Thanks to Lisa’s photography work, I have some cool pictures from yesterday’s Karate Promotional.

Check them out here - http://www.flickr.com/photos/parabuzzle/sets/72157605120323408/

Today was my first Karate test and I passed! Yay! Now I am donning the yellow around my waist and next week I start sparring. I’d love to talk more about it but I am off to a party right now. Pictures coming soon.

Well, now that I have been practicing Wado Ki Kai Karate for the past couple of weeks I must say I was completely wrong about it. This style of Karate is not a mutt! The Wado Ki Kai style of Karate is very traditional and I would recommend it to everyone! Aside from the blister I currently have on my right big toe from practicing kaisu (turn around move), I am loving every minute of it. This is a style that is bursting with tradition. My misunderstanding is based off of the fact that Shotokan is a traditional Japanese art and Wado Ki Kai is based out of Okinawa (an island off the coast of Japan). Most people know that Karate was invented in Okinawa and then brought to Japan later by Master Funakoshi as Shotokan.

Bottom line… Wado Ki Kai is awesome!

Technorati Tags: Wado Ki Kai, Martial Arts

So I have made my decision about what gym I am going to join. The Bladium outweighs the YMCA almost two to one. My final deciding factors boiled down to two things.

First, I spoke to a few friends that are black belts in multiple martial arts styles. They all told me that going from one style of karate to another is easier than going from one art to the other. I assumed it would be harder because of being “set in your ways” so to speak.

Second, and more importantly, pay attention business owners… Customer service and staff attitude! The staff at the Downtown Berkeley YMCA were all generally unhelpful. I called there and spoke to three different people through the coarse of a week and they all didn’t care about keeping me or losing me. I would say that the staff at the YMCA had the same attitude as the staff at the Local Wal-Mart - Hate their jobs, hate their customers, and hate their managers. So Screw you YMCA! I don’t need you!

On the other hand, The Bladium’s staff were all more than helpful. Dave Gonzalez is an awesome guy. He helped me get setup as a guest member to try the place out and hooked me up with my membership. By far, the best guy there so far, is Charles. Charles works at the rock wall. He teaches and certifies belaying and he stayed late TWICE for Lisa and me! He was there a half an hour after he was supposed to get out of there to certify us. I would like to see anyone at the YMCA have that kind of dedication to their members. Hell, I wasn’t even a paying member yet! Plus, he is genuinely nice and happy. So, I say it again, SCREW YOU YMCA!

To some people Shotokan and Wado Ki Kai are recognizable but to most it just looks like random letters that are possibly asian and possibly just made up. To the majority of you that don’t know, here is an explanation..

They are both Karate styles, so yes they are Japanese words.

Shotokan is the ancient original karate style that has been around since the 1600’s and is what you see in Karate Kid and other karate movies.

Wado Ki Kai is a form of karate that was brought here in the 1970’s and translates to “To learn from all things”. This karate style utilizes the punches and power of Shotokan style with the more powerful kicking of Tae Kwon Doe. There are also elements of Jujitsu mixed in. This style is a mutt but more complete and rounded (in my humble opinion).

The Dilemma:
I want to take karate training, that part is for sure, but I have a problem of choice. I really would like to take the Shotokan karate but there are some serious factors to consider.

Wado Ki Kai is hosted very near to where I live in the Bladium sports complex. My membership would cost $90 a month for full access to the complex, this includes a rock wall and full gym. It is a short drive.

Shotokan is hosted at the Berkeley YMCA. It takes 45 minutes, in traffic, to get there and the membership dues are $112 a month. There is a pool but no rock wall and I probably wouldn’t use the gym as much because parking is a pain as well.

I would much rather study the traditional style of Shotokan than the mutt Wado Ki Kai but I am kind of leaning towards the Bladium because of the ease and rock gym. AH! I can’t decide!

Links:
http://www.wadokikai.com/ - Wado Ki Kai website
http://berkeleyska.org/ - Berkeley Shotokan website
http://www.ska.org/ - Shotokan of America website
www.bladium.com/ - Bladium website
www.baymca.com - YMCA website