Martial Arts Schools: Lakewood

[Phil Florian]

Hey there!

Lakewood has a fair number of martial arts programs ranging from the informal classes offered through Lakewood Rec to full on schools that teach a variety of styles. I gather this from seeing ads and checking out store fronts. What is less obvious is what kind of schools they are on the inside and I was looking for some insight of residents who have attended classes and some feedback on the types of teaching going on.

I am helping a gent to find a school that would be a good match for him. I am not totally sure what that match is right now but knowing something about the local folks (which I fully intend to meet through this process) would be a good place to start.

Stuff I am interested is looking at are they more into self-defense or fitness or total well-being of mind and body. Is there a good historical connection to the style or is it a mishmash of stuff from a variety of styles. Do these teachers prefer young students entering the field or do they work well with all ages? Is it a more traditional environment or relaxed and gym-like?

Your input is greatly appreciated!

Take care,

Phil

[Joe Sgambellone]

Hi Phil,

I study Aikido and Taihojutsu at the Lakewood Y (beginning class Wednesday @ 8pm). Our class is mostly beginners (< 1yr experience) with a few old-timers like me. Our instructor has been teaching for more than 10 years. He has rank in 5 arts (aikido, judo, kendo, iaido, ninjutsu). On top of all that, he's a very nice guy! He really breaks down the technique, which is particularly helpful in these arts. He studied under the long-time main instructor for the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Force (Taihojutsu) and a six-dan instructor (Aikido).

Aikido and Taihojutsu both rely on the momentum of the attacker and leverage to execute technique. Strength is not a large factor in these arts, it's position, balance, etc. They use throws (think of judo) and joint locks to achieve submission of an attacker. Both also use weapons as part of practice, while Taihojutsu uses some protective gear for 'free' practice. Since they are Japanese martial arts, punching and kicking are not a large part of the curriculum.

Practice consists of an attacker and someone who takes the attack and turns it back on the attacker. Since we throw each other, learning to roll and fall is also practiced. This is a great core strengthener!

Finally, the class also touches on philosophical issues - a main point being conflict resolution. By giving each other a taste of the technique (since we practice in pairs), we all understand how these techniques could really cause pain. This helps me be more empathetic. While it's not a self-defense class per se, we are prepared for self-defense.

I have plenty more detail to share about class, but I think it's important that your friend check out a few dojos and see what s/he is interested in.

Finally, the class has been at the Lakewood Y for more than 10 years (old Y, interim Y, and now, the new Y). It's also a pretty cheap option, I think, but I haven't been dojo-shopping in a while.

Hope this helps. Let me know if you have any questions.

Joe

[Joe Sgambellone]

In my zeal to answer your question, I don't think I answered it at all. Here are more specific answers to your questions.

>are they more into self-defense or fitness or total well-being
It's a mix of these attributes. It's more traditional martial arts, including all of these things. It takes a while to become good enough to use in a self-defense situation (but it definitely works), there is a fitness component for falling and rolling focused on core strength, and we talk about / work on harnessing our 'ki'.

>Is there a good historical connection to the style or is it a mishmash of stuff
For Aikido, I know what we're learning is true to form as I've been to many seminars, etc. - including classes in Japan - and was pleased to find it all quite familiar. Taihojutsu is a mix of arts, but since it was created for the Japanese Police force, I think it's quite effective. While I'm not aware of any other Taihojutsu classes in the US, I've been to / seen Judo and Kendo classes (which Taihojutsu draws from heavily) and again, this was all familiar for me.

>Do these teachers prefer young students entering the field or all ages?
Our class is an adult class. We do have one child student, but otherwise, we're all adults.

>Is it a more traditional environment or relaxed and gym-like?
These are traditional arts, but we're not trying to transplant Japanese culture into class. We are attentive to what we're doing and there isn't much down time like there might be in a gym. There is no pressure to buy things (like patches, etc.). Most of our beginning students don't have uniforms - as people progress, it gets easier to train with a uniform, but that's totally up to the student. No pressure.

Cheers,

Joe

[Phil Florian]

This is fantastic information! Well put. I really appreciate it. Can I or my guy chat with the teacher prior to class? Is he accessible in this way? I know at a typical dojo this is possible but when using a room at the Y, it might be tighter. Just curious.

Thanks!

Phil

[Heather Ramsey]

Hopefully people who've been places other than the Y will share, too, but I take taekwondo there and figured I'd share. My class just started a few sessions ago at the new Y; I think this is maybe the 4th session.

