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. Great job! Keep up the good work... Shihan Mike

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/.

"My Parent Is My Partner" February 2008

On February 27th and 28th, the parents of our children students jumped on the mat and joined in the training. They endured the workout along side their children and had a great time. Our next training dates for this special training will be on Monday & Tuesday ~ July 7th and 8th, 2008. I hope all of our parents can join us during this time of summer training.

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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 below 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.

Bushido

The Way of the Warrior
The Essence of Bushido ~Its Seven Virtues

Justice
A compelling belief of bushido – if not the most cogent. Plainly stated, it is a knowledge of what is right and what is wrong. The talent and skills of the bushi in action could not be employed without a sense of justice.

Courage
The tempering influence upon the precepts of justice. It is an integration of moral and physical courage – not simply bravery. Courage is based on serenity and experience.

Benevolence
It is a composite of magnanimity, affection, love, pity, and sympathy. Benevolence is seasoned with justice and tempered by right reason so as not to be taken as weakness.

Courtesy
A prime source of courage and its highest form approaches ‘love’ thus relating it to loyalty. Courtesy disciplines the soul and brings a refined harmony of mind and body.

Veracity
‘Truthfulness’ and the twin brother of justice. This precept gave rise to the expression,“Bushi no ichi-gon”, implying that written pledges were unnecessary because the word of the warrior was sufficient.

Honor
This is exemplified by the ‘bushi’ in his high regard for his life, family, country, and undying sense of what is right and wrong.

Loyalty
A philosophy of life – the idea of fidelity and allegiance to a lord, leader, or cause.
“Bushi No Nasake” meaning the “tenderness of a warrior”. This saying applies all the virtues of bushido

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/.

O'Naihanchi Kata Sho (Iron Horse Missing Enemy Form)

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/.