"Real" Karate - Is What We Teach
For close to five decades, the Academy has taught Ryukyu Kenpo Kobujutsu (琉球 拳法 古武術). The version of Ryukyu Kenpo taught at the Academy is oficially called "Hóng Cūn Quánfa" (紅村拳法) "Red Village Fist" though we tend to simply call it Ryukyu Kenpo in normal conversations. The name honors the fact that it was developed in Kfar Adumim (כפר אדומים) (Red Village), located on the silk road connecting Jerico and Jerusalem. The name recognizes the elements of Chinese Kenpo that were incorporated into Seiyu Oyata's original Ryukyu Kempo. We teach authentic techniques proven to work through centuries of successful police and military experience. These aren't sport techniques - they're designed for real-world survival and protection. Our system utilizes both the oldest and most modern weapons, tactics, and training available. The 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 quit. 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 weapons are included in the training. It was designed to supplement a soldier or policeman's repertoire of techniques and ideas to keep him alive and functioning in a hostile environment. As a result this system is not for exercise or sport. Taught in near secrecy for more than three decades, it was opened up after October 7th, 2023 for civilians to have the ability to learn it for their future safety. The training has been expanded to also include the (rare) asocial violence that plagues today's innocents. It was originally taught wrapped in a cloak of civilian applications against non-consensual violence.
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 Zenkoku Ryukyu Kenpo Karate Kobujutsu Rengokai (全国琉球拳法唐手古武道連合会). 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) then known as John Newton. The name was a direct translation of "Ryukenkan" (琉拳館), the Dojo name given to D'veed Natan (John Newton) by (Taika) (大家) Seiyu Oyata. The Academy oversees the activities of the 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.
Our Lineage
A Bit More
If you are determined to train with us, you will purchase your uniform, obtain membership in the Ryukyu Kenpo Karate Kobudo Rengokai, the organization that licenses all Dojo and Instructors, and set up a schedule for your lessons. Payments are monthly and due by the 10th of every month.
Normally, you would signup for the Black Belt Program (see above). This is a 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 advanced. You will learn the meaning of: Nana Korobi ya Oki (七顛八起) "Fall Down Seven Times, Get Up Eight". When your Instructors feel that you understand and can perform the material, you will be elevated to the Yuudanshai. 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. There are disadvantages involved with this approach.
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 your ability to succeed, and a positive outlook on life
A further note: While the Academy does not teach children, we have a Children's Program that some of our affiliate Dojo and Instructors do teach. They have exclusive access to this information.
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 so you may be allowed to train with us. There will be no contracts for payment as we feel that if you are not capable of keeping your word, we don't want you!
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" and their ensuing costs. We are very traditional in that we wear a "White Belt" until we feel the student is ready to be accepted into the Yuudanshai. When he is ready, we advance him io the Yuudanshai with just a simple awards ceremony attended by his friends and family. 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.
What is the difference between a sage and a smart person? A smart person will be able to get out of a situation that a sage will avoid. -Talmud
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, 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!