There are a lot of McDojos out there. These are places that will teach you something for a few…read moremonths then charge you a fortune to get a belt. This is not a McDojo!! I've studied at a few different martial arts schools in the 21 years I've been training, and never have I experienced the techniques learned at this place. The instructor Dante has been doing martial arts for over 50 years all over the world. He has studied many different styles of martial arts including weapons and is a wealth of knowledge. If you bring a technique to Dante he will explore it for a whole class, showing variations and counters, then counters to the counters. It's refreshing not being in a class that believes that their style is the be all and end all of martial arts. Dante is also very open to new styles and ways of doing things. The class is primarily judo and ju jitsu and this is what the syllabus is based on. Rarely does the class stick to the syllabus though. I'm always fascinated with how the class always ends up going on different tangents. If you love martial arts you won't find another club like it!

The aptly named Martial Arts Shop sells.... you guessed it, martial arts gear and accessories…read more Located on Morphett Street in China town, this store sells pretty much anything the serious martial artist might be looking for. From wooden swords to training gear to videos and books. You name it, their store probably has it. The last time I was there the owner Alex sold me a wushu broadsword for a good price and made good effort to point out a flaw in the swords sheath which he then gave me a discount for as well. When you walk in, the main counter is on your left, behind which you can look up and see weapons from all kinds of martial arts. If you turn right, training gear and clothing can be seen lining the walls and wooden swords and sticks are on display as well. Further along towards the back are shelves which hold books that help you train in different martial arts. I still find martial arts equipment here comparatively more expensive than back home, but hey it really isn't fair to compare. When I first flew to Adelaide as a student, I attempted to transport my wooden nunchaku into the country (nunchaku are the weapons which the orange ninja turtle Michaelangelo used ~ cowabunga?) but little did I know that not only was it illegal it transport untreated wood into the country, it was illegal to bring weapons such as NUNCHUCKS without the proper license as well. It was a sad moment for me to part with the weapon I had had for the better part of 2 years and trained with through blood sweat and tears, however finding a martial arts store in the city when I arrived did help mitigate the overwhelming sadness I was feeling. Whether you're looking for wooden swords, books or training equipment, the Martial Arts Shop will sort you out. For a better idea of the equipment they sell, check out their website to see their full catalogue and place an order if there's something you want... like nunchucks.

Of the two main martial arts shops in Adelaide I prefer to go to this one, as do most of the other…read moremartial artists I train with. If you want a training gii for any martial art you're studying you'll find it here. They have a huge amount of shelf space dedicated to training clothes, from karate, to judo, to ju jitsu, iaido... you name it, it's here. I've also purchased all of my weapons from this place. I bought my sai and tonfa 16 years ago and they still serve me well today. Infact they even sell the exact same style that I bought 16 years ago. More recently I purchased a katana which, while being more expensive than buying it online, has served me well. They also supplied me with a cleaning kit for the sword. You'll find a large selection of training guides and DVDs as well. They're always getting in new DVDs, and you'll normally see one playing in the background. They also offer to let martial arts school advertise in the store. Yes it's pricey, but the service is great, and the range is huge.

Vertical Reality Climbing as far as I know is the only place in Adelaide where you can get in a…read moreround of indoor climbing. Now there is a place down near the Adelaide Entertainment Center, however I'm told that they only do bouldering, which doesn't require a harness and a person to belay you. I started going here about 2 to 3 years ago and for a time I was there every week with a friend of mine. We liked the sport so much that we both eventually got our own harnesses and shoes which is a must for serious climbers (ok, we did it mainly because we wanted to save money on harness and shoe rental, but we were pretty serious!) Catering to people of all levels, I've seen school groups come in on a regular basis to have a go and even seen an older more seasoned climbers who climb circles around me on the wall. I enjoy it and every wall presents a new challenge. The great thing is that every week if you do it regularly you can feel yourself improving and with each wall you conquer the more you are motivated to return. Walking into the gym, the area is divided into two main areas, with lead climbing being done on the left and bouldering being done on the right area of the gym. Normally Pat is at the front desk and for people who have never climbed before, you would need to call before hand and book in a safety and training induction to learn how to tie your knots and belay the person you are climbing with. This doesn't take very long and is easier than it sounds. A great place in Adelaide to try out a unique sport, you're looking to spend $15 or more for day entry into the gym depending on if you're hiring shoes and other extras but they also have memberships whereby you can pay monthly for any time entry for a certain period of time or you can pay for a certain number of entries up front at a discounted price. I highly recommend it to anyone and definitely something challenging for people to try at least once.

Lets keep this simple. This is a good place to begin or…read moredevelop your rock climbing-ness. It is approachable, comfortable and challenging. Fun too. Lets use some puns: New climbers are shown the ropes by some very friendly and enthusiastic folk. Scaleable difficulties are clearly displayed any you can challange yourself to whatever level your'e comfortable. Two thumbs up.

