Ymca
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girlbug2
Master of Arts
YMCA is an association for various community activities. There are YMCA buildings in practically every town in the country. It was originally founded decades ago and it stands for "Young Men's Christian Association" although the religious aspect has been dropped for quite a while now. And really, women frequent YMCAs at least as often as men do these days. As a matter of fact, there are a lot of classes and clubs that meet at YMCAs that aren't particularly young, either...I think a name change is in order.
Xue Sheng
All weight is underside
Somebody's gotta do it:
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The various YMCA and YWCA buildings will usually host a martial arts school or two.
Back when I first started, the local YWCA (where I took my Karate classes) hosted a modified Shotokan Karate style, as well as a Judo school.
There is no set rule, though, as to what system they teach. I know of YMCA / YWCA places that teach Shotokan Karate, Wado Ryu Karate, Tae Kwon Do, Goju Ryu Karate, Shuri Ryu Karate, as well as several other lesser known systems. Some schools have good teachers (I was lucky that my Sensei was a darn good one), and some are fly-by-night operators. Just as with any school, watch a class or two, and even take a free class. Let your own eyes and experiences be the judge.
I remember training in the fellowship hall room of the YWCA, and once in a while, we'd break out the gym mats for practicing sweeps and throws. I also remember walking out of there every night with coal-black feet. Ah, fun times, indeed.
Back when I first started, the local YWCA (where I took my Karate classes) hosted a modified Shotokan Karate style, as well as a Judo school.
There is no set rule, though, as to what system they teach. I know of YMCA / YWCA places that teach Shotokan Karate, Wado Ryu Karate, Tae Kwon Do, Goju Ryu Karate, Shuri Ryu Karate, as well as several other lesser known systems. Some schools have good teachers (I was lucky that my Sensei was a darn good one), and some are fly-by-night operators. Just as with any school, watch a class or two, and even take a free class. Let your own eyes and experiences be the judge.
I remember training in the fellowship hall room of the YWCA, and once in a while, we'd break out the gym mats for practicing sweeps and throws. I also remember walking out of there every night with coal-black feet. Ah, fun times, indeed.
David43515
Master Black Belt
Yeah, the YMCA/YWCA began as a gathering place to keep kids off the street and give them a place to meet for "wholesome" recreation, and many used to have rooms for rent like a hostel as well. They usually have a gym and a swimming pool, and maybe a few classrooms for the public to use as well.There`s also something called the JCC (Jewish Community Center) that is very similar and in some cities they work together to sponsor events or share facilities.
Our local YMCA was one of the first places to have a martial arts program in our area having a judo club back in the 60's. It is also where I first started learning kenpo!
YMCA is well known in the UK, it runs hostels, youth clubs and other outreach programmes for youth. It also runs fitness programmes as well as renting space to other groups, my daughter used to go to a playgroup in our local one.
http://www.ymca.org.uk/
It was founded in London in 1844 and is now a huge worldwide youth charity.
http://www.ymca.org.uk/
It was founded in London in 1844 and is now a huge worldwide youth charity.
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I dont think they made it very far north before they movrd to america . I have never seen one in scotland or heard anyone talk about it from my family down south. I havr only ever heard about it from Americans.
Dont know if its cause we have alot more comunity centres and so on all ready up here. Even most of our gyms are council run. Thank you for the replys
Dont know if its cause we have alot more comunity centres and so on all ready up here. Even most of our gyms are council run. Thank you for the replys
Pretty hard to miss YMCAs in England too!
http://www.ymca.org.uk/find/ymcas
I know the one in Aberdeen, Scotland too, I remember it from when I first went up there as a child, there's a martial arts club there too.
Ima where on earth do you live that you've missed them all?
http://www.ymca.org.uk/find/ymcas
I know the one in Aberdeen, Scotland too, I remember it from when I first went up there as a child, there's a martial arts club there too.
Ima where on earth do you live that you've missed them all?
joshbrown
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We love the Y, I workout there and take my kid swimming and they also have huge indoor and outdoor playgrounds, basketball court, indoor and outdoor running tracks. Summer camps a-plenty. But alas they do not currently have karate at our Y.
Xue Sheng
All weight is underside
I like the Y, I have taught taijiquan at 2 of them and been a member of 3 different YMCAs.
YMCAs worldwide.
http://www.ymca.int/where-we-work/ymca-country-profiles/
http://www.ymca.int/where-we-work/ymca-country-profiles/
Catholics were forbidden from joining the YMCA early in the 20th century. That prohibition has not been lifted, although it is often ignored. The YMCA is both Christian and Protestant, and has been demonstrated to hold anti-Catholic views in its past.
In any case, the "Y" has not forsaken the "C"; it is still a religious organization. Just like the Salvation Army, which is commonly seen only for its charitable work and not considered to be religious, it still is. That is not to say that the YMCA is bad or evil. But it is a religious organization even today.
In any case, the "Y" has not forsaken the "C"; it is still a religious organization. Just like the Salvation Army, which is commonly seen only for its charitable work and not considered to be religious, it still is. That is not to say that the YMCA is bad or evil. But it is a religious organization even today.
I was a youth worker in our local one despite not being Young, Male or Christian. They didn't try to convert me or even talk to me about religion and I got on very well there. They are the only organisation around us that tries to help the young homeless. I never got the impression they were Protestant in particular, the only 'Christians' they did fend off were the born again lot who I'm afraid were'nt good for the local youth, they were only interested in getting them into their church not homing them or helping them find work. They were very anti Catholic I have to say, they said the Pope was the Anti-Christ, the YMCA bosses weren't happy about that either among a long list of other stuff about them.
I agree that man/most local YMCA branches don't have much (if any) particular "Protestant" let alone "Christian" focus these days; I'm certainly not accusing them of anything. But yes, they're a Christian organization, and yes, they are Protestant. Those are facts. Not knocking them, just stating the truth. YMCA does not deny this.
http://atheism.about.com/library/glossary/western/bldef_ymca.htm
Sorry wasn't arguing with you Bill! I think we are perhaps more laid back about religion in many respects here, for many it's an embarrassing subject to talk about their faith! it's not something that's shouted about here, we have very quiet religions which is why I think the born again happy clappy lot jar so much on us.
The same is true of the Boy Scouts, the Girl Scouts and the hospital I work for. At least in theory.
The reality is that (in my experience) none of them care about your religious opinions. And they're certainly not proseletyzing. Certainly nobody at the Y where we train has ever mentioned anything related to religion at all. And I know for a fact that our Tae Kwon Do program includes christians, muslims, atheists and jews.
Theory is fine, as far as it goes, but reality is what really counts. After all, the Roman Catholic Church has never (to my knowledge) changed their official position on the structure of the universe. Dogma still insists that the Earth is the center of the universe. But I don't think you're going to find priests claiming that this is the actual state of things. Nor are you going to find YMCA/TSA-types checking people for rosary beads.
