More Updates

• Internal Arts 101
• Resurgent Fitness - capoeira and Muay Thai in Brooklyn
• EBMAS NYC new info for Manhattan
• Brooklyn WingTsun new web link
• Empty Cup Goju-ryu Karate
• Dragon Rullan Goju Do Karate removed by request
• New Amerikick location in Brooklyn
• Adel International Karate Center on Long Island new address and website
• DiTan WuShu SanDa Guan in Queens new address
• SUS SELF DEFENSE Mixed Martial Arts
• Masakatsukan Dojo new listing in Queens

School owners keep telling me that new people are sent their way from this website. That's great!

A Glowing Endorsement for Five Points Academy

I received this email and thought I should share it. The author would prefer to remain anonymous.

Just so everyone knows, the listings are not ranked in any way shape or form. All schools are listed alphabetically within their particular borough and style. Just so there's less confusion, I'm gradually switching all the lists to bullet points rather than numbers.

Martial Arts NY,

I just wanted to let you know I appreciate the list you provide of gyms. The category separation by borough and martial art are especially helpful.

I used your list a couple months ago to choose a muay thai/kickboxing gym in Manhattan and naturally chose the first one to try out. I’m not sure what determines the rankings but after my trial class, I was not impressed. (If you want further information on why, I can provide that upon request.) Anyway, I went back to your list to try a different gym and of the 6 remaining, I picked by location and schedule and ended up trying out a class at Five Points, even though I originally wanted to do american kickboxing and not muay thai. Immediately after my trial class at Five Points, I bought a membership.

Aside from my membership, I’m NOT affiliated with the gym but from the standpoint of someone who used your site to find the gym in the first place, I definitely think it should be moved to first on the list. Compared to the other gyms on the list, Five Points offers several muay thai classes everyday (including weekends) by many different instructors. They also offer a variety of other martial arts (kali, judo), fitness classes (kettle bell, yoga, and more), and an actual gym with workout equipment. The difference between my experiences at Five Points compared to ******** was almost shocking-- so as someone who used your website, I definitely think Five Points deserves to be on top of that list (and probably added to the sections on your website for the other martial arts they offer). Since it is not a direct competitor because it is American kickboxing, I think ******** should be moved further down in the list with the other non-Muay Thai gyms.

I don’t want my name or anything attached to any blogs/postings about the school, I just wanted to bring this to your attention to help out the next person who uses your site to find a muay thai/kickboxing gym in Manhattan. No one from Five Points has asked me to write about this and I’d prefer to stay anonymous. I’ve been doing martial arts for many years and have been to many gyms so I know how big of a commitment it is to choose one. I hope this review will help.

Thanks,
(name)

Here's a video I found on youtube about Five Points:

(Almost) All the Updates

• Norman Seto removed by request from JKD list
  
• Added Ki Aikido Federation of New York in Manhattan
  
• Updated Five Points Academy info - new address, kali and judo classes
  
• Born 2 Win Karate in Queens
  
• Pak Mei White Eyebrow Kung Fu has a new address
  
• Fighting Dragons changed their name to Long Island Combat Hapkido and Taekwondo
  
• New York San Da updated address
  

More updates to come...

Get Your Fresh New Listings Here

In Manhattan we have some new kung fu schools: Manhattan Shaolin Kung Fu Center, New York Kung Fu & Kickboxing, Coach-Y Wushu. Also there's NY Kenshinkai Kendo Dojo.

In Brooklyn we have Lotus Club Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, and in Queens there's 5 Borough Fight House. Long Island brings us the delicious Bear Claw Martial Arts as well as Evolution Combat Club.

Also some corrections: North East Martial Arts Training Academy is now at 3155 Bruckner Boulevard in the Bronx and Amerikick Brooklyn has a new website.

Curious Case of Touhkondo Martial Arts Dojo

With regret I must announce the de-listing of Touhkondo Martial Arts Dojo. They never listed an address or telephone number, only an email address, and now a reader has brought to my attention the fact that the email address is no longer working. They do have a beautiful website that someone spent a lot of time on, so take a look.

The 52 Blocks

Lyte Burly demonstrating the skull and crossbones block

Interesting video article today on NYTimes.com about "the 52 blocks". They profile Lyte Burly of the East Village (see his youtube videos here) and Daniel Marks. Marks' website has this to say about the history of the 52:

52 Blocks, the only existing martial arts form originating from the United States, originates from Caribbean and Southern US (Gullah island) warrior traditions. Similar to its Brazilian counterpart, Capoeira, the fighting style was initially suppressed during slavery because white slaveowners feared potential rebellions of disenfranchised African-Americans. After Reconstruction, the art form followed the African-American migration Northeast and into the margins of large urban centers. Urban prisons, because of their ethnic breakdown as well as their social code, actually provided a more fertile ground for the art to expand, especially in allowing novices to dedicate themselves to ongoing training intensively. It was within the prison system that 52 evolved, fusing with urban dance and boxing tactics.

Apparently Rashad Evans is familiar with the 52 as well! Here's a video clip of Rashad talking about his fighting influences.

 

Kickboxing Smoker on Saturday, June 13th

From David Ross of NY Sanda -

I've decided that in the interests of keeping everyone in the region active and building the community I will use the gym to hold a "smoker" event on Saturday, June 13th.

• ONLY KICKBOXING STYLES (Mauy Thai, San Da, International, American)
• ONLY AMATEURS
• FULL EQUIPMENT (head gear, shin pads, etc)

"Smokers" - 3 rounds with no decision. You may be able to fight more than once (ie if there are 4 people at 146.9 you can fight twice).

