Ninja and Samurai Martial Arts Dojo

Posts Tagged ‘poway samurai martial arts’

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I’m excited to be speaking at the Mira Mar Rotary club this Thursday about how to reach At Risk Youths. Every year the number of kids who become “at risk” for getting involved in gangs increases. Especially in these tough economic times, parents are working as much as possible and unfortunately away from home for longer periods of time than ever before. Many parents cannot afford after school programs for their kids and some kids who do attend them, are not getting the attention and mental stimulation they need to stay out of trouble.

A traditional martial arts program can help kids of all ages stay out of risk and out of trouble. One of the main reasons it works is due to the focus on self-improvement. This leads to higher self-esteem and when you feel good about yourself, you are not looking for ways to act out for negative attention. Martial arts classes motivate kids to work hard and improve themselves, day by day. An ethical instructor provides a strong role model so the children learn important life lessons. When kids don’t have a role model to learn from, they try to learn right from wrong from their peers which doesn’t work. This can lead to gang situations and lots of trouble for society.

In a good traditional martial arts program like the one we teach at Poway Samurai Martial Arts, everyone participates and supports each other. Unlike many sports activities, there are no teams. Everyone learns together and excels together but each in their own way. Kids can even help each other learn as the older ones can become role models for the younger ones. All the students learn positive life skills and values to help them succeed in whatever they choose to do in life.

I will be emphasizing this information to the Mira Mar Rotary club tomorrow because it really is a simple matter of “Pay Now” by sponsoring kids to take martial arts classes and save them while there is still time or “Pay A Lot More Later” as their actions cause society to suffer with crime and violence. If you have a group interested in learning more about how to support “At Risk Youth Programs” or, if you know of an organization ready to provide a sponsorship for kids now, please contact me at #858-486-0059.

Thank you!
Tony Whetstine (The Bushido Guy)

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Have you been thinking about martial arts classes for yourself or your kids? Could you use 3 months of FREE training? Just become a Poway Samurai Martial Arts Facebook Fan to enter our contest to win free training (up to a $300 value*)!

Here’s How It Works:
Login to Facebook (or quickly and easily create a free account) and go to the Poway Samurai Martial Arts Facebook Fan page. Click the button “Become a Fan” before Dec. 31, 2009, at 11:59 pm Pacific Time. While you’re in Facebook, post a comment on our wall telling us what you would do if you won the free training. We will select a winner at random on January 1, 2010. Winner will be announced on the Poway Samurai Martial Arts Facebook Fan page, the Samurai School blog, and the @bushidoguy Twitter page.

What You Can Win:
The Winner can choose from (1) one of the following (3) three training options:

1. Adults Basic Kobudo Martial Arts
   Kobudo is “Old Martial Arts” in Japanese. Students who take these classes find it fun, exciting and a great workout. In addition, the traditional martial arts training provides self reflection and this new focus and determination helps them succeed in all areas of their life, home and work. Three months of training is a $300 value!
2. Kids Martial Arts
   Kids ages 5 – 16 who take our classes find that they improve their focus and self esteem. They are not affected by peer pressure and can even get better grades in school, all while having fun in a supportive and safe environment. Your child may even discover leadership skills he /she didn’t know he had! Three months of training is a $300 value!
3. Qi Gong (Chi Kung)
   The practice of Qi Gong has innumerable health benefits. One area that effects most people’s lives is stress. Large amounts of stress to the body can cause “dis-ease” leading to poor health. Regular qigong practice can help prevent illness. Three months of training is a $180 value.

Just enter today by becoming a fan at http://www.facebook.com/PowaySamuraiMartialArts. We are the only martial arts school in San Diego teaching “Martial Arts with Meaning.” Come see how learning “Bushido”, the way of the Samurai, can change your life.

*Free training will occur at the dojo located at 13160 Poway Road. Uniforms and equipment (if applicable) are not included. Free training must be used before 1/31/10.

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Donate for the San Diego Food Bank

Poway Samurai Martial Arts has teamed up with KOHunger.com, a national coalition of martial arts schools who are committed to help end hunger in their own communities. Residents of Poway and San Diego are encouraged to donate a can of food to receive one free week of martial arts training.

