Phoenix Gate Dojo Japanese Martial Arts Club

13/09/2022

Still here and the home of authentic Kaido Ryu and Wasenkai Karate-Do.

An Evolution In The Martial Way

28/08/2021

Things are still slow at the Dojo with the Pandemic but we are still here keeping the authentic arts and traditions alive and well.

17/08/2020

16/08/2020

I recently watched a popular You Tube video from the Hard To Hurt channel that criticized the use of the Kuboton as a self-defense tool. To be fair the video had a lot of really good points about the failings of Kubotons. However, in defense of Kubotons I did notice that the one he was using in the demonstration is considerably smaller in diameter than the one I learned to work with. Which of course would dramatically effect your ability to grip the weapon. Kuboton was one of the first martial art weapons that FSDA students were taught back in the day 1987-1993. We learned this along side Shobo palm sticks (basically a wooden Kuboton with no key-ring). The diameter of both of these weapons was between 3/4 inch to just under one inch. More modern mail order Kubotons now are around 1/2 inch or under. The video did neglect to address the Kuboton use as a flail when a key ring is attached. I did like the video for one reason in that it identified that the Kuboton is near in-effective in the hands of someone with little or no training. This I agree with whole heartedly. Anyone who just picks one up at the local martial arts supply store or orders one online without any actual training will have a difficult go of making this work for them. They require anatomical knowledge and precision strike training to have any real hope of being effective. However, as a fistload it's definitely no worse or no better than a role of quarters. I Completely agree with Icy Mike's assessment in the video of the mail order Ninja Kuboton (the one with the two protruding spikes) yes this one is a one trick pony that will cause you way more trouble than it is worth. If you are serious about wanting a Kuboton for your pocket fistload I highly recommend constructing your own out of a solid hardwood that conforms to your hand (since the older thicker ones don't seem to be available anymore). If this is not a good option for you I highly recommend the Cold Steel Koga SD 2... I have a couple of these and cannot say enough nice things about them. They are very durable and won't set off the ole metal detector... I have never had to use one in a "real" confrontation so your mileage may vary but in principle they are sound. A good tactical flashlight that can withstand impact is still a better option overall and is less likely to result in legal entanglements (since it is as much a tool as it is a weapon). My assessment of the kuboton (and shobo sticks) is that they are better than having nothing at all but are very limited without the aid of good training. You can look up the video on youtube if interested but I am not going to link it here due to mature adult language contained therein.

16/08/2020

Here is another piece of Wasenkai and Chido Ryu history from the early days of the FSDA (Courtesy Google Earth). Soke Seward rented a basement apartment in this house on Delaware Street in Benton Harbor, Michigan from late 1990 into early 1991. During that time classes in Wasenkai and Chido Ryu were held for Frontier Self-Defense Academy senior students (3rd Kyu and higher) in the garage pictured to the left of the house (The old brick building with the white garage door in the photo). At the time the house was light blue-ish gray in color but the old garage is still pretty much the same as it was then. Both Robert Berlin and myself had many classes out in the large yard behind the house and in the Garage Dojo. I took my Shodan examination in March of 1991 here and Robert Berlin took his first testing for Yondan in Chido Ryu here with me acting as Uke for the test. The standards for this test were near impossible at the time and were eventually changed during Chido Ryu's reorganization in 1994. (That's a whole other story in an of itself for another time).This house was also the location of the now "legendary" night-time full contact Jiyu Kumite. Broke both of my ring fingers when Soke threw me with a Yubi Nage. No matts, no pads, no gloves, no sparring armor, just old fashioned bare knuckle sparring. It was a different time, a different sentiment in training, and definitely not something I would recommend repeating. Despite it's risky nature, it did prove without a doubt that what we were learning not only worked but worked under adverse conditions in darkness with the only light present coming from the windows of the house. (Ahhh to be young, reckless, and little too crazy for our own good).

28/07/2020

What makes Kaido Ryu different from other styles/types of Karate?
1. A practical principle based curriculum.
2. An equal emphasis on hard style techniques (Go-ho), soft style techniques (Ju-ho), and weapons / self-defense tools (Buki-ho).
3. An equal emphasis on both linear and circular movement.
4. A high degree of technical integration between skills sets.
5. A comprehensive living art that embraces the best methodologies of classical and modern Japanese martial traditions. It is a complete system, not a select eclectic group of unrelated techniques.
6.A Holistic martial science curriculum covering a broad spectrum of skills and disciplines. (History, culture, philosophy, meditation, first-aid, anatomy, strategy and tactics, defensive-living, crisis mitigation, crime and violence prevention).
7. An emphasis on training both inside the Dojo and in real world conditions or environments.

09/07/2020

If we were to offer a Pro-Shop or E-Commerce Store on our website, What kind of products would you like most to see us feature?

04/07/2020

Happy Independence Day! God Bless America the only country in the world that has a Holiday celebrating true Freedom and Independence for all. A great day to reflect and improve on anything that is holding you back or demanding your dependence. Live Free!

24/06/2020

Updated Kaido Ryu Syllabus with the minimum testing requirements for all belt ranks.

06/06/2020

If you know a situation is volatile or dangerous the best course is to just avoid it all together whenever possible. If you can't avoid it then use good situational awareness to recognize potential problems and reduce their ability to cause you harm.