History of Our Systems
The style of Martial Arts that are taught in this class are a combination of Okinawan, Chinese, Japanese, Brazilian, Filipino, Thai and American Martial Arts.
Goju-Ryu Karate
The Goju-Ryu Karate system is the oldest known system of Karate. This system is comprised of the Okinawan Art of “TE” and various Chinese kung fu & gung fu arts.
“TE” meaning “hand” was a native art secretly practiced by the Okinawan people before the introduction of the Chinese systems to the Okinawan people. The Chinese styles such as Shaolin Kung Fu, White Crane Kung Fu, Monk Fist Boxing, Tiger Fist Gung Fu, Dragon Fist Gung Fu, & Dog Boxing Gung Fu was introduced to the Okinawans, who blended these systems with their native art of “TE”. Okinawan Goju-Ryu Karate was introduced into Japan by its founder Chojun Miyagi. It was then promoted by Gogen Yamaguchi who developed a large following in Japan. Both the Okinawan & Japanese versions were later introduced into the United States. There is also an American version of this Art. The Goju-Ryu Karate style, “GO” meaning “hard” “JU” meaning “soft”.
“RYU” meaning “style” is a blend of hard and soft circular movements and straight line movements. This style also uses internal and external techniques. Traditional and non-traditional weapons training is also a part of this style.
Japanese Ju-Jitsu
Japanese Ju-Jitsu was the fighting art of the Samurai Warriors, who used their particular style on the battlefield and in individual conflicts off the battlefield. There were many different styles of Ju-Jitsu developed over many years. Several of the older (koryu) styles still exist today and some of them no longer exist. There are also newer (modern) styles of Ju-Jitsu that were developed from the older styles. Judo is one of them and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in another one. There are also American versions too.
Ju-Jitsu styles, whether older or newer styles have and use a lot of the same concepts and training methods and techniques. Most styles use striking, throwing, joint locking, choking, pressure points, stand up & ground grappling techniques to some extent. Most also train with various traditional and non-traditional weapons.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Japanese Ju-Jitsu / Judo was introduced into Brazil shortly before World War I by Mitsuyo Maeda (1878-1941) a student of classical Ju-Jitsu who switched to Kodokan Judo under Jigaro Kano. Maeda taught Carlos Gracie a mix of classical Japanese Ju-Jitsu, Kodakan Judo, and his own strategies and methods of fighting that he had developed over his years of fighting challenge matches and competitions. Carlos Gracie trained with Maeda approximately four years. In 1925 Carlos opened his own Ju-Jitsu school where he began teaching his brothers and other family members. Over a few years the Gracie family developed their art into what is known today as Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu which is considered a modern form of Ju-Jitsu, as taught by the Gracie family relies heavily on ground fighting to subdue their opponents. It also incorporates throws and takedowns to take their opponents to the ground. Most of the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu schools today have incorporated boxing & kickboxing into their schools to become more well rounded in Vale Tudo Mixed Martial Arts.
Jissen Ryu Ju-Jitsu
Jissen Ryu Ju-Jitsu is a Japanese based modern combative system that combines the traditional Samurai Warriors methods of training and fighting with the practical training methods, drills, concepts and principles of fighting and self defense as it exists today, to include modern and traditional weapons training.
The word Jissen in Japanese means – real combat, realistic fighting.
The word Ryu means style, school, method, tradition.
Filipino Martial Arts (Kali-Eskrima-Arnis)
The Filipino Martial Arts are weapons based arts but incorporate empty hand striking and grappling methods also. Unlike most Martial Arts these arts introduce new students to weapons first before they learn empty hand skills. The feeling here is that if a student can become proficient with a weapon it will be easier to learn the empty hand skills. Most Filipino styles start with teaching the single stick (baton) first, then double sticks next, then single dagger (knife), then single stick and dagger. Most styles also teach the long & short staff, the nunchakus, the sais and various other rigid and flexible weapons as well as projectile weapons.
Boxing / Kickboxing – Muay Thai Boxing
The art of Boxing is mainly a gloved sport using footwork, defensive & evasive skills to strike (punch) your opponent into submission or knock them out.
Muay Thai Boxing comes from Thailand and combines Boxing & Kickboxing but adds in the elements of elbow and knee strikes along with tie up control techniques. All these arts are very good arts to develop good striking skills. They are also good for conditioning your body in various ways.
Wrestling
There are many types of wrestling through out the world.
American Wrestling has Folk Style Wrestling, Freestyle, Greco Roman & Catch As Catch Can. All these styles have one goal, to either pin their opponent or submit their opponent. They all have similar and various grappling techniques.
Shoot Wrestling
Shoot Wrestling was developed in Japan. This art combines Catch As Catch Can Wrestling, Judo, Ju-Jitsu, Russian Sambo and the striking art of Muay Thai Boxing. This art has striking, throws, takedowns, joint locks and choking techniques. The goal in this art is to submit or knock out your opponent.
Jeet Kune Do
The Art of Jeet Kune Do (the way of the Intercepting Fist) was founded by the late (Sigung) “Bruce Lee.”
Bruce Lee developed this art from his experiences in the Martial Arts. The base system that Bruce started with was the Chinese system of Wing Chun Gung Fu. Bruce experimented with various other Martial Arts training methods and concepts such as Boxing, Judo, Japanese Ju-Jitsu, Chinese Chin Na, & various Kung Fu & Gung Fu styles as well as any Martial Art Styles that he was able to experience through contact with other Martial Artists. Bruce was only interested in what worked in actual combative fighting. Therefore there are no sporting aspects within Jeet Kune Do training. The techniques, training methods and concepts are all geared to end the conflict or fight as quickly and efficiently as possible. Each individual student has their own strengths and weaknesses and understand and develop at their own pace, therefore Jeet Kune Do training takes this into consideration and trains the individual student accordingly.
Jeet Kune Do training consists of: various striking techniques, joint locking, pressure point techniques, choking and strangling techniques, grappling, throwing, takedown and sweeping techniques, and various weaponry.
