kung fu near Madison. WI

[earnest]

I have been lurking around this board off and on for a ear. Thanks again for the responses to my most recent thread.

Given that, does anyone have anything to recommend or disuade regarding kung fu instruction in the Madison, Wisconsin area? For what it is worth, I live about 25 minutes west of Madison, and would like to minimize travel time to decrease the disincentive that one's mind thows up- laziness regarding travel time must be a great factor for many still born novices.

Again, thanks for this great forum.

[Oso]

http://www.bakshaolineagleclaw.com

there is an email link for a club at a college in Madison, UW i think
could be good and low cost

http://www.thetaichisite.com/tai-202.htm

busy page, I searched the page for Madison and found one address towards the bottom

http://www.bobson.net/karate/

shotokan at UW

http://www.taichihealth.com/center.html

tai chi but it looks pretty health only, not bad but maybe not what you are looking for

http://www.zykfa.org/

this looks ok, they at least have a sense of humor, seems like someone here should know the sifu since he's a northern shaolin guy.

[earnest]

Thanks for the links! I found those as well. Not so interested in Kararte or in Tai Chi without the martial aspect. I am much more interested in Bak Shaolin and Zhong Yi.

I was wondering if anyone had more info re. these 2? Or if there were other places of instruction that could not be uncovered by looking through pages and pages of Google or the phone book?

[MasterKiller]

You could always call one the instructors in the phone book, explain what you are looking for, and ask them if they know of a BSL or Zhong Yi school. Most kung fu teachers will know of the other styles in the area, regardless of advertising, and shouldn't take offense if you are polite.

[Oso]

MK is right, earnest.

Just go to a school that you are interested in, if you get a welcoming vibe then take some classes for 6 months or so. If you end up not liking it you won't be any less off than you are now and will be better educated on your next choice. Just don't quit after a couple of weeks. I think it takes a while to really see what a school is all about and if they are traditional at all then you're first 6 months should be kinda boring anyway. Not bad if the school is good, just that you won't be jumping into double broadsword forms right away:)