Since I will be insuring the event and have medical staff present, I am asking that everyone pay $10 towards the costs. That's $10 to fight at least once, upwards of three times. Spectators will also be $10.

Register at http://www.kingofsanda.net/
If that link is not working, try http://www.angelfire.com/sd2/kingofsanda/

Let's keep our students active and build our community ties!

David A Ross
New York San Da
www.NYSanDa.com
(212) 239 8619

Listing Updates!

Hey, it's been awhile. Thanks everyone for your patience. I do read all your emails, and I do get to them all eventually. It's great getting feedback. Here are some comments:

"We get a consistent flow of referrals from our listing on your site. I would like to first thank you for that and for maintaining a great site dedicated to martial arts in our fine city."

"Congratulations for the excellent site!"

"Thanks alot and great site!"

Here are the updates and new schools:

• Yip Man Wing Chun Kung Fu Academy in Queens.
  
• Touhkondo Martial Arts Dojo in Manhattan.
  
• SI Karate, Amerikick Martial Arts and the Staten Island Ninja Society in Staten Island.
  
• Peter Speciale's High Kick Tae Kwon Do in Long Island
  
• Power of Self Goju in Manhattan.
  
• New York Traditional Shotokan Karate School in Brooklyn.
  
• Dazzling Hands Chinese Kung Fu in Manhattan.
  
• Arte Capoeira School in Manhattan.
  
• Sirat Al Sayf MMA Street Survival Combatives in Queens.
  
• Staten Island Judo Jujitsu in, yes, Staten Island.
  
• Choy Lay Fut Kung Fu in Brooklyn.
  
• Camp Undefeated does MMA and BJJ and Muay Thai with a full-size octagon in Manhattan.
  

The Latest Updates

Brooklyn: Martinez-Kai Karate Dojo

Bronx: Lion's Roar Muay Thai Camp (so far our only Muay Thai listing in the Bronx!), PBKA Dojo

Manhattan: Fu & Sun Tai Chi, Randori Shikengata Dojo

Staten Island: The Staten Island Ninja Society

Long Island: Genbukan Gorinkai Dojo

5th Annual MMA Training Camp January 16-18 in Manhattan

Who is the camp for?
This camp is for anyone that is looking to challenge themselves. You don’t have to be a fighter to benefit from this camp. Men and women, from any style or system, even those with NO TRAINING, are welcome to attend. This is a unique opportunity to learn new techniques, new training methods and new fighting strategies.

What is the camp schedule?
Scheduled Line Up / Subject to change

Session One: Friday 6 pm to 8 pm
George Pardos (OSU wrestling/Hammer House)

Session Two: Friday 8 pm to 10 pm
Carmine Zocchi (Brazilian Jiu Jitsu)

Session Three: Saturday 9 am to 12 noon
Jeremy Bellrose (Vision Quest Muay Thai)
David A Ross (NY San Da)

Session Four: Saturday 2 pm to 5 pm
Ian Morgan (NY San Da)
George Pardos (OSU wrestling/Hammer House)

Session Five: Sunday 9 am to 12 noon
Jeremy Bellrose (Vision Quest Muay Thai)

Session Six: Sunday 2 pm to 4 pm
David A Ross (NY San Da)

Where is the camp located?
The camp is held at New York San Da at 313 W 37th Street in midtown Manhattan, New York. We are conveniently located just three blocks from Penn Station and 5 blocks from Port Authority.

What do I need to bring?
Please bring your normal work-out-gear (shorts, shirt, etc) and basic protective equipment including boxing gloves, shin guards, a groin cup and a mouth piece If there's anything you are missing, we have a Pro Shop on location.

Where do I stay?
We are very close to at least five different hotels, ranging from luxury to very modest but clean and comfortable. We will announce more detailed arrangements prior to the seminar. PLEASE NOTE: NYC hotels book up quickly, make your reservations in advance!

Pre-registration: $179 (3 days)
Pre-registration (one day only): $79
After December 12th:
THREE DAYS $199
ONE DAY ONLY $99
Register online at www.SanDa-MMA.com
or call 212-239-8619

TSK and MAAUSA

Two acronymerrific martial arts schools join the pages today: TSK in Manhattan and MAAUSA in Hicksville. TSK seems to have changed from Tiger Schulmann's Karate to Tiger Schulmann's Mixed Martial Arts, so I'm not sure why they still have a K at the end. Maybe it's like KFC and Fedex - the shortened version became the brand.

Free Practice Dummy for Women

Take a look at this craigslist ad.

Hi/my name is Dal Keith/I offer free of charge services to any woman in martial arts who need a male subject to practice their moves on/I would be wearing head gear and padding /It is a great confidence builder and the woman who have done this with me in the past love it and think its a great idea as they are reassured how vunerable a man can be and how effective their strikes are/I started this as a way to help woman prevent being raped as my wife was raped 7 years ago/spread the news and my tel is 1(917)972-1270

NYC Wing Chun Work Group

The newest addition to the Manhattan Wing Chun directory:

NYC Wing Chun Work Group
http://www.emediaworks.com/wingchunworkgroup/
George Lee
440 Lafayette Street New York, NY 10003
646-288-2245
"The NYC Wing Chun Club practices the Wong Shun Leung and Gary Lam Ving Tsun (WSLGLVT) fighting methods."