ABK: American Budo Kwan

American Budo Kwan is a complete martial arts system, not a combative sport. Our curriculum is consistent with traditional martial philosophy for character development and includes traditional forms, reality-based self defense, sparring, weapons training and test breaking, using powerful strikes with speed and accuracy to break boards and bricks. Our core curriculum is based on the traditional Arts of Tae Kwon Do and Karate known for striking, kicking and footwork as well as discipline and physical conditioning. It also incorporates elements of Hapkido, Aikido and JuJitsu grappling and throwing arts. Okinawan and Filipino weapons are learned for better understanding the role weapons may play in self defense as well as for developing the heightened focus required in weapons training. This well rounded system gives our students essential understanding of self defense concepts, life skills to deal with challenge, confrontations and emotions, as well as everyday movements for everyday life, such as bending, squatting and lifting or falling without injury.
Our goal is to strengthen the body through hard work and flexibility and strengthen the mind through education and calmness, elevating the human spirit to improve one’s quality of life.
The benefits of the mental and physical development as well the virtues that one learns from training in traditional Martial Arts are invaluable. The skills and abilities to enable an individual to confidently protect oneself are life changing.
ABK Principles of Practice and Application
1. Training in the Martial arts is like a new pair of shoes, hard in the beginning but should soften over time.
2. Techniques must find their mark.
3. Technical proficiency is of the utmost importance, only time and repetition will hone your skills.
4. Forms should be practiced both fast and slow.
5. Proper breathing must be utilized to maximize power, intensity and endurance of techniques.
6. Techniques should be used based on the situation and governed by strategy.
7. Your force should be non-lethal and limited to only what is necessary to eliminate the threat and appropriately gain control the situation.
8. Weapons should be considered lethal force and should only be used to protect human life.
While these basic principles and strategies may appear to be simple, it will take many years to understand and develop the awareness, focus and timing to execute the appropriate techniques and movements when it is your turn in sparring or in life. It will take many more years to realize that regardless if it is landing a punch, countering an attack or waiting to return a serve, it is always your turn.

American Budo Kwan Precepts of Training
1. Train to be strong in the mind and body.
In most challenging situations, you do not have to be stronger than the opposition, you Do have to be strong enough to engage, endure and survive.
2. Train to be tolerant.
In life you will encounter more situations that require cooperation rather than competition. Let your strength foster empathy, understanding and a relaxed cooperative nature, so that you will not be quick to miss judge but instead be more accepting and respectful.
3. Train to become patient.
True persistence can only be learned through the quiet struggle of patience. Patience with oneself creates tolerance for others. Patience will quiet the mind and allow for understanding and acceptance.
4. Train to have discipline.
Discipline is the only way other than through suffering and hardship, to learn and practice acceptance when acceptance is not mandated by necessity. Discipline will develop and garner respect for oneself and others. Discipline is respect in action.
5. Train to have courage.
When you are in acceptance and with understanding of your fear, your strength, compassion, patience and discipline will allow you to be accepting of your situation, therefore allowing for an appropriate response, even when you would rather just be Right. Being Right is never more important than being Appropriate. Courage will allow humility to emerge when it is difficult but necessary.
American Budo Kwan shares similar precepts and philosophies with Karate Do, Tae Kwon Do and most other “ Do “ arts. Martial arts are not the only art forms or disciplines to teach or embrace these ideals, they just use a hands on approach to the teaching and manifestation of them. Discipline, patience, humility and courage are tools for navigating through life. Martial arts training routinely provides situations that require students to put these characteristics into practice.