Shuri-Ryu Cup Tournament 2008

The Martial Arts Center students attended the "All Shuri-Ryu Cup 2008" competition for the 2nd year since its inception. This was another great tournament put on by Hanshi Ridgley Abele. All of our students did a fine job and are motivated for next years event. In this video you will see a demonstration of Gopeisho Kata, Matsuhiga No Tonfa and Empi Sho Kata. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at http://tmacenter.com/

Wunsu Kata And Application

The Martial Arts Center youth prepare for a local demonstration in one of our neighborhood academic schools. These students worked very hard and had a great time. For more information, please visit us at http://tmacenter.com/

Youth Students Prepare for Demonstration

In preparation for a local demonstration, two of our young students work very hard on their Kata and Self-Defense scenarios. The demonstration was a success and all the students did a great job. For more information about our programs, please visit us at http://tmacenter.com/.

Joint Locking Series & Counters

On March 15th, Hanshi Roensch visited The Martial Arts Center for his 3rd annual seminar at our school. One of the greater honors for a teacher is when his student(s) can demonstrate certain techniques that have been taught to them. An even greater honor is when that student can apply their knowledge and transcend what has been given them in the first place. Each year we enjoy putting together a demonstration to honor Hanshi Roensch and his devotion to his students. For more information about this seminar or upcoming seminars, please visit http://www.tmacenter.com/.

Karate Competition

In June 2007, The Martial Arts Center brought a group of students to compete in the "All Shuri-Ryu Cup" Karate Tournament hosted by Hanshi Ridgely Abele in Columbia, South Carolina. All the students did a fine job with many medals being won. In the above video clip, one of our high ranked youth students demonstrates an empty hand form called "Wunsu" and a Bo Form called "Tsue Sho". Please visit us at http://tmacenter.com/ if you have any questions.

Over / Under Demonstration

In September 2007, we performed a demonstration on some of our favorite Over / Under Techniques taught to us by Shihan Rey Perez over the past seven years. Shihan Perez visits The Martial Arts Center each year for an Annual Seminar for both our children and adult students. We look forward to his visit this June 2008. For More Information on this Seminar and more, please visit http://www.tmacenter.com/.

The origin of the three Naihanchi katas is unknown. We do know for a fact that they were practiced as one single kata by Okinawan Shuri-ryu Master Sokon Matsumura around 1825. Naihanchi was, however, handed down to Matsumura from earlier times. We can assume that Naihanchi is well over one hundred and seventy years old, possibly dating back to the era of Tode Sakugawa, Suekata Chogun and Ito Gusukuma. Naihanchi was also a favorite form of Yusutsune Itosu (1830-1915).

Around 1895, Master Choki Motobu popularized Naihanchi by performing the three forms as “one kata” on a daily basis at least five hundred times. The three Naihanchi katas, performed as one became known as “Motobu’s Kata”, and he is said to have stated many times, “ There is only one kata necessary to develop and excel in Karate, and that is Naihanchi as one. Motobu’s favorite hand form when performing Naihanchi was the forefinger punch (keiko ken zuki).”

For More information about our programs for children and adults, please visit us at http://www.tmacenter.com/.