Kali deLeon

S

stuart_s

Joined
Jan 23, 2006
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I'm thinking about trying to book an appointment with Kali deLeon in Toronto, Canada, and I'm wondering if anyone's got anything to say about them.

I'm not looking for "they're the baddest around, they'll kill 1000 ninjas!!" or "they suck, I didn't learn the touch of death in any of my two-and-a-half lessons there!".

I'd prefer first hand observations, positive or negative, but I'll settle for second or third hand if that's what's available. What they've got to say on their website looks pretty decent, but websites are cheap (ish) these days, and people can say lots of nice things without backing it up.

I like that they seem to pick and choose their students, so long as the criteria are reasonable. (Even temperment and patience, say, rather than an ability to suck up)
 
I have had the chance to train with Guro Jun and I would highly recommend him. His teaching style is structured very well. His students, from beginner to advanced, all show impressive skills due to Guro Jun stressing the importance of mastering the basics first. To my understanding there is a selection process of sorts in order to become a student, hence the need to book an appointment first. Hope this helps.
 
It does, thanks. I think I'll go ahead and book an appointment, and see what I think of them, and they think of me. Lots of thinking.
 
Well, I'm going to watch a class on Monday evening. And one of their locations is less than two miles from me, which is great. With this mild winter we're having, I can probably ride my bike there and back.

I'll try to post some impressions later in the week.
 
I have been taking classes with Guro Jun and recommend his classes highly. I heard about him from a friend of mine. I have always wanted to take some kind of martial art, but was worried that I'd end up getting suckered into some scam dojo where the guy with the biggest wallet gets his black belt first. I don't want to learn showmanship; I want to learn solid defence skills.

There is indeed a interview process with Guro Jun; my friend set up the appointment for me (basically coming early to the dojo on a class day) and he grilled me a bit on my background and attitude (he also questioned my friend what I was like before agreeing to meet). What I liked about him immediatley is his no-nonsense straight forward approach. He told me flat out that money won't help me advance, and if I suck, I'll be the first to hear about it.

He then asked me to sit in for the entire class and watch carefully and ask questions after if I wanted to. I had never seen the filipino martial arts before, and I was impressed with it's efficiency. It was very "form follows function", and I asked to join at the end of class. I signed up the next week and have been going weekly (sadly, I can only get out to class once per week) and have been very happy indeed.

In the past 2+ years, I have never regretted joining Kali de Leon, and there is always something new to learn. Guro Jun is approchable, loves answering questions and has never hidden any skills from his students. He pushes us to be better than we are, and instills respect for the art, his fellow teachers, and your fellow students.

Hopefully I don't sound like I'm gushing. :o
 
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