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ChildRoland
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Quality Instructors/Schools in Los Angeles.

Hello everyone, my name is John. I was directed to this section of the forum and I'm looking forward to hearing your thoughts.

I recently moved to Los Angeles and am looking for ongoing martial arts training. This is difficult to do as there are so many McDojos, scam artists and even well meaning people who are teaching a watered down, compromised version of the art. Unfortunately Karate in particular is subject to this more than almost any other art in America. Which is why i thought it would be prudent to ask people who take the art seriously for their advice. Any recommendations for quality teachers/instructors/groups/schools in Los Angeles? Preferably in either the West Valley (where I live) from Calabasas to Sherman Oaks or in West LA (where I work) from Venice up to the Hill and east to West Hollywood, but I'll listen to recommendations outside those areas as well, as I can travel. I'm not hung up on the style or even only Karate; the quality of instruction is more important than the style. Looking forward to any suggestions. Osu!

John

Wastelander
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Hello, John!

Forgive the long response, but I get excited when I can actually refer people to instructors I know!

William Ford Sensei teaches at Kaizen Dojo in Torrance, although I'm not familiar enough with the area to say how close you are to him. He has a thriving youth program, which I know deters some adults, but he's a very nice guy, and a good instructor, regardless of the age of the students, and he does a lot for the community, as well. He teaches Shorin-Ryu (Kobayashi), and was a student of the late Richard Rabago Sensei, with lineage ties with Yamashita Tadashi and Iha Seikichi--I know you said you don't care about styles and such, but if you choose to research him, those names will help your Googling ;). In addition, Ford Sensei studies Filipino martial arts and Katori Shinto Ryu kenjutsu, routinely goes to train with the Machida brothers at their new dojo in Lomita, and has a BJJ instructor teaching out of his dojo, so he is certainly all about continuing education and an open approach to exploring martial arts. He is my top recommendation for anyone looking for fun but effective Okinawan karate in the area. If you tell him that Noah from Arizona referred you, he will know who you're talking about :)

If you're looking for a more "traditional Japanese" approach to training, Vassie Naidoo Sensei teaches Goju-Ryu (Goju-Kai) out of World Budo Arts. I trained there on one of my visits to Santa Monica for work several years ago. It was the usual formal Japanese training, but you work up a good sweat, and the people there train hard and are very quiet and focused during training, but quite nice and chatty after class. I still keep up with one of their black belts on Facebook. Tom Callahan Sensei also used to teach Kyokushin out of that dojo, but has recently moved to Colorado, leaving the Kyokushin program in the hands of his senior student. I haven't trained with his student, personally, but knowing Callahan Sensei, I'm sure he left the program in capable hands. They do follow the usual Kyokushin approach to training, but they also include plenty of practical self defense and kata application. 

ChildRoland
ChildRoland's picture

Hi Noah! Thanks for the recommendations. I will be certain to give them a look and tell Mr. Ford that Noah recommended me. If I may ask; when you say Sensei Naidoo has a more "traditional Japanese" approach to training, could you elaborate what your definition of said term is, compared to the teaching style of someone like Mr. Ford? Thank you for the response! Osu!

Wastelander
Wastelander's picture

When I say "traditional Japanese" approach, I mean that it is pretty rigidly segmented, done by the count, and focused on the 3Ks, at least when I visited. The class started with lots of drilling of basics, followed by drilling of kata, ending with medium-contact Kyokushin-style kumite. It's just more formal and regimented than Okinawan-style training tends to be. I know they work bunkai, but they didn't when I was there, so I can't say how they approach that. Ford Sensei's training will likely be a bit more lighthearted and open to questions and discussions, and the class material might be altered by those questions and discussions rather than following a strict plan. Of course, sometimes you'll still follow a strict plan, depending on what is being addressed.