Being of service to others is a key part of the training at Poway Samurai Martial Arts. Participating in the KOHunger program fits in well with our philosophy and is why we decided to help and offer the free week for a good cause.

The offer of one free week of martial arts classes is available until Dec. 18. All proceeds will be donated to the San Diego food bank (sandiegofoodbank.org). Those who make donations can redeem their free week of classes for any program, any time before January 15, 2010.

Residents can train in unarmed and sword martial arts as well as Qi Gong classes for health and wellness. Poway Samurai Martial Arts trains in the classical unarmed and weapons training of the samurai, which includes the traditional virtues that can help strengthen all areas of a person’s life and the philosophies of service to others.

For more information or to make a donation of dry and canned food items, you can call #858-486-0059 or stop by Poway Samurai Martial Arts at 13160 Poway Road (in the Library Plaza).

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There’s no need to get stuck in long lines at the mall on Black Friday, just call Poway Samurai Martial Arts and get great deals on gift certificates for martial arts and Qi Gong (Chi Kung) training, now, through 12/18/09. As part of our “Best Holiday Gift Ever” promotion we’re offering some incredible prices on martial arts training just in time for the holidays and New Year’s resolutions. Martial Arts classes make great gift, especially for that hard to buy for person who has everything.

If you’ve ever been considering martial arts classes for yourself or your kids, you owe it to yourself to consider Poway Samurai Martial Arts. We teach traditional martial arts with modern world applications from ethical instructors who really care about the origins of the training. Our teachings come directly from the ancient Samurai scrolls and those who train with us find that learning about Bushido (The Way of the Samurai) changes their life. At Poway Samurai Martial Arts, “The Difference is in the Tradition!”

Best Holiday Gift Ever Offers

Adults Basic Martial Arts Class: Only $49.00 for 3 months (regularly $300!)*.
Kids Martial Arts Class (ages 5 – 16): 1/2 price or 2 for 1 when you buy 3 months (regularly $300).*
Little Ninjas (ages 3 – 5): Save $50 on an 8 week session (regularly $150)*
Qi Gong Class: 1/2 price or 2 for 1 when you buy 3 months (regularly $180).*

*Equipment and uniform costs are not included. While supplies last. Certificates must be redeemed by January 15, 2010.

These special prices will not be offered again, so, call today and take advantage of our Best Holiday Gift Ever! You’ll be glad you did.

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Instructor Tony Whetstine Demonstrates How to Escape When an Attacker Grabs You From Behind

A couple of times per year I offer a customized class for women that covers not only self defense tips but touches on some critical awareness tools and some of the most common and current methods used by predators. I call this class “Tools for Personal Safety for Women.”

This class is never more important than during the holiday season. It gets dark earlier and there are lots of shopping trips and very busy stores and malls. It is easy to get into a rush to go from one place to another or one store to another. That’s why it is important to recover some things you perhaps already know and learn some new tools to keep yourself and your children safe this holiday season.

This course is unique and will cover some tools that are not taught anywhere else and I have been told by past participants how useful and how different this course is from any other self defense course they have taken.

I always enjoy meeting people and getting good critical feedback on this course and am looking forward to teaching it again this December. Read this for more details on the “Tools for Personal Safety for Women” class and see testimonials from past students.

March Women’s Self Defense Class Details:
Cost: $30 per person. SAVE $5 when you BRING A FRIEND!
Date: Sunday March 21st, or Sunday March 28th, 1 – 4pm
Where: Poway Samurai Martial Arts located at 13160 Poway Road Poway, CA 92064 (In the Library Plaza)

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Our New Location at 13160 Poway Rd.

We’re so excited to announce our new location at 13160 Poway Road in the Library Plaza. We’re already getting to know our new neighbors very well. In celebration of our new venue we are holding a “Grand Re-Opening / 2 Year Anniversary” event on Saturday, November 21st from 1 – 4pm.

