TETSUJIN KAI

Translated as "Iron Man Club," our Tetsujin Kai program is a combination of Kickboxing, Taekwondo and Kyokushin Karate.  A full contact style of martial arts, the intent behind training is not driven by a desire to win matches, but instead focused on self improvement through rigorous training. 

 

With the desire to forge an iron spirit through training, students will will given opportunities to test themselves in sparring, at tournaments and engage in martial arts challenges if they so desire.

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MEANING OF OSU

Prominently used in Kyokushin karate, in the U.S. Kyokushin Karate Official Text Book Basics No. 1 from 1984, Shihans S. Oyama, Y. Oyama and M. Miura describe the meaning of Osu as follows:

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“Osu means patience, respect and appreciation. In order to develop a strong body and strong spirit it is necessary to undergo rigorous training.

This is very demanding, because you must push yourself to what you believe to be your limit, and you want to stop; to give up. When you reach this point you must fight yourself and your weakness and you must win. To do this you must learn to persevere, but above all you must learn to be patient. This is OSU!

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All of our dojo sponsored services and activities begin and end with the recitation of “Osu” to remind us of these principles. This can be done for both physical and mental pursuits in order to foster mental fortitude as well as is used as a greeting, good bye, sign of agreement among Yudansha to demonstrate unity and comradery.

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SHUGYO

It is believed that through rigorous training in the martial arts (Shugyo), coupled with intense study of martial arts classics and ethics (Gaku), humans can achieve personal peace of mind (Satori). Our Yudansha are also encourage to try new styles of martial arts, take seminars and try other forms of activity as well. Training at home is also considered as acceptable practice and encouraged for further personal development.

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We provide numerous shugyo challenges throughout the year hosted by our dojo that is open to all martial artists from any style or organization looking to challenge themselves physically.  From mountain training, seminars and our bi-annual Tetsujin Kumite, all are welcome to come train with us!

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GAKU

Based on the saying of Confucius which goes, “Studying without thinking is labor lost. Thinking without study is perilous,” Gaku is the intellectual study of Bushido and East Asian ethics. This can be done through the personal reading and through taking courses offered by Sensei Justin Hagen, enrolling in courses at the college level and/or taking courses offered through community education or other organizations. Such studying is in league with Confucius who stated,

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“A good man who studies extensive in the arts and literature and directs his studies with judgment and taste, is not likely to get on the wrong track.”

 

Furthermore, Confucius states,

“In education, study always as though you have never reached your goal and as though apprehensive of losing it.”

 

Our Yudansha therefore continue their studies for not only personal development, but also with the intent of being able to pass this knowledge on to others whether it is their own children, friends, family or students.