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Disciplines

The Martial Arts Club provides instruction in a variety of martial arts disciplines, self-defense classes, and physical fitness programs. We currently offer Karate, Tae Kwon Do, Tang Soo Do, Kempo, and Pilates classes.

Karate

The word “karate” means “empty hand” and is used to refer to the unarmed arts of self-defense. The term “Shotokan Karate” refers to a specific Japanese style of karate. Tae Kwon Do and Tang Soo Do training at The Martial Arts Club use several Shotokan Karate forms (“katas”) in the training programs.

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Tae Kwon Do

Tae Kwon Do: Tae means “to kick” or “smash with the feet;” kwon means “to intercept” or “strike with the hands;” and do means “the way of the art.” Therefore, Tae Kwon Do is the Korean art of using the hands and feet to block, kick and punch an attacker in order to defend oneself.

Although it traces its roots back nearly 2,000 years, Tae Kwon Do actually originated in Korea in 1955 and was an attempt to unify the leading Korean martial arts disciplines under a single system. During the Japanese occupation of Korea from 1909 to 1945, martial arts were entirely prohibited from being taught in Korea. A few dedicated Korean martial arts practitioners emigrated from Korea to Japan and China during the occupation and in doing so were able to keep the Korean martial arts alive. After the Japanese occupation ended, the Korean government encouraged the practice of martial arts and officially sponsored Tae Kwon Do. The practice of Tae Kwon Do evolved into an international martial arts discipline and in 1988 became an Olympic sport.

Tae Kwon Do is well-suited for the beginner to martial arts and for children, teenagers and adults seeking to engage in martial arts competition. Since Tae Kwon Do is practiced internationally, opportunities for competition range world-wide. Likewise, Tae Kwon Do training facilities outnumber most other martial arts disciplines across the country providing lateral training opportunities in most cities. Students of any age who actively participate in Tae Kwon Do training will be instilled with discipline, respect, focus, concentration, self-control, patience and positive mental attitude. Balance, strength, coordination, ambidexterity (the ability to use the left and right hands and feet equally) and energy are additional benefits derived from martial arts training. Students will practice forms (KATA), sparring (KUMITE) and breaking (?). Protective headgear, footgear, gloves, shin-guards, groin protection and a mouthpiece are standard equipment.

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Tang Soo Do

Tang Soo Do means “the way of the Chinese hand,” and finds its roots in Chinese Shao Lin self-defense techniques dating back some 1500 years. Although several similarities exist between Tang Soo Do and Tae Kwon Do, the focus of the two disciplines is very different. While modern-day Tae Kwon Do focuses on the more competitive aspects of the Korean martial arts, Tang Soo Do concentrates on the more traditional and fundamental aspects of the Korean self-defense disciplines.

Tang Soo Do training at The Martial Arts Club is well-suited for the serious teenage student and for adult students who are more interested in the self-defense aspects of the Korean martial arts than in competition. Tang Soo Do training through The Martial Arts Club also incorporates with the Korean Martial Arts, Japanese small circle “Jujitsu” and Chinese Shao Lin “Chin Ya” techniques to enable students to obtain submission and control of an aggressor. Students will learn hand strikes, punches and blocks, numerous kicks and foot-sweeps and will practice them in a realistic sparring environment. Protective headgear, footgear, gloves, shin-guards, groin protection and a mouthpiece are required equipment. Students must be 13 years old to participate in Tang Soo Do training. Tang Soo Do techniques also provide a solid foundation for women’s self-defense training. Tang Soo Do training involves a more traditional approach to martial arts training and focuses on fundamental principles and disciplines as a way of martial training and as a way of life.

While Tang Soo Do practitioners are sometimes looked upon as fundamentalists or traditionalists, they help to encourage and embrace the purity of the art form and they work to maintain and preserve the principles that formed the foundation for all modern martial arts.

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Kempo

Kempo is a no-holds-barred fighting system of offensive and defensive methods, with equal emphasis on striking techniques with hands and feet, immobilization and controls, projections and take-downs. Kempo is a defensive art that does not restrict students in methodology.  The origin of kempo traces back to India over 4,000 years ago, and the origin of Nippon Kempo can be traced back to Nomi no Sukune and Taema no Kuehaya, legendary founds of Suma Style Wrestling during the Yamato period in Japan. It was not until 1932 that Master Muneomi Sawayama actually founded Nippon Kempo in Japan. Nippon Kempo has gradually developed through the years and has become widely known and popular – especially in Japan and Europe.

From a technical point of view, Nippon Kempo is a Martial Art System based on techniques of striking and kicking, (ATEMI-WAZA), blocking (UKE-WAZA), throwing (NAGE-WAZA), reverse joint locks (KANSETSU-GYAKUTORI WAZA) and ground combat (wrestling and submission holds). Nippon Kempo uses techniques that are present in other arts like Judo, Jujitsu, Aikido, Karate, and wrestling – but many of these techniques are somewhat modified for the purpose of a more drastic effect.

The Nippon Kempo practitioners fight and practice these techniques with protective gear. Kempo is a full-contact art, and therefore MEN (headgear), DO (chest protector), KUROBU (gloves), and a MATA ATE (groin protector) are strongly recommended.  Nippon Kempo considers “legal” many techniques that cannot be performed in “foam sparring” divisions. Grabbing a kick, a punch, or locking a joint is allowed; knees and elbows to the body or to the face are “legal” and score points. “Headhunting” is a common practice in Nippon Kempo – and for this reason the Nippon Kempo practitioner quickly learns and develops head and body movements to avoid, deflect or counter many punching and kicking combinations.  In Japan, Nippon Kempo is practiced in over 100 Universities and is part of standard Police Force training.

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Pilates

With an emphasis on breath, core conditioning and body awareness, PILATES exercise is a safe and highly effective way to stretch, strengthen and streamline your body without building bulk or stressing your joints. Performed on a mat or specialized equipment, PILATES is a fitness regime for a lifetime. The perfect complement to cardiovascular exercise, sport, rehab and life, PILATES exercises will leave you looking toned, feeling revitalized and moving with ease.

PILATES training at The Martial Arts Club focuses on contemporary PILATES, as opposed to traditional PILATES, and heavily incorporates balance training into exercise programs. PILATES training at The Martial Arts Club is based on all of Joseph H. Pilates’ (its creator) original mat work.

PILATES training has been a fitness legacy for more than seventy years. PILATES training requires certain equipment including a mat, stability ball, medicine ball, Pilates ring, and other balance-related equipment.

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