SPIRIT WARRIOR TRAINING

    What does training at the Spirit Warrior Martial Arts Academy involve? Hard work, of course! The training is based on the style of moo duk kwan taekwondo. Moo duk kwan, which was founded by Hwang Kee, means "school of martial virtue." A typical class will include any or all of the following: stretching, strength building, basics, forms (poomse,) self-defense, step-sparring, free sparring, and since we are a taekwondo dojang, a lot of kicking drills. Discussions of warrior values are common and frequent during class (such as the five tenets of taekwondo, courtesy, integrity, perseverance, self-control, and indomitable spirit.) Classes begin and end with a short meditation session.

    At Spirit Warrior Martial Arts Academy, traditional martial arts is core to our training. A lot can be said, though, for the improvement and evolution of martial arts training in the world today. At Spirit Warrior we strive for a balance between the two. One moment the student may be performing a very traditional poomse (form,) followed later with a combination technique involving a taekwondo kick and some boxing punches. There is benefit, and truth in both.

    Respect and discipline are absolute standards of behavior at Spirit Warrior Martial Arts Academy. Both are encouraged and enforced in every class. Respect is shown to the instructor, fellow students, and each person a student comes in contact with. Despite a more liberal attitude in many schools, pushups are still used at Spirit Warrior for discipline, for one very simple reason. It works.

    We train to make our minds and our hearts strong. We train to defend ourselves on the street. And we train to fight in tournaments, although competition training is not our main focus (but they are fun, and for some students they help to overcome fear.)

   

THE SPIRIT WARRIOR DIFFERENCE

    This is not just another watered down martial arts school as is so prevalent in America today. In a time when belt advancements are so readily handed out like candy, you can be assured that at Spirit Warrior Martial Arts you will not be allowed to advance in rank until you are truly ready. This especially holds true for the rank of black belt. Black belt means you are in effect an expert of some sort at self-defense. To earn it, you must show that you can readily defend yourself in most any situation. In addition, it also holds that simply being the toughest fighter on the planet in and of itself does not mean you are worthy of a black belt. A true black belt also knows how to avoid a fight. At the Spirit Warrior Martial Arts Academy, to earn a black belt you must also show that you have the self-control and compassion of a true warrior.

 

A TRUE WARRIOR

    A true warrior is not simply one who is proficient at combat, but one who is also a warrior of the spirit. A spirit warrior is compassionate, and a champion of justice and honor. A spirit warrior is a warrior of virtue. These ideals are illustrated through the Spirit Warrior Martial Arts Academy emblem.

 

 

 

   The Spirit Warrior Martial Arts Academy emblem is a symbol of the warrior we strive to be. The three points of the triangle represent the perfect warrior, in union with the mind, body, and spirit. The color red of the triangle is for blood. It represents the lifehood that unites us all. This is especially true of the Spirit Warrior Martial Arts Academy student, who is bonded in a brotherhood/sisterhood to serve and protect one another. The yin/yang symbol in the center of the triangle represents the opposing nature of the universe (hard and soft, light and darkness, passive and aggressive.) This nature of the universe is one of constant change through the dynamic interaction of these forces. It is a duality that must have both parts to exist. The fist under the triangle stands for our martial abilities, the combat warrior in us, and our absolute readiness to defend ourselves, or another. It is colored white, which means our combat skills are tempered by the compassion and purity of our true nature. Combat skills are used as a last resort. The black on the emblem represents the black belt. As a whole, the emblem represents a true warrior, a spirit warrior.