CLASSES AT SOUTHSIDE DOJO

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We offer several classes at Southside Dojo. Concurrent training in several styles is encouraged, and Southside Dojo membership cover all the martial arts classes offered. Feel free to stop by and try any of the classes, see the Southside Dojo Class Schedule for more details. The following is a brief description of each class.

JUDO
Bob Treat - Joe VanDenBoom - Ron Blake - Dusty Moran - Jamie Blake
Judo, translated as "the gentle way" is a grappling art based on movements that allow a person to off balance an opponent and take advantage of that off balance to execute throws or takedowns. Pins, chokes, and armbars are all used in judo to subdue and control an agressor. Judo, a japanese art started in 1882 is an Olympic sport today.

At Southside dojo we have both beginner adult and youth judo classes as well as competitive classes (focusing on olympic style judo).

SEIDOKAN AIKIDO
Bronson Diffin
Often called the "honorable art of getting out of the way," Aikido is a Japanese art of self-defense based on "blending" with an attack rather than clashing with it.

Aikido uses many controlling techniques such as wrist-locks, throws, take-downs, and pins. One controls an attack quickly and efficiently while causing as little damage as possible. Our style is called Seidokan Aikido.

Aikido's founder, Moribei Ueshiba, a devoutly religious man, studied swordsmanship, Sumo, Jujitsu and Karate. Witnessing the carnage of World War II, he took elements from each of these arts to develop what he called the "art of peace," offering the world a tool to create understanding and harmony out of aggression and conflict.

There are no tournaments or competitions in Aikido. A student seeks to conquer himself, not others, through inner development and understanding, the ultimate target of our training.

KOBURYU KARATE
Wayne Kroll - Janel Ceglarek

This is authentic, original, and pure form from Okinawa, Japan called Kou Bu Ryu which has also been called Pwang Gai Noon Ryu.

Kou Bu Ryu - meaning "Kinjo's Stop-Fighting Style" - maintains the traditional values and techniques developed centuries ago in China. A strong body, disciplined mind, and healthy lifestyle combine synergistically to enhance every aspect of a person's life. In fact, Kou Bu Ryu Karate stresses self-improvement both inside and outside the dojo. Practitioners of Kou Bu Ryu can enjoy the rare opportunity to improve their health, strengthen their spirit and carry on this ancient martial art.

KOBURYU KOBUDO
Wayne Kroll - Jamie Blake - Bonnie Jo Campbell
Kobudo utilizes items common to the Okinawan farmer or fisherman as weapons of self-defense based on the movments of Koburyu Karate. Students study methods of striking and blocking to defend against an weapon-wielding opponent. Understanding weapons trains the student to understand a weapon wielding opponent even if one has no weapon themself. Primary weapons studied include Bo, Sai, Nunchaku, Tinaka and Iaku. Karate and Kobudo instructor Wayne Kroll has been practicing martial arts since 1986, currently holding 3rd Dan in kobudo and recently was granted Shidoin(teaching certificate).

MIXED MARTIAL ARTS (MMA)
Dan Cook
Mixed Martial Arts is a combat sport combining the techniques of striking arts and grappling arts. MMA has been popularized by the Ultimate Fighting Championship, King of the Cage, and More.

TAI CHI
Michael Mortlock
Contrary to many popular perceptions, Taiji Quan (Tai Chi) is not just large groups of old women waving their arms around in the park, communing with nature, some form of moving yoga or a new-age meditation fad. It is a devastating, powerful and subtle martial art, a stress reducing relaxation program, as well as a comprehensive physical and mental development practice.

Taiji is a set of life and health enhancing practices formalized four centuries ago in China. Aspects of Qigong (controlled breathing and internal energy cultivation), Kung Fu, military weapons training, Chinese medicine, natural science (especially anatomy and physics,) physical development (balance, stamina, flexibility, relaxation techniques and strength,) meditation and Daoist philosophy are incorporated in this very effective art.

Characterized by slow, fluid movements interspersed with explosive techniques, the practitioner's body, reflexes and mind are transformed over time to adapt and react naturally and effectively to any condition.

Martially, the practitioner trains to remain calm, relaxed, balanced and centered while avoiding attacks, disrupting an opponent's balance, controlling with joint-locks and breaks, and executing powerful throws and attacks. By taking careful advantage of gravity, physics, body mechanics and an attacker's own energy, Taiji techniques produce maximum power and effectiveness with minimal exertion, making Taiji accessible and beneficial to martial artists of all ages and fitness levels.

This program incorporates the curriculum of the oldest and, arguably, most complete and martially effective of the Taiji systems: the Chen family style. Study will include Qigong and relaxation practice, push hands sparring, fa jing (explosive energy) development, martial applications, and forms practice. The Chen system includes both unarmed and weapons forms including jian straight sword, dan dao broadsword, long staff, spear and guandao.

MUAY THAI (Kickboxing)
Scott Watson
Southside is proud to offer Muay Thai kickboxing classes. Muay Thai has a long history in Thailand and is the country's national sport. Traditional Muay Thai practiced today varies slightly from the ancient art Muay Boran and uses kicks and punches in a ring with gloves similar to those used in Western boxing. Muay Thai is referred to as "The Science of Eight Limbs", as the hands, shins, elbows, and knees are all used extensively in this art. A master practitioner of Muay Thai thus has the ability to execute strikes using eight "points of contact," as opposed to "two points" (fists) in Western boxing and "four points" (fists, feet) used in the primarily sport-oriented forms of martial arts.

SHO BU DO BUJITSU (TRADITIONAL JUJITSU)
Keith Nelson
Shobudo Bujitsu Jujitsu is a style of jujitsu (or jujutsu), a class of japanese martial arts. The study of jujitsu is primarily the study of unarmed combat and combat with secondary weapons, such as knives (tanto), sticks (yawara bo), staves (jo, rokushaku bo), and other non-primary weapons.

Training in Shobudo Jujitsu covers a wide range of techniques, including striking, throws, joint-locks, chokes, weapons training, mediation and more.