The answers to your questions are similar to the other response - we work on self-defense in each class, but also focus on well-being. It's pretty relaxed, but we are encouraged to wear the traditional uniform and we bow in at each class, etc. The class is pretty diverse - there are a few of us who started when the class started here a few months back, but also a few black belts and others and even a few who've just started this session. It's mostly adults, but there are a few youngsters, also. Though I imagine it's hard to teach such a varied class, the instructor usually does a good job of making sure we are all able to participate regardless of our experience (or lack thereof).

Our class is Monday nights at 8:15; there's another martial arts class (that I think is the advanced version of what Joe was talking about) at the same time in the room next door, so I imagine if you came by at 8ish you could possibly talk to them both.

I'm interested to see if anyone describes any of the other places around here, as I'm rather curious myself!

[Joe Sgambellone]

Our class is Monday nights at 8:15; there's another martial arts class (that I think is the advanced version of what Joe was talking about) at the same time in the room next door, so I imagine if you came by at 8ish you could possibly talk to them both.

Hi Heather. Yes - That's right. The advanced class meets on Monday. Meeting both instructors and watching some of the classes then would be an excellent idea.

The Y staff are very accommodating for people who want to watch. It wouldn't be the first time. If you know when you want to come, then I can leave word at the front desk to expect you, if that would make you feel more comfortable.

Joe

[Phil Florian]

Hey!

Thanks again for the info. ONe thing I failed to ask is if these classes are in set time periods or is it rolling timeframes so anyone can join at any time? Just curious. Is there any way to get a hold of the instructor outside of those timeframes that he is at the Y? Does he have a website, e-mail or something along those lines for a chat during the day?

Thanks a bunch!

Phil

[Heather Ramsey]

Hey!

One thing I failed to ask is if these classes are in set time periods or is it rolling timeframes so anyone can join at any time? Just curious. Is there any way to get a hold of the instructor outside of those timeframes that he is at the Y? Does he have a website, e-mail or something along those lines for a chat during the day?

Thanks a bunch!

Phil

Not sure which of us you were asking (if either in particular), but, technically the Y has sessions that start at certain times (every 6 weeks, or so?? I can never remember), but the instructor would let you come before the start of the next session if you were interested, I'm sure.

I don't know any of his contact info, but you could possibly get it through the Y itself, or, if it was my class you were interested in, I can ask next week.

[Phil Florian]

Hey!

One thing I failed to ask is if these classes are in set time periods or is it rolling timeframes so anyone can join at any time? Just curious. Is there any way to get a hold of the instructor outside of those timeframes that he is at the Y? Does he have a website, e-mail or something along those lines for a chat during the day?

Thanks a bunch!

Phil

Not sure which of us you were asking (if either in particular), but, technically the Y has sessions that start at certain times (every 6 weeks, or so?? I can never remember), but the instructor would let you come before the start of the next session if you were interested, I'm sure.

I don't know any of his contact info, but you could possibly get it through the Y itself, or, if it was my class you were interested in, I can ask next week.

I was asking in general, so thanks! I will stop by the Y today and pick up what they have on this.

Thanks!

Phil

[Joe Sgambellone]

I also understand there will be a Chinese martial arts group starting as well at the Y, so there should be plenty of very different arts to choose from (Japanese, Korean, and Chinese).

Cheers -

Joe

[Joe Sgambellone]

Phil - if your friend is interested, our class is having an open mat night on August 20th, 8:15 - 9:15 at the Y. I posted some details in the announcements section.

Joe

[Stephen Eisel]

Phil, I try to find some one in the area who is teaching Russian Sambo.

[Joe Sgambellone]

Phil, I try to find some one in the area who is teaching Russian Sambo.

Hi Stephen - what is Sambo? Is it something you've studied?

[Joe Sgambellone]

Phil, I try to find some one in the area who is teaching Russian Sambo.

Ahhh, the internet. Information at my fingertips.

Stephen - I looked up Russian Sambo and it looks like it incorporates many of the same elements we study.

As I mentioned earlier in this thread, our class also studies Judo, Aikido, Weapons (kendo), grappling, submission, choke holds, etc. If you can't find the class you're looking for and still want to study the same arts for an all-around good martial education, our class is available.

Cheers -
Joe

[Stephen Eisel]

Hey Joe... It looks like Cleveland no longer has Russian Sambo school. I studied Russian Sambo many moons ago and loved it... It was a bit more aggressive than Brazilian Jiu Jitsu... and yes it incorporated everything from low kicks to leg locks.