"The martial arts do not just build better fighters, they build better people."

Martial Arts

  There are hundreds of styles of martial arts in the world, and new ones are being "founded" every year. Men have been fighting hand-to-hand for thousands of years.

   The martial arts are similar to a buffet. Some things people love, some things people hate. Some things that are good may not be good for you. So, just as in a buffet, in the martial arts there are a lot of choices and you will never know what you might like until you sample everything.

   The term martial arts is used to describe a wide variety of physical activities, but the one common factor is fighting and self-defense. Some martial arts are basic, brutal, in your face fighting systems whose only goal is to beat down the opponent. Other martial arts are complicated, beautiful, and refined fighting arts whose goal is the perfection of human character. Then there is every combination in between.

   Martial arts are effective in, and may be used in, real fighting situations, but they involve much more than just fighting. Sometimes extraordinary physical abilities are required and intense mental control is always required. Martial artists learn core fighting skills and become proficient in them, but they go far beyond mere proficiency and strive for perfection of advanced martial art techniques. This is what separates the martial arts from the purely combative arts. Martial artists train in physical and mental fighting skills, but they also strive for perfection of human character. As people of action rather than students of words, many martial artists may not have thought much about what the word "art" in "martial art" really means. The term originated in ancient Greece. Socrates, the wisest of the Greeks, maintained that something is an "art" when it has "the greatest good of the soul or body in view." Substitute the words "character" and "personality" for "soul," and you have the meaning of a martial "art": "the study of war designed to build character and improve personality." The martial arts do not just build better fighters, they build better people.

   The term martial arts, though once aptly defined as "methods of violence and the control of that violence," literally means "military skills" and it encompasses all the individual fighting methods. Martial arts were initially created for combat. Combat may occur in different forms: it may occur in war, during law enforcement duties, or even during personal self-defense. However, the martial arts evolved from just being fighting methods into becoming a way of life for their practitioners. Most people go through their entire lives without ever having to defend themselves physically; so, if self-defense were the only reason for learning a martial art, the time and effort would be a waste of time, effort, and money. Martial arts are used to preserve life, through their use in self-defense, defense of others, or defense of country. Martial arts build character by teaching respect, honor, courtesy, integrity, perseverance, courage, and a sense of community.

 *Segments of this content courtesy of tkdtutor.com

Programs Offered at Pil-Sung

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) is a martial art and combat sport that focuses on grappling and especially ground fighting. It promotes the principle that a smaller, weaker person using leverage and proper technique can successfully defend against a bigger, stronger assailant using joint-locks and chokeholds to defeat an opponent. BJJ can be trained for self defense, sport grappling tournaments (gi and no-gi) and mixed martial arts (MMA) competition. Sparring (commonly referred to as 'rolling') and live drilling play a major role in training, and a premium is placed on performance, especially in competition.

A friendly relaxed atmosphere where you can learn the real art of BJJ for tournament, self defense, and mixed martial arts (MMA).

Capoeira

Capoeira is blend of martial art, game, and dance created is Brazil by enslaved Africans during the 16th Century. A graceful and strategic physical dialogue happens within a "roda", the circle where training manifests into primarily non-contact games between two Capoeiristas (practitioners of the art). These games are an intricate exchange of circular and straight kicks, escapes, sweeps, sprinkled with occasional takedowns, and gymnastic embellishments. This occurs while other participants forming the roda are clapping and singing specific songs to capoeira as they watch to the two Capoeiristas perform within the roda. Capoeira brings health and balance to the life of its participants, and is practiced by people of all ages. This martial art is ideal for building awareness of body and mind, teaching fast reflexes, self-defense tactics, and a bit of the Brazilian culture. Classes are led by Mestre Cabeça of Grupo Capoeira Brasil who has over 25 years of teaching experience.

Extreme Martial Arts

Extreme martial arts is a new exciting style of martial arts that is a mix of traditional martial arts styles (karate, tae kwon do, kung fu, capoeira, etc.) with added gymnastic/acrobatic moves, and action movie performance aspects. Great as an independent program or to compliment your traditional training, classes focus on demonstration and competition style routines, creative open hand and weapon patterns, and high level kicks, tricks & acrobatic martial art moves.

Haidong Gumdo

Haidong Gumdo is a Korean sword art that draws from battlefield tactics and techniques to build a curriculum for mental, physical and spiritual development.  In modern Haidong Gumdo, students learn prearranged forms, combat drills, sitting and moving meditation, sparring, as well as bamboo and straw cutting. Beginners practice with the wooden training sword (mok-gum) to develop fundamentals. Advanced practitioners with the proper respect and control train with both the wooden training sword and the metal practice sword (gah-gum).

Kung Fu

Modern Self-Defense

Modern Jujitsu is not to be confused with Brazilian Jujitsu. This dynamic system of self-defense is not about ground fighting. Modern Jujitsu teaches you to stay on your feet and use joint locks and pressure points to takedown and control an attacker... regardless of size or strength! You can even learn to take down an attacker with one finger! Modern Jujitsu is a fast, flowing, and scientific approach to self-defense. Teaching Modern Self-Defense Concepts, Modern Jujitsu combines martial arts and self-defense with natural physiology, psychology, and cutting edge "street smarts" to teach you the most comprehensive self-defense system.

Tai Chi

 Tai Chi or Tai Chi Chuan is a long-standing Chinese Martial Arts discipline. In essence it is an exercise made up of self defense boxing movements meant to teach important fighting techniques.  But in truth it is more than that; it embodies a philosophy that stresses the necessity of maintaining balance in all areas of one's life.  Specifically, Tai Chi teaches quiet alertness, external softness, the importance of a peaceful demeanor, fluidity of movement, total body coordination, better concentration and the importance of good balance. Although Tai Chi is viewed as a fighting system, it is also highly valued as a modality for regaining and maintaining good health for all age levels.  Because of its inherent benefits, Tai Chi Chuan is also recognized for its ability to address chronic illnesses.  Tai Chi itself covers a broad range of styles, or "families", including:  Chen, Yang, Wu, Hao and Sun.  Thus it offers all age and skill levels opportunities to learn at their own pace and abilities both empty-hand form movements and weapons.