If you’ve ever been considering martial arts classes you owe it to yourself to attend our free event for your chance to win prizes and giveaways! We’ll have wonderful Oriental and Green Tea provided by Blisssville.com throughout the day as well as demonstrations and personal safety tools from the classes we offer.

Those in attendance will have the first opportunity to purchase gift certificates at reduced rates, as part of our “Best Holiday Gift Ever” promotion!! Just in time for the holidays and New Year’s resolutions, Martial Arts classes make a GREAT GIFT!! Just $49.00 for 3 months of the Adults Basic Program (regularly $300!)*. Kids class (ages 5 – 16) and Qi Gong certificates will be offered at 1/2 price or 2 for 1 when you buy 3 months.**

Here’s the schedule of events:

1:00 pm Doors open
1:30 pm Giveaway
2:00 pm Tools for Personal Safety Demonstration
2:30 pm Giveaway
3:00 pm Qi Gong Demonstration
3:30 pm Samurai Sword / Kobudo Demonstration
4:00 pm Giveaway – 3 Months of FREE Training in the Adults Basic Program*! A $300 Value!

Why The Samurai School? Our classes teach Leadership, Teamwork, Discipline, Fitness and Focus to Adults and Kids. We also offer Qi Gong classes for health, vitality and stress reduction. Get fit and be healthy without the repetition of a gym and gain some practical real self-defense tools and skills. Learn more online at: www.theSamuraiSchool.com and see why “The Difference is in the Tradition!”

We look forward to seeing you there!
Tony Whetstine (The Bushido Guy)

*Equipment costs are not included. Must be redeemed by January 15, 2010.
**While supplies last. Best Holiday Gift Ever promotion ends December 18, 2009. Certificates must be redeemed by January 15, 2010. Call for details on reduced rates for Little Ninjas classes (ages 3 – 5), now forming.

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Professional Martial Arts Instructor Anthony Whetstine of Poway Samurai Martial Arts, has used his years of study and research in the samurai martial arts and the code of Bushido, (The Way of the Warrior), to create a series of lectures that capture the “Virtues” of the code of Bushido. In these lectures, Mr. Whetstine will provide a historical look back, and a modern view, to see how the lessons of some of the most renown and enigmatic warriors of the past can offer a “code” for today that aids in rebuilding respectful disagreements, dialogue and encourages respect.

Bushido: Why the Code of the Samurai Matters Today
Our Most Popular Lecture looks at the origins of the Samurai and Bushido, examines the Seven Virtues as listed by Inazo Nitobe: Recitude, Courage, Benevolence, Respect, Honesty, Honour, and Loyalty and offers a look at them in a modern perspective. This lecture is aimed at moving Bushido back out of the dojo of Japanese martial arts schools and using them as seeds that can become the “soul” of the modern world just as it became the heart and soul of Japan.

Business and Bushido: How the Code of the Samurai Made Japan an Industrial Super Power
A must for any company that considers ethical business and responsible business practices as important as the quality of their product or service. This lecture examines how the code of Bushido gave not only a rebirth to a post-World War two Japan and built it into an economic super power but how those same virtues can help turn around a worldwide economic downturn. If your organization has an ethics department or has ethic requirements as part of its’ company handbook, then this lecture is a must!

Bushido and the Law: Restoring Ethics and Respect to the Field of Practicing Law
This lecture should be part of every law school in America. This in depth look at the code of the samurai and how it was used not only as a personal code of ethics that is nearly universally respected, but how it took common soldiers, mercenaries and warriors and turned them into a respected class of Japanese society that fought for, administered and most importantly served justice and the laws of ancient Japan and how these same virtues can help restore respect and ethics to the field of practicing law.

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Whether the Ninjutsu is a Koryu martial art is a question I’ve read and been asked many times and there a plethora of opinions about this. A very common cited source for one opinion is Koryu.com and I have been asked my thoughts on this site.

In the interest of full disclosure, at my dojo, Poway Samurai Martial Arts, we practice the samurai and ninjutsu arts of the Takamatsuden as trained under the Jissen Kobudo Jinenkan.

