1576 Akron Peninsula Rd, Akron   - -     443 E. Turkeyfoot Lake Rd, Uniontown
Main Phone: (330) 926-2001

Core Martial Arts Training

Shotokan Karate

Shotokan is a school of karate, developed from various martial arts by Gichin Funakoshi (1868-1957) and his son Yoshitaka Funakoshi (1906-1945). Gichin Funakoshi is widely recognized as having brought karate from Okinawa to mainland Japan. Shoto ("pine waves") was Funakoshi's pen-name, while kan means "house." Hence, shoto-kan was the name of the hall where Funakoshi trained his students.

Shotokan training is usually divided into three parts: kihon (basics), kata (forms or patterns of moves), and kumite (sparring). Techniques in kihon and kata are characterized by deep, long stances that provide stability, enable powerful movements, and strengthen the legs. Strength and power are often demonstrated instead of slower, more flowing motions. Kumite techniques mirror these stances and movements at a basic level, but progress to being more flexible with greater experience. Funakoshi reportedly found traditional martial arts (e.g., sumo, jujutsu, and kenjutsu) to be too focused on combat; he emphasized health, breathing, release of energy, and concentrated mind-body control. Shotokan can be regarded as a 'hard' and 'external' martial art.

Kodokan Judo

Judo (judo), meaning "gentle way", is a modern Japanese martial art (gendai budo), that originated in Japan in the late nineteenth century. Its most prominent feature is its competitive element, where the object is to either throw one's opponent to the ground, immobilize or otherwise subdue one's opponent with a grappling maneuver, or force an opponent to submit by joint locking the elbow or by applying a choke. Strikes and thrusts (by hands and feet) - as well as weapons defenses - are a part of judo, but only in pre-arranged forms (kata) and are not allowed in judo competition or free practice (randori). Judo is a derivative of Jujutsu.

Kodokan Judo was established by Jigoro Kano in 1882. Prof. Kano adopted the superlative parts of all the Jujutsu schools and established the new Kodokan Judo based on his own insight and arrangement.

Judo became an official event in the Olympic Games of 1964, backed by Judo fans and sport promoters all over the world. It is now a very popular sport almost anywhere in the world.

Seiei-kan Ju-Jitsu (Jujutsu)

Jujutsu literally meaning the "art of softness", is a Japanese martial art consisting primarily of grappling techniques. Jujutsu evolved among the samurai of feudal Japan as a method for dispatching an armed and armored opponent in situations where the use of weapons was impractical or forbidden. Due to the difficulty of dispatching an armored opponent with striking techniques, the most efficient methods for neutralizing an enemy took the form of pins, joint locks, and throws. These techniques were developed around the principle of using an attacker's energy against him, rather than directly opposing it, and came to be known as jujutsu.

The term "jujutsu" was not coined until the 17th century, after which time it became a blanket term for a wide variety of grappling-related disciplines. Prior to that time, these skills had names such as "short sword grappling" (kogusoku koshi no mawari), "grappling" (kumiuchi), "body art" (taijutsu), "softness" (yawara), "art of harmony" (wajutsu), "catching hand" (torite), and even the "way of softness" (judo) as early as 1724, almost two centuries before Kano Jigoro founded the modern art of Kodokan Judo.

Seiei Kan Jujutsu was founded by Soke Don Madden. Soke Madden developed "Seiei-Kan Ju-Jitsu Vol I and Vol II" (© 1994) with photography by Shihan Bo Kimly. Seiei Kan means picking from the best.

Soke Madden is Founder and Chairman of All American Karate Do Union comprised of over 200 clubs across the United States and internationally; Founder and Chairman of AKJU TEAM AMERICA which takes competitors in Karate and Ju-Jitsu to international competitions; National Chairman of Ju-Jitsu for the Amater Athletic Union; Head Coach of U.S.A. Karate and Ju-Jistu 1981-2002; Coach for the first U.S.A. Ju-Jitsu team to compete Ju-Jitsu World Cup held in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Clubs and Invititation Training

Black Belt Club

As students advance in their training they may be eligible to join the 'Black Belt Club' and be eligible for advanced training sessions. BBC is where our students are introduced weapons such as Tonfa, Bo, Bokken, Nunchaku and Escrima Sticks. BBC meets every Friday evening from 6-7 PM for the first four Fridays of the month. BBC members also receive discounts to special training events from renowned guest instructors.

For details on selection and membership see Shihan.

Masters Club

Dedicated BBC members may be eligible to join the 'Masters Club' and be eligible for additional advanced training with a focus on the mastery of additional selected weapons such a Sais, Kamas and Swords. MC members also receive discounts to special training events from renowned guest instructors.

For details on selection and membership see Shihan.

Black Belt Training (Black Belt students only)

Alternate Saturday meetings schedule - -

• 2010: Jan. 9, 2010 and alternate Saturdays moving forward.

Invititation Training

Special training for advanced students selected and approved by Shihan.

Special Martial Arts Training

Brazilian Jujutsu (Adults only)

Brazilian Jujutsu (BJJ) is a martial art that focuses on grappling and especially ground fighting with the goal of gaining a dominant position and using joint-locks and choke holds to force an opponent to submit. The art was based on early 20th century Kodokan Judo, which was itself then a recently-developed system (founded in 1882), based on multiple schools (or Ryu) of Japanese Jujutsu. It promotes the principle that a smaller, weaker person using leverage and proper technique can successfully defend themselves against a bigger, stronger assailant.

The art began with Mitsuyo Maeda (aka Conde Koma, or Count Combat in English), a Japanese expert judoka and member of the Kodokan. Maeda was one of five of the Kodokan's top groundwork experts that Judo's founder Kano Jigoro sent overseas to spread his art to the world. Maeda left Japan in 1904 and visited a number of countries before eventually arriving in Brazil on November 14, 1914. Maeda met an influential businessman named Gastão Gracie who helped him get established.

In 1917, Gastão's son Carlos, then a 14 year-old boy, watched a demonstration by Maeda at the Teatro da Paz and decided to learn Jujutsu. Carlos went on to become a great exponent of the art and with his younger brother Hélio Gracie became the founder of Gracie Jujutsu, modern Brazilian Jujutsu.

The Gracie family continued to develop the system throughout the 20th century. Brazilian Jujutsu came to international prominence in the martial arts community in the 1990s, when Brazilian Jujutsu expert Royce Gracie won the first, second and fourth Ultimate Fighting Championships, a single elimination martial arts tournament. Royce fought against often much-larger opponents who were practicing other styles, including boxing, shoot-fighting, karate, judo, tae kwon do and wrestling.

Innovative Fitness Training

Cardio Fitness Boxing (non-contact)

Sports scientists agree that fitness-boxing (cardio-boxing) is one of the best forms of exercise, because it conditions the total body and provides a complete workout for your cardiovascular and endurance systems. Cardio-boxing promotes a person's well being by building self-discipline and strength into the total package for self-defense and fitness.

The major benefits include:

• Increased Stamina
• Increased Strength
• Increased Speed
• Increased Coordination

Kickboxing (non-contact)

Kickboxing, also referred to as boxing aerobics and cardio-kickboxing, is a hybrid of boxing, martial arts and aerobics that offers an intense cross-training and total-body workout. It blends a mixture of high-power exercise routines that strengthen the body and mind, decrease stress and hone reflexes while increasing endurance and cardiovascular power. While kickboxing's roots are in full-contact fighting, it has found a safe and very effective niche in the fitness community.