100 per month and I can only go one day per week because my hours are 10-7 and Thursday-Friday are my days off. Very few schools teach on Friday in Austin.

Thanks for all of the help, keep it coming.

I like the UFC, but I am 35 and not in the best shape so I do not want to be a pro fighter. SD you mean Shaolin Do Kung Fu? I have been seeking advice on many different forums and it seems everyone has something negative to say about them so I have stayed away. They say they are Kung-Fu but it looks like Karate classes? I have however been referred to this guy…

http://www.austinkenpokarate.com/

This says it is a mix of Chinese Karate??? A teacher at another Kenpo school recommended him to me because I can go 2-3 days per week because he offers classes on my days off, which is proving to be the most difficult thing for me to find. 90% of schools in Austin are closed on Friday. The guy who referred me has no business affiliation with him at all. Anyone have any thoughts on Chinese Karate?

http://www.austinwt.com/index.php

This one works very well with my schedule and is a Wing Tsun school. I am meeting with them Friday. I am going to visit at least 5 or 6 schools before I decide.

Chud, I have a little class going on now. It’s a mix of Boxing, Muay Thai, and CMA. Come by and check us out. I have one guy who’s almost ready to start sparring, one who will be on the pads for a couple more months, and a female who’s working out to get in shape. She probably will never spar. I also have about 5 “I’ll come by’s”, but you know how that goes.

We’re training outside right now, because we don’t have a spot, but it’s free training, and we have most of the euipment we need. Come check us out, see if you like what we’re doing.

Check out a boxing gym, a BJJ school, and some Muay Thai too. I still strongly reccomend the Shuai Chiao, and the current instructor there, Paul Gerald has a Wing Chun background.

Define your goals, write them down, do not mention style, and go check out a lot of places and see who will fulfill those goals. Learn whatever it is that they are teaching. That’s the best advice I can give you.

Austin

jstreet

I’ve heard good things about Kim Soo. The training is fairly tough and street oriented according to some people who knew him when he taught in Beaumont.

Watch out for anyone who thinks their style is superior or complete. No style is.

Any good martial artist has probably done some cross training and incorporated it into something that feels safe to them. So if an instructor cross trains then he’ll likely have resources beyond his own art and will be understanding if you want to explore other arts.

This might be worth a look

http://www.enshin-karate-texas.com/

You could also email the webmasters of these sites and ask for advice. These guys are all proven in old school blood-n-guts tournaments.

http://www.jackhwang.com

http://www.roninjutsu.com/

http://www.joelewisfightingsystems.com/

For more classic Kung Fu I’d ask Tye Botting. I don’t know him personally. I met another student of Mr Wang and Mr Cheng and he spoke highly of Mr Botting.

http://www.kungfu.cc/phpBB2/index.php

Also I’ve heard good things about Mr Canna and Mr Mattson here. They might offer some advice.

http://forums.uechi-ryu.com/index.php

And of course you probably can’t go wrong with a Gracie or Machado school.

Boy, Willow Sword you have to be one of the most Bitter people and unforgiving that I have ever met. I am not trying to demean you but get over it KC:confused: