Asian Martial arts instruction in America was largely incubated in two varieties of places: YMCAs and other such community centers where teachers- often US servicemen returned from parts East- taught classes; and in private spaces. As martial arts grew in popularity and more Asian teachers became willing to teach non-Asians, the dedicated martial arts school proliferated. Now days I would guess the majority of martial arts schools are storefronts in strip malls. Images of pre-fabricated TaeKwonDo schools sandwiched by a discount clothing store and a restaurant, off a local highway aren't the most romantic. However, in between these timeframes there was a boon period for storefront schools, often with lurid or extravagant appearances. In many cities, particularly those with older and/or disinvested neighborhoods, the curious eye can still find some interesting examples of such relics of martial arts yesteryear. Then again, some of them are still open and teaching. Go inside!
For this installment of store front schools, I bring you a video I found over at DojoRat. It is a short documentary called Southside Warriors about the Tornado School of Martial Arts in Detroit, MI. The all black school is run by Gregory Jaco, a former Army Ranger and community activist. He is in ill health and apparently approaching death. In spending time with Jaco and his school we receive an intimate portrait of a bygone way of doing things in the martial arts world.
DojoRat's original post has some fascinating background on the film, I hope you enjoy:
