store front schools ep. 2

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:

store front schools ep. 1

Asian Martial arts instruction in America was largely incubated in two varities 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!

review: ying jow pai demonstration.

This Chinese New Year’s I skipped out on the Chinatown parades and instead headed to The Fighthouse on West 27th Street. Resident school Ying Jow Pai (Eagle Claw Fist) was holding it’s annual New Year’s Celebration and Kung-Fu Demonstration. Featuring primarily forms, the school demonstrated the range or their techniques as well as showing some Yang style Tai Chi, Brazilian Jiujitsu from fellow Fighthouse residents and demonstrations from the Brooklyn Chapter of the Hung Sing Choy Lee Fut school.

kung-fu college?

What martial arts enthusiast hasn’t dreamed of studying their art full time? It is a popular fantasy and one that many indulge for limited periods with intensive studies in Asia. I am now living in Cambodia and recently spoke with a Texan who is living in a Bokator school, practicing 8-10 hours a day. When he goes home in a couple weeks he will have been here for 8 months and received the equivalent of a black belt. Well, for those of you uninterested in racking up skymiles, there’s a new option, I present to you the University of Bridgeport’s BA in Martial Arts Studies.

a yoga retreat

I just went on a weekend yoga retreat that was quite interesting. There are a number of online resources out there on yoga retreats- reviews, how to pick the right one, what to expect, etc. so this entry will instead be a little something about my personal experience.