What we teach
Karate
Karate is a Martial Art developed in the Ryukyu Islands, now known as Okinawa, Japan.
Karate is heavily influenced by Chinese fighting styles, as citizens from China and Okinawa crossed the East China Sea and exchanged fighting methods. Karate was banned at various times in the history of Okinawa, but it flourished as it was practiced in secret and passed from generation to generation.
Karate was exported to mainland Japan early in the 20th Century and, following World War II, to the United States. Our style was created by a bodyguard to the Ryukyu (Okinawan) emperor, Bushi Matsumura. For more information, see History & Lineage.
Kobudo
Kobudo is the practice of Okinawan weaponry. Weapons we teach include bo, sai, kama, tonfa, tekko and nunchaku.
Weapons used in traditional Okinawan martial arts derive, for the most part, from farming and fishing implements.
Tuite
Tuite is an essential component of traditional Okinawan karate. At North Texas Kenshin Kan, it is taught to adult classes.
Tuite (pronounced tu’-ee-tee or tu’-ee-tay) involves:
- analyzing how the body’s joints are designed to move
- utilizing that understanding to manipulate the opponent, causing them to be uncomfortable and/or off balance.
Simply put, tuite is the art of controlling the opponent by joint manipulation. As with other aspects of our style, it may assume multiple opponents and that the attacker may counter - requiring the practitioner to be ready with the next technique.