"Real" Karate - Is What We Teach
Sayeret Haganah Atsmit (精銳部隊自衛) is another name for Ryukyu Kenpo Kobujutsu (琉球 拳法 古武術). It comes from one of the oldest, and most effective, military combat systems ever developed. It is REAL Karate the kind that was taught before "modern" systems, when advanced students and Masters were FEARED and it was only taught to professionals whose careers dealt with life and death situations in Okinawa, its birth place. Right! Karate is NOT Japanese! It is Okinawan. It means "China Hand". The Japanese used a Kanji that sounds the same but means 'Empty' (as in space) in order to remove its Chinese origins. The Japanese and, in turn, both the Koreans and Western world turned it into a martial sport that is a joke and inferior to the original in asocial street violence. This system is designed for adults and mature teens. The training is difficult, dangerous, and demanding. It takes perseverance, high motivation, a good mind, and, an unwillingness to compromise standards. The system teaches violence control and prevention recognizing that "self-defense" is a misnomer utilized to circumvent the ugly truth that it takes violence to stop or repel violence. Improvised as well as standard weapons are included in the training, where possible. It was meant to supplement a soldier's battlefield repertoire of techniques and ideas to keep him alive and functioning in that hostile environment. As a result this system is not for exercise or sport. Taught in near secrecy in Israel for more than three decades, it was opened up in 2023 for civilians and the rest of the world to have the ability to learn it in its entirety.
This Is Why We Teach
The violent seek us out. For civilians, with the situation as it is today, it is best to avoid violent confrontations; and, to utilize violent techniques, only, as a last resort in your defensive layering. Violence is rarely the answer, but when it is, it is the only answer. Violence is a tool. It is neither good nor bad. It is the intent of the user that determines its status. It is our understanding that, real defense is not fighting or dueling; rather, it is a system that minimizes the chance of attack. One thing is true: the principles of defense are diametrically opposed to those of today's "Sport Karate", Taekwondo, MMA or any other competitive martial sport the likes of which reward aggressive behavior.
This Is Who We Are
The Academy of Ryukyu Kenpo [琉球 拳法 學院 (紅村)] is a private school. It's Master Instructor is licensed by the Sports Ministry in Israel, the Korean Taekwondo Association in Seoul, Korea, and (most importantly) by the Zen Koku Ryukyu Kenpo Karate Kobujutsu Rengokai. It is currently located at #4 Borot HaMayim, in Kfar Adumim, Israel.
The Academy of Ryukyu Kenpo was originally established in 1975 in Independence, Missouri by Jon David (D'veed) Natan (徳維 納騰). The name was a direct translation of "Ryukenkan" (琉拳館), the Dojo name given to D'veed Natan by (Taika) (大家) Seiyu Oyata. The Academy oversees the activities of the other Sayeret Haganah Atsmit (精銳部隊自衛)/Ryukyu Kenpo Kobujutsu (琉球 拳法 古武術) Dojo, clubs and groups teaching in Israel and expanding throughout the United States of America and the rest of the world. It is our Honbu (紅村) Dojo (道場) and is a member of the Ryukyu Kenpo Karate Kobudo Rengokai (琉球 拳法 唐手 古武道 連合会) an umbrella organization, encompassing the Ryukyu Kenpo Kobujutsu Kai (琉球 拳法 古武術 会), in addition to other Okinawan style organizations.
A Bit More
We start all students on a Five Lesson Starter Program. The purpose is for you to see and determine if you like what we teach. The program includes Five 1/2 hour private Lessons. If you are determined to train with us, you will obtain membership in the Ryukyu Kenpo Kobujutsu Kai; the organization that licenses all Dojo and Instructors.
Normally, you would signup for the Black Belt Program. This is a 12 to 18 month program in which you learn a predetermined course of instruction, that, will require from you determination, dedication, and tons of hard work in order to be awarded your Black Belt within this time period. When your Instructors feel that you understand and can perform the material, you will be awarded the rank of Shodan. Your training will then become much more personalized. For those who do not wish to learn the entire curriculum, allowances can be made for a more limited field of study. The disadvantage to this approach will be an inability to be awarded a Black Belt.
Some will want the benefits of our VIP Program and for those with very large families the Family Program brings all of the family together in a special family weekly private lesson!
We offer classes for children. Unlike adults, children need encouragement and positive reinforcement due to their limited goal orientated attention spans. Therefore, we have instituted a Colored Belt system that rewards them every three months or so with a new Belt and Diploma. When they are ready to advance we hold a ceremony at which each child demonstrates something that he or she excells at so the parent's can witness their child's improvement.
