The martial arts were originally aimed towards life preservation and self defense, but today people train in martial arts from all walks of life, each with their own set reasons for wanting to train. Some want to learn self-defense, others want to compete in competitions, some seek fitness and others just want to have fun and relieve stress. Whatever your reason, you will find others just like you.
White’s Martial Arts / Oshawa Systema have developed proven teaching methods which will help you learn the art of self defense quickly and easily, as well as provide a wide range of benefits for students of all ages.
Physical Benefits
Improved reflexes and co-ordination.
Increased strength and stamina.
Better balance and higher energy levels.
Improved flexibility, better health and longevity.
Weight loss and control and improved muscle tone.
Mental Benefits
Improved self image and self esteem.
Increased self confidence and positive attitude.
Greater self discipline and “Can Do” attitude.
Improved concentration, work and study habits.
Stress reduction and increased levels of relaxation.
The knowledge that you are able to protect yourself and your loved ones should a situation arise.
For whatever your reasons, whatever your goals, martial arts can help! For a new you, start training today!
If you are in Durham Region
I invite you to come out and see if martial arts is for you … for Free!
The philosophy! It’s about being natural! It’s about being human! It is about being a good person. Here is a great explanation of Systema’s philosophy from Mikhail Ryabko.
There was a boy with a bad temper. His father gave him a bag of nails and told him that every time he lost his temper, to hammer a nail in the back fence. The first day the boy had driven 37 nails into the
fence. Then it gradually dwindled down. He discovered it was easier to
hold his temper then to drive those nails into the fence.
Finally the day came when the boy didn’t lose his temper at all. He told his father about it and the father suggested that the boy now pull out one nail for each day that he was able to hold his temper. The days
passed and the young boy was finally able to tell his father that all
the nails were gone. The father took his son by the hand and led him to
the fence.
“You have done well, my son, but look at all the holes in the fence. The fence will never be the same. When you say things in anger, they leave a scar just like this one. you can put a knife in a man and draw
it out, it won’t matter how many times you say ‘I’m Sorry,’ the wound is
still there. A verbal wound is as bad as a physical one.”
How do we teach our children about anger management? How do we get our point across in martial art class? First off Anger Management is our ability to control ourselves from blowing up and exploding in fits of rage. There are some simple techniques to help us prevent this such as counting to ten and through deep breathing. In order for us to teach this to our youth in the martial arts a great tool called the “mat chat” may be employed. The students are gathered around the Master Teacher and a quick discussion takes place. This is not simply a lecture time from the teacher but rather a question and answer time to allow the students to give their answers and feedback. It helps the students to think and to be heard and it helps them to relate more closely to the lessons of martial arts and not just regurgitate answers. Communication skills and anger management techniques are self-defense!
This video by Tom Callos is a great example of a “Mat chat” covering a few techniques for anger management in a children s /youth martial arts class .
In martial arts we teach our students to bow. The bow is used as a salute and a greeting which usually also denotes seniority by way of the junior first bowing to the senior with the senior returning the courtesy. Sometimes we get so formal in our teachings and ways that we lose sight of the fact that it is a personal connection with another person. It is a connection from the teacher to the student and from the student to the teacher. It’s not an ego booster for the teacher! Nor is it teach the student to be submissive.
Here is a great short clip of Master Tom Callos teaching a youth class on polite greeting.
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