New look for web site

[FShekosky]

Hello all,

We re-vamped our web site a bit. Please check it out. Your comments, both good and constructive, are welcome! http://www.cromwellmartialarts.com/

[Tony Dismukes]

The structure of the website seems fairly user-friendly.

One piece of information I can't seem to find anywhere is who awarded your ranks in karate and kobudo. The only instructors you mention are seminar guys like Joe Lewis and Wally Jay. I don't think your ranks are from them, since neither of them teaches kempo or kobudo. You do mention being named a "senior student" under Remy Presas - does that correspond to any actual rank? I believe Modern Arnis uses a dan system, doesn't it?

Neither your instructor page or your kempo karate page mention who you learned kempo from or what branch of that system you trained in. The implication on the kempo page is that you're associated with the Ed Parker American Kempo family, but it's not stated explicitly and there is no mention of which of the many branches of that art you trained in.

Students who are new to the martial arts may not care about lineage, but more experienced students may want to know who you trained with and who awarded your ranks.

Other than that, the website looks pretty good.

[FShekosky]

Thanks for taking the time to check out the site and for your feedback!!

[dojo]

Overall the design is beautiful. I love the background, it's terrific. Cannot say I'm too thrilled with the stickbar, don't find it blend too well with the design, but it's a simple, elegant design, I cannot fault too much :) I'd increase font size though for the main content to be easier to read. Love the "exotic" font you've chosen. Good job.

[RobQuinnJr]

Love the site, Sensei Frank. The layout goes great with the new logo. As for the stick bar, I like it. :D I agree with Ramona, the font could be a bit bigger...For those with bad eye sight.

[ant]

I like it. It's simple, clean, not real busy. A rule of thumb in web design is to get the user to their information within 3 clicks, you seem to get them there in one click, which is a big plus.

[jjaje]

I like that it is a pretty clean layout, yet obviously a martial arts page. I like that everything is pretty easy to get to and that the site seems responsive and quick.

I would echo Tony's comments about the instructor information. It may not matter a whole lot to newbies, but to service those with prior MA experience, it could help. For example:

For example, Frank Shekosky lists belts in Karate and Kobudo. Yet the other instructors list their ranks in Kenpo Karate. What style of karate is Mr. Shekosky's belt in Okinawan or Kenpo? It is not typical to see traditional Okinawan Kobudo and various Ed Parker inspired Kenpo's taught at the same location. I think it would be more normal to see traditional Okinawan Kobudo to be taught closer to traditional Okinawan Karate. So this can be confusing to a traditional Okinawan MA practitioner.

A person with Kenpo experience may also be similarly confused. Is it your own flavor and variation with your own requirements or are you following one of the EPAK, American Kenpo, AKKA, IKKA... kenpo variations?

So in conclusion, pretty good for newbies, but lineage and style could be a little confusing for those that already have some MA experience (which are the people you asked on this board)