It is important to recognize that despite the tremendous work and research done by Koryu.com and its primary sources of the Skoss’ and Dr. Karl Friday, they specifically state that they “Koryu.com” do not include ninjutsu and some related schools because they “…do not fall into OUR DEFINITION of the koryu bujutsu.” They go on to say “…just because we don’t share the same OPINION doesn’t mean that we are not all doing useful and good training.”

These are the key points. Neither the Skoss’ nor Dr. Friday have ever seen or examined the Takamatsuden related scrolls. Dr. Karl Friday, when confronted with the idea that he should ask Dr. Hatsumi to examine the documents for authenticity himself, said he was unqualified to make such a judgement.

The Kobudo arts of the Takamatsuden, have been recognized as Koryu by serveral Japanese organizations that are qualified to authenticate such scrolls, such as the Zen Nippon Todo Renmei among others.

The schools are listed in the Bugei Ryuha Daijiten, which is a catalogue of Koryu and Gendai Budo and due to its’ meticulous cataloging, formatting style and methods used in creating it, it has become THE standard academic reference for anyone doing research into the field of martial arts.

Basically what you have here are disagreeing opinions not unlike getting a Business Degree. For example, in California, the University of California has requirements that are different from the California State University system. Both are fully accredited but when transferring from one university to the other for the same business degree of study not all credits etc. transfer or are included in the curriculum of each university. Both have their own “opinions” of what a Business Degree requires and while there are differences there are typically more similarities.

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Wow, the last year has gone by fast! With that, it is time to turn our focus to a new sword school. We have been studying the sword work of the Kukishinden for the past year touching on the first scroll of the school in great depth. Those that have been with us for much of that year have blossomed beyond my wildest expectations. Having studied the “samurai” sword work for the past couple of years at Poway Samurai Martial Arts, we are now turning our attention to the sword work of the often misunderstood “ninja”.

Starting on August 4th, 2009, we will be spending the next few months studying the basics of the Togakure Ryu school’s “ninja” sword work to familiarize students with the understanding of its fundamentals and how it was used against “samurai” sword work. This is a rare opportunity to learn a historically accurate aspect of “ninja” training with the same kata taken directly from the scrolls the Tokagure Ryu Ninjutsu practioners used for hundreds of years. If you are sword enthusiast, samurai enthusiast, ninjutsu enthusiast or someone who wants to experience authentic ninjutsu training in the San Diego area, now is a rare opportunity to learn some material we will not cover again for two or three years!

See you in class!
Tony Whetstine (The Bushido Guy)
Poway Samurai Martial Arts

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We call ourselves The Samurai School because we maintain the heritage of the Samurai and Ninja lineage by teaching these Japanese arts directly from the ancient scrolls. This is different from any other school you will find offering Karate and Martial Arts in San Diego. Our teachings of kobudo (old martial arts) traditions harkens back to field combat tactics that involved large groups and complex strategies to win battles.

Too often the “modern” martial arts of today fail to provide much skill, focus or purpose in life other than to fight. They have thrown away the traditions, lessons and philosophies their arts were based on. The focus of the Japanese warriors was not simply to be a good fighter or warrior (bushi) but to temper those skills with the lessons and philosophies for a fundamentally more full, abundant and happy life. That is why Samurai means essentially “to serve” and Ninja essentially means “to persevere or be patient”.

When you choose to study the traditional and authentic Japanese martial arts of the Samurai and Ninja, you learn martial arts with meaning. By following Bushido, (the way of the samurai), our students find meaning in their lives they did not even know they were looking for. The traditional arts of the Samurai and Ninja teach effective skills for self defense and combat from techniques that have been practiced for hundreds of years. And, they also build character, self esteem, focus and self discipline skills which help increase mental agility. This can give those who practice it an advantage in the workplace and build a solid moral and ethical approach to life which leads to a safe and happy existence. Plus, as a physical activity, our training provides a non repetitive form of exercise that can relieve stress both physically and mentally.

Come to The Samurai School and train with us to change your life. It’s not just martial arts, it’s Bushido!

Tony Whetstine (The Bushido Guy)
Owner/Instructor of Poway Samurai Martial Arts

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