Quote:
Originally Posted by
matadorpoeta 
retro, if you know of a place on the westside that isn't too disneyland, let me know.
Many, if not most kids MA classes are going to have some "disneyland" aspect because a lot of parents do not like their kids getting yelled at, and kids stay more interested with instructors that are more yell leader than drill sergeant.
If don't have any particular focus on learning Japanese culture as a goal, you might want to look into Brazilian jiu-jitsu, which has its roots in judo. Rickson Gracie has a school out on the west side that I believe has kids classes.
Also, as a random thought, if you want something heavy on ritual, discipline, and technique, but not a lot of practical use, you could consider kendo. There's a kendo dojo over near the Sawtelle strip, and a few others scattered throughut the South Bay and downtown.
Last, if you decide to go the karate route, PM me about any schools you may run across. I can probably help steer you clear of the most egregious McDojos in town. The best question to ask any school is how long it takes for a student to reach black belt. If they tell you a year or two, or they offer some kind of "black belt club" where you pay extra for an accelerated promotion, it's a belt mill--walk away.
