East Valley Martial Arts

read moreWhen you obtain the knowledge of Ryukyu Kempo, do not let it go to the back of your head and force your nose up. Instead, let the knowledge that you learn come to the front of your head so that you will always keep your head low with humility and respect. One explanation for the colored belts is the notion that the belts simply went from white to black because the original Karate founders never washed their belts. They started off with white belts and after years of training ended up with black belts.

read moreIt is important to have respect for the art, the ancient master, the present masters as well as the dojo instructors and fellow practitioners. A large part of that respect is shown in the attitude and actions of the student. Certain rituals are expected by tradition and serve for a better understanding of the traditional art of Ryukyu Kempo that is practiced by our Alliance. 6. Always come to attention when a Black Belt enters the Dojo, even if it is during a class. Never show anger or disgust, these are signs of lack of discipline and self control and can affect your eligibility to advance in rank.

read moreIn ancient Okinawa, karate was more than a spare-time activity. It touched the very essence of the people who studied it, changing the way they thought, the way they felt about themselves, the way they interacted with other people, and in fact, deeply permeating their lives. Though much of that has been lost in martial arts, we strive to bring that way of life into modern America. Ryukyu Kempo is a well-rounded martial art, encompassing studies that many more modern styles have lost. With a return to the old way of thinking; however, these studies elevate Ryukyu Kempo to an art, a way of life, and thus the ultimate in self-defense.

read moreTraditional Okinawan Weaponry (Kobudo) is an integral part of training to become a well-rounded martial artist. Responsible use of the weapons is taught and safety is a top priority, as it is in all we do. Periodically, students will have the opportunity to train with other traditional weapons such as kamas, jo (short staff), chizi con bo, te no euchi, katana, tan bo, and eiku. The bo is a wooden staff 5 to 6 Feet long. The length of the bo is usually made to fit the user; however, the average length is 6 Feet.

read moreBefore we go any further, we will address the correct pronunciation of the name of our art and some brief history. The word Ryukyu is pronounced as "roo-queue" (think of kangaroos standing in a row!) and is the historical name of the chain of islands which were annexed by the Satsuma clan of Japan, and of which Okinawa is the largest island. The word Kempo is pronounced as it reads, "kem-poe, " and is a Japanese translation of the Chinese words chuan fa, the common translation of which is "fist law" or "fist method."

read moreWe pride ourselves on being competitively priced and having a schedule that anyone can work with. When contacting other martial arts schools to compare us, ask if they do upgrade programs (price increases when students advance in programs), higher tuition for higher belts, long-term contracts ormandatory tournaments. We do none of these. You will see all our pricing up front with no high pressure sales. You can choose the plan that best suits you and your family. For only $30 you get one week of classes and a karate uniform (gi).

read moreSparring is light contact practice with an opponent to allow the students to work on technique, distance, speed, and to gain experience in actually facing an opponent. Light contact sparring is an invaluable tool to allow the participants to try the techniques they have been taught without causing harm to the opponent or themselves. We hold sparring matches at least a few times a month, and each participant wears head gear, gloves, boots, cup and mouthpiece. Shin and arm pads are optional. Loaner equipment is available.