Kodokai Martial Arts

        'Being healthy is not the same as being happy.'
                                                          Takamiyagi sensei, our teacher on Okinawa

People of all types come to the Kodokai Dojo. Some come for self-defense skills, others for fitness, some come just because they've always wanted to learn martial arts. All of these motives are perfectly fine. But for those interested in a mind, body and spirit approach to martial arts, Kodokai stands alone.

While every martial arts school uses 'mind, body, spirit', as a marketing catch phrase, very few are qualified to offer this training. You see, there is no magic to martial arts. Punching, kicking, throwing people and getting a colored belt is not training your mind, body and spirit. The exercise might make you feel good, but you can have great muscle tone and not an ounce of body fat yet still be angry, afraid, pessimistic, worried, grumpy or generally miserable. And these feelings can affect you ways you may not realize: poor digestion, aches and pains, high blood pressure, over eating, autoimmune diseases, etc... They can influence your outlook on life and your interactions with family, friends and coworkers.

 A holistic approach to well-being does not focus on symptoms. It is about being healthy and not just looking healthy. Training is about change. Without change there is no growth. 'Change', of course, can be a scary topic, but we have tremendous power to change, to envision things different from how they are, and to take steps in a new direction. There are many ways to do this. Our way, I have found, is a pretty good one. It has stood the test of time, been refined by some great thinkers and great cultures. It is not religion, nor is it a philosophy. It is a practice. We practice being the way we would like to be.

Of course it isn't that easy. We need guidance, teachings, techniques and an environment conducive to practice. These are what we offer you at Kodokai Dojo. Over three decades of practice, authentic training under master teachers, and invaluable experience in Japan has provided me with experience and insight that may be useful to you.

Those who wish to learn martial arts for self-defense, as a recreational pursuit, or for physical fitness are always welcome.
We will insure that you get what you came for.

For those who want to explore martial arts as a 'way of life' we highly recommend that you join us regularly in our Zen practice as a supplement to our martial arts classes. Zen is where you will learn how to get the most out of your training, and, just maybe, out of your life!