We also offer an Instructor's Program for those who have passed their Green Belt or Second Stage in the Black Belt Program who wish to begin the path towards a rewarding career helping other people to reach their maximum potential! Not only do these careers provide self-employment as a professional in a booming industry, just like a Doctor or Lawyer, but they also provide financial security and job satisfaction.
It should be noted that we are not a sport oriented system. We exist primarily to safeguard the lives of our students. This includes healthful exercises, Traditional Chinese Medical advice, a 'can do' attitude, confidence in their ability to succeed, and a positive outlook on life
Costs
When you first call us, you will be setup with a time for an interview. At the interview you will be informed of the costs involved while studying with us. If you decide to learn with us, you will then be given the necesary forms to fill out for the "First Five" program.
Our fees are those set by the Ryukyu Kenpo Kobujutsu Kai. Unlike almost every other system or school you will find today, in our Adult training we do not have a testing regimen involving a "Bunch of Belts and Tests" below the Black Belt and their ensuing costs. We are very traditional in that we wear a "White Belt" until we feel the student is ready to be awarded a "Black Belt". When he is ready we advance him in the Black Belt ranks. No massive "Testing" days, just a simple awards ceremony. No pressure. It's not necessary!
Understand!
Violence is not a game. Our goal is to provide effective strategies and skills for surviving violent encounters – at whatever level. Our goal is not to teach you how to stand there and fight. We do not teach "dueling"; nor are we concerned with "winning". Our only goal is to teach you how to end it now! By ending a violent encounter quickly, you do one thing – ensure your own safety. The strategies, tactics and degree of force necessary all change according to the threat level, your goals or profession.
Violence should be employed only when no other choice or options are available to avoid it. The situation must be put in proper context. Think as to how you will relate to it a few days from now. Will it be that important, then? Will you even remember what caused it to occur? Is it worth jail time to you? A hospital stay? Your death, his death, unintentional, or not? Fighting IS illegal.
A simple, but controversial, statement is: The reason that most 'martial arts' techniques fail in actual conflict is that the person trying to use them doesn't have the "principles" nailed down. There are fundamental elements that MUST be present in an effective response. In training, reviewing these elements is often met with a "yeah, yeah, I know that" attitude. The problem is in an actual confrontation, the know-it-all does everything BUT those "principles" and that is why he fails.
Training slowly making sure that accuracy in target selection, striking, and follow through; as well as choosing the proper 'tool' to use from your 'toolbox' of available choices to you, are critical elements involved in these principles. If you can't do it slow, you can't do it fast!
As our goal is survival from 'predatory asocial' violence and not 'civil' or 'sporting event' violence, we emphasize that these fundamental principles must be ingrained. We don't care if you "know" them, we care that you "do" them as instinctively and automatically as breathing. Don't practice until you get it right. Practice until you can't get it wrong.
And, it is having those "principles" ingrained that will not only save you in a conflict, but will allow you to moderate your use of force – which does wonders for keeping you out of jail afterwards.
Techniques fail. Things go wrong. Mr. Murphy and his laws are always present in a physical confrontation. Many a perfectly good technique can be – and has been – utterly defeated by the attacker simply stepping forward. If you only "know" rather than "understand" a move, your attempts are vulnerable to Mr. Murphy. That is because you probably will not be able to react fast enough when the situation changes and alter your own actions to meet this new and different threat. Or, you will attempt to muscle your way through, to make a move work. This would be fine if you are a big, strong man, but if you attempt to contest the strength of a larger and stronger opponent your technique will fail – nearly every time. Knowing the principles and being able to utilize them is what works.
You may know hundreds of techniques, but if you don't understand what makes them work you won't be able to apply them outside the controlled environment of the training hall. If you understand the principles that make them work, no matter what is happening you can develop a move – on the spot – that will be successful against any size opponent. A student must have an ingrained understanding of these principles; that allow him to operate effectively within the chaos of violent confrontation. The 'technique collector' will often freeze in confusion, unsure of which, of the hundreds of techniques he "knows", would have been best. By the time he decides on one, the opportunity and the technique's effectiveness has passed. This is why so many training hall techniques fail when they are desperately needed.
Wicked times are upon us. Barbaric mobs of vermin are rioting, burning, looting, and murdering innocent people in big cities around the world, due to their crazed ideologies. Being able to defend yourself and your loved ones has value beyond measure. Now is the time to begin developing these skill sets. Later may be just that, too late!