What is Heiwa-Ryu?
Heiwa-Ryu means "Peaceful Way." We believe and teach a way of living in
peace. This Peaceful Way is undergirded by the ability to bring a swift and
ferocious war. Heiwa-Ryu Martial Arts Academy is a non-profit organization that
was founded in 1972. Our training touches the spirit, mind and body of us all. There are
many ways to build confidence and to deal with life-threatening situations. The Heiwa-Ryu
Martial Arts Academy is an entity registered with the State of California as a "Not for
Profit" business known as Peaceful Way Karate Academy.
The Heiwa-Ryu Martial Arts Academy physical curriculum includes three specific areas
of focus: Yang Style Tai Chi Ch'uan; Heiwa-Ryu Karate; Combative Skills.
Heiwa-Ryu Karate
The Founder of Heiwa-Ryu, John Doub,Sr.-Soke,
had two different styles of Karate that were strong influences in his
martial arts development. The Founder's first sensei (from 1961 until 1964) was
Master Nakachi Yoichi1
who taught a style of Japanese Karate that he founded called Shinpuren; Master Nakachi would later change the
name to Nippon Kenpo Butokukan due to an assumed association of the Shinpuren name with
an ultra-rightwing organization in Japan. Master Nakachi had received his Yudansha
from Master Mabuni Kenei2,
son of the Founder of the Okinawan Karate style Shito-Ryu, Master Mabuni Kenwa3.
Our Founder received his Sandan rank from Master Yoichi Nakachi in 1964 (pre-dated the certificate for 1969).
John Doub-Soke's second karate sensei was Master Hulon Willis4,
whom he met at a tournament near Fort Lee, Virginia. Master Willis taught him another
style of Japanese Karate called Kyokushin. The Founder of Kyokushin Karate, Master Mas Oyama5,
had selected Master Hulon Willis as the Kyokushin representative in the Southern United States. After spending some quality time
with Master Willis from 1968 until 1970, the John Doub-Soke adopted more of a Kyokushin
style to his own Karate. Taking both styles of Japanese Karate, our Founder selected
the kata for Heiwa-Ryu Karate that best supported his ideal. In the early 1990's
John Doub-Soke began to research, and practice, the Okinawan roots of Classical Karate.
Yang Style Tai Chi Ch'uan
A Chinese martial art whose name translates as the "Grand Ultimate Fist Way."
It is the root and mainstay of the three main internal systems of the Chinese Martial
Arts. While the Tai Chi appears to be a graceful exercise for health, it is a deadly
martial art and an incredible device to develop intrinsic energy - the Chi. The
"modern" teacher of the Yang Style was Yang Cheng Fu6
( 1883 - 1935). His prolific student, Sifu Choy Hoc Pang (a contemporary of Cheng Man-Ching7)
taught most of the Tai Chi instructors in the United States in the 1940-1950's. His son, Sifu Choy Kam Man,
taught the Founder of Heiwa Ryu for over 10 years and gave him permission to
teach Yang Style Tai Chi Ch'uan to his students.
Heiwa-Ryu Combative Skills Program
Our Founder saw the value of kihon kumite (basic/fixed sparring) for helping
beginning students to quickly understand how the techniques, or bunkai, they
learn in the kata and waza can be used in real life situations. In addition,
the Founder also saw the value of incorporating Muay Thai Kickboxing techniques
into our Combative Skills Program.
It is the general belief that all of the movements that a person needs to know in
order to protect themselves is found in kata. The Combative Skills Program was
developed to transmit some simple, yet effective, grappling and striking techniques
to the student based upon movement found in kata without having to teach the
entire form first. While learning the form is still a requirement, it is believed
that the Combative Skills Program is an important tool to increase a students
self-confidence and their ability to be able to defend themselves much sooner.
Biographical Link Sources
1. Provided by the Butokukan Karate Web Site.
2. Provided by the Shito-Ryu Karate Resource Centre Web Site.
3. Ibid.
4. Provided by the The Australian Kyokushin Home Page Web Site.
5. Ibid.
6. Provided by the International Tai Chi Chuan Association Web Site.
7. Provided by the The Official Professor Cheng Web Site.