True Martial Arts Academy

A big thank you to all who attended the Sensei Jim Beer Re-Release Party at the Mighty Squirrel Brewing Co. We had a great night of laughs, stories, beer, food, trivia and plenty of winners of Sensei Jim and Cloud Candy Beer, along with True Martial Arts Academy apparel. Check out the Mighty Squirrel and pick up a 4 pack of Sensei Jim Beer and stop by the True Martial Arts Academy to register for our summer Martial Arts programs. Cheers 👊🍺👊

Hello to all, the Re-Release of Sensei Jim Beer is Friday June 19th at Mighty Squirrel Brewing Co. 6-9 pm. Please join me and other True Martial Arts Academy Staff and Family for a fun night of getting together and celebrating the re release of Sensei Jim Beer. See you there! 👊👊

Hello to all TMAA Family Members and Friends and Family. Finally getting caught up on another belated martial arts post for the New Year. April 1st, 2025, was the 50-year anniversary of my martials arts journey which began back in April of 1975. To celebrate and give back to all the students, over the many years the True Martial Arts Academy held its annual Beisho Association Seminar on May 31st. In attendance there were over 75 current and former students, instructors and family who came from across the United States, California, Oregon, Colorado, Ohio, Maryland, New York, New Hampshire and Massachusetts.

The Seminar guest instructor was Sensei Ed Kearney, 7th dan from Cleveland Oh. Sharing his knowledge of Silat, close quarter combat and knife fighting on Friday evening and Saturday afternoon. Saturday morning Professor Harry Curtis of Castoldi Ju jitsu and self defense shared his knowledge of locks and holds along with Sensei Steven Tuilimeri presenting skills and drills of ground fighting.

As the seminar came to a close late Saturday afternoon the dojo was now packed with all the students past and present as the group was led through an awards ceremony honoring all those that had helped me on my journey. One of the principles I spoke about was the concept of "Push and Pull" as it related to the people who helped push and pull me along the way, both physically and emotionally in both our lives. Too many to name, but a heart felt attitude of gratitude to my family members for their support and participation whether they wanted to or not… lol, my Instructor Papa Christopher Clarke and all the instructors I trained with over the years and the students that walked the path along the way, arigato gozaimasu.

What followed next were many rank promotions from 1st degree black belt, Shodan to 10th degree black belt, Judan. An amazing accomplishment for so many individuals spanning over 65 years of knowledge and training embedded in years of friendship, hard work, dedication, blood, sweat and tears, laughter and fun along the way!

I was honored with a promotion to Kudan (9th degree black belt) from my instructor Papa Chris, presenting me with his red belt that he has worn over his many years. I am extremely grateful and humbled to be honored with this promotion and acknowledgement of the many years of training, teaching and cultivating karate-do!

And it was only fitting to end the seminar with promoting the founder of our Beisho Association, Papa Christopher Clarke to the rank of Judan, 10th degree black belt. An amazing journey of over 65 years of training, teaching, leadership, educational and historical writings of karate and kobudo (weapons) that has inspired many students to continue their pursuit of the martial arts!

Hello All TMAA Members, hope you are warm and safe.

The Academy will be closed again tomorrow Tue. 27th for the youth and adult classes, due to the storm and our policy of following the Waltham Public Schools Winter Storm Cancelation Policy.
Enjoy another snow day and we'll be back open Wed. 28th. Be safe stay warm and practice!

Sensei Jim and TMAA Staff. 👊👊

Hello, all fellow karateka, just getting caught up on some of our latest's seminars.
In November of 2024 we held our Beisho Fall Seminar, featuring Sensei Jesse Knowles from Tenzan Karate-do, traveling from Atlanta, GA. to teach a seminar on "The Art of Leverage". We also had Prof. Harry Curtis from Castoldi Ju jitsu, as well as Sensei Steven Tulimieri and myself from the True Martial Arts Academy wedging ourselves into the teaching schedule.
Exploring leverage from many different angle's students were taught positive leverage of maintaining the direction and momentum of an opponent, negative leverage of reversing the direction and momentum, sequential leverage of moving from one fulcrum to another using wrist, elbow, shoulder, hip to redirect or throw the opponent and finally multiplane leverage of all the above in conjunction with sweeps, leg scoops and takedowns.
The seminar was a great success with over thirty students attending from Ohio, Georgia, New York, Colorado and New Hampshire.
We ended the event by celebrating with an evening out at a local Japanese Steak House!
A big thank you Sensei Jesse Knowles and all the students..... Domo arigato gozaimasu!

Celebrating our Annual Awards Banquet with over 150 people, the True Martial Arts Academy presented over 75 awards to youth, adult and families for their commitment, dedication and training in karate-do. Awards included, individual, sibling, family, most improved, teaching, dojo service and community service. Congratulations to Patricia Vasquezi for receiving the Community Service Award for her half a century of teaching and a being a principal in the Waltham Community. Games of limbo, musical chairs and sensei says were played by all, as well as face painting and ninja tattoos. Thank you to all who attended and those that helped with serving food and organising the event. Arigato👊👊

Did you know our Waverley Oaks Park tenants - Mighty Squirrel Brewing Co. & True Martial Arts Academy - collaborated on a Japanese Lager? Named after Owner, Jim True, for his 40+ years of commitment to teaching and service work in the Waltham community.

Clean, crisp, and refreshing with a soft floral note. Sensei Jim is brewed with large portions of rice which give it a light golden color and an exquisitely dry finish. Available on draft and in 4pks to-go at Mighty Squirrel’s Fenway & Waltham taprooms. Also available with online ordering with pick up at both locations.
📷Mighty Squirrel

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=890508719534672&id=100057266575880&mibextid=9R9pXO

"A picture really says a thousand words!"
Thank you Jim for this picture and a heart-warming message in your email!

"Two of the women have been with me over 8 years and finally making their black belt. I gave a big speech about using Eosin Panther for at least the last thirty years or so as my only belt embroider and that they have always delivered, then showed them two of my belts from about 25 years ago and another from 30 years ago, both Mr. Yi did for me then presented them their belts.. All smiles

Thank you,
Best,
Jim

* We'd love to see your beloved Eosin Panther belt.. please share your picture. :)

Our deepest condolences and prayers 🙏💙🙏
BREAKING: A Waltham policer officer was killed, and three utility workers hurt after a crash at a construction detail, NewsCenter 5 sources say; A police vehicle was stolen after crash. Latest >>> https://on.wcvb.com/46MzfV5

A big thank you to all the instructors and students who attended and participated in the annual Biesho Fall Seminar hosted by the True Martial Arts Academy this past weekend