Adam S

Hi, As I understand it, the club is now training on a Thursday at All Saints. Sessions kick off around 18.45. The next lesson is on the 7th June.

How soon can you bung them off to a convent? It's that soon.

Hi John, There's a BJJ class on before karate at the 393 club. I was thinking of popping along some time when things have calmed down with the nipper, if you fancy it.

Hey - you rejigged the poll, that was very kind indeed! I voted for Karate. Sorry to put you to all the trouble just for my paultry vote :-)

Well, yes - someone who trains in a more pragmatic fighting style is bound to win anyone who trains a more esoteric art, that's just the way things are. While it's fun to perform katas and explore the "hidden secrets" that may or may not exist, I don't think it's a substitution to ring experience. But it totally depends on what your reason for training is, after all. Not every body wants to jump in a ring and compete.

Hey John, Sorry I missed it, it sounds like you had a good lesson. Give us a little more notice next time and I'll see if we can get all of the Steel City club over for the night.

This sounds rather ominous, John. Is it a good thing or a bad thing?!

I'm not quite sure where this thread is going, but I thought I'd throw in my bit just to muddy the waters further. I've always taken the "purist" view on my training, and limited my training solely to Shotokan. There's obviously limitations to the system and I'd love to dabble in a few different styles - for fun and interest's sake, if nothing else. I totally support the idea of fostering closer working links between the different martial arts clubs in Sheffield - I'm sure we all have ideas to share and we'd all benefit from "cross-pollination". The main problem, as Cyclone says, is finding time for it all. I know there was a post a few months ago regarding a mixed martial art seminar. Did anything come of this idea?

You're nothing if not honest. I just hope most of the public see your buLLasheet-do for what it is.

Quite, quite shameless. Do you have any more information or could you point me in the direction of a website with more details (I couldn't find any when I searched, I'm afraid). For example, what time is the kick-off, and is there any charge for spectators?

Where is the competition being held? Is it local?

Hi John, This looks good - do you have any more details? I guess I'd have to be a member of the association to come along though, right?

Sounds like you've got a good, well equipped place to train there - good luck with it all!

Hi Rachel - are you interested in starting as a beginner, or have you trained anywhere before?

John runs a club at All Saint's School on a Wednesday and trains with us on a Monday. More details on John's club can be found on the following thread: http://www.sheffieldforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=88686 I'll drop him a line too, Farhad, and pass on your message

Shotokan karate in Hillsborough - Steel City Shotokan 393 club in Hillsborough on a Monday 8 - 9.30 pm Wadsley Methodist Church (Worral / Wadsley) on a Wednesday 7 - 8.30 pm We've been established for over 20 years or so, if you'd like any more info send an e-mail to: [email protected] or check out http://www.steelcityshotokan.co.uk We're a (fairly) small and friendly club. My best advice before choosing a school would be to visit a few, check out the training, instruction and students and see which you're most comfortable with. Good luck!

There's some cracking videos out there - both decent and terrible. One of my favourites is this one, all about the awesome power of chi... http://www.roxburytaichiacademy.com/video/Kenetic%20bb.wmv EDIT: Those videos are ace, by the way!

I think we're probably better waiting until everyone's recovered from their current spate of injuries. People were dropping like flies on Monday! How are the Wednesday classes going, John? Have you had much interest from beginners?

Body active are very good. They are right at the bottom of the moor, just up from the Manpower building. They sell quite a large range of kit.

Now that sounds like a damn fine proposition. I'll have a word with the guys on Monday and see if they are up for it. We do #1 and #2 as part of the regular training regime, but never really gone in for #3. A little mixed training would be good for us, I think. I have Farhad's e-mail address; I'll drop him a line.

Now that's given me a great idea for John's training at our Monday night sessions... Fantastic!

I think that's the best advice. Shop around, try out a few different clubs and styles until you find a place where you're comfortable and happy with the tuition. Good luck in your search!

John has trained with my karate class at some of our lessons and I can highly recommend him as an excellent karate practicioner and a very good teacher. If you're around central and south Sheffield, and you're interested in taking up Shotokan karate this club would be the perfect place to go. Alternatively, if you're from the Hillsborough end of town and are interested in taking up Karate you may want pop along to our club (http://www.steelcityshotokan.co.uk). Best of luck, John, I hope it goes well.

If you quit... they kill you

They have a few clubs that I know of. There's one in Stocksbridge and another in Hillsborough. I imagine, with their aggressive marketing and sales technique, that there's other clubs springing up around the place. I met a couple of their assistant instructors once when they were doing their sales rounds - basically door to door sales. The instructor jobs are advertised and the lads I spoke to were promised salaries of £20k when they started their own clubs. I don't really see how it's sustainable but the guys seemed to be happy enough. And, while I have no idea of the standards of teaching, it would be a shame if this kind of practice pulls down the name of other martial arts as a whole. There's plenty of info on these two sites if you're interested. http://www.gkrkarate.com/ http://www.gkrkarate.org/index.html