10/01/2012 Squash courts booked for Saturdays or Sundays:…read more $5 Gatorade and other drinks to keep fluids up: $2 to $3.80 per drink Feeling yourself sweat all over your body and forehead, then having a quick break to catch your breath during an intense game of squash with a mate....PRICELESS. Other activities: karate, table tennis, weights room, etc. (Why one star off? Depending on who you get, the customer service can be a mixed bag sometimes...but customers are just here to exercise, really...) By the way, if you're into bball, visit the Mawson Lakes Sports Centre every Sunday 9am-1pm and you might be lucky to watch (for free) some of the State's best players go at it in an intense game for a whole hour! If not, ask the customer service rep when your favourite sport is on.

I used to go to a rather dodgy martial arts school at this place. When I realised the folly of my…read moreways and went to a GOOD martial arts class I still continued to use this place for personal training. There are a variety of sports that are played here, basketball, squash, there's a weight room, but I would do martial arts in the lecture theatre upstairs. I had to avoid times the other class was on so Tuesdays & Saturdays were out, but I negotiated with the guys downstairs to arrange Wednesday nights. You'll notice I'm using past tense here a lot. I had a lot of issues with the chairs in the room not being put away, crap left on the floor, and the service was ordinary depending on the person running things for the day. Eventually I got fed up with it, and the prices are higher than a lot of other halls I could have been hiring, so I called it a day.

Combine booze, eating hot dogs and exercise and whattaya get? iCA Sportzworx Stepney. That's…read morewhat. Play the MCG (the courts are named: MCG, SCG, WACA..), have a beer. Or visa versa. In the summer, the building traps more heat than the Eastern Promises Turkish bath fight scene and you get a little thirsty out there. Play cricket, soccer, netball and dodge ball indoors. But lets chat netball since that's what I know about. The refz (as they're called at Sportzworx) are great. They tend to be equipped with the big personality necessary to deal with the BS that occasionally arises. It can get feisty out there. The price is $63 per game, which as an example, works out to be $8 a player for our team. There's a $40 per team sign up fee. And they offer student discounts. The bar is like a mezzanine level, located in between the two sets of courts. You see everything up there, like a powerless air traffic controller. Get involved.

I used to play indoor mixed netball here for my uni team and the place is pretty well equipped but…read moreI have played at better rec centres. The location is good for city people but the parking is a little scarce and dark. The courts are surfaced with the stuff that canes if you fall over, and the nets line the sides. They offer mixed sports of cricket, netty, soccer in all different levels. Also the mezzanine bar is pretty cool and the food is alright too.

Jinen Karate Jitsu has its roots in the first karate club in Australia, not many places can lay…read moreclaim to that. Karate Jitsu combines Karate with the fine art of Ju Jitsu. It's somewhat of a tricky art, and the instructor Sensei Kym has a million and one tricks up his sleeve. Just when you think you've seen everything, he quickly shows you that there's a lot more to learn. The classes go for two hours and the workout can get intense. Sensei Kym believes that any less than two hours isn't long enough. You need a good half an hour to warm up, then explore your techniques and learn the syllabus for your belt level, then the last half an hour involves "live training", which includes various forms of sparring. The club has a very friendly atmosphere and everyone is prepared to offer you support with your training. There are no egos here. A lot of students hold high rankings in other clubs, but happily begin their training again under Sensei Kym's tutelage. The club also has regular visits from other instructors who teach different styles and the club welcomes the opportunity to explore new ways of doing things.

Right in the corner of the Cowandilla Reserve which has all the outdoor grassed area you need for…read moresoccer, football, cricket and there are dedicated tennis courts, so this would easily be one of the best resourced youth sports groups around the Western suburbs. I've seen great deals of activity here at different times, obviously it is a seasonal thing. I understand they have a referral service and some counselling available as well, but the main thrust and focus is on healthy sports playing.

Actors Ink. I don't get the title, I'll admit it. But if you're in Adelaide for a spell and you've…read moreup and decided you want some training in acting, dancing or singing, or you're a local who's always wanted to become a triple threat, this is the place to do it. The pricing's reasonable; the people are mostly friendly and dedicated; the acting and dancing training, however, allegedly lacks the efficiency and poignancy of other local training groups, such as 'SA Casting'. If you're lucky or talented (or both) enough to get into the 'elite group', you'll be provided with special attention and opportunities to break out into the local entertainment business. My expertise is mainly on the side of the younger demographic, and to my knowledge the students are primarily under the age of sixteen, but there are possibilities for older up-and-comers to receive some attention here. Every term acting students receive the opportunity to showcase their talent to the general public and are given a report on their progress. This is the same for the dancing stream, only the displays occur less often, though the year is ended with a concert. Other than that, it's the usual business here. You won't really want to come to this place on a whim. You have to be dedicated, and put as much work in as the staff. If you can manage that, you're sure to get a lot out of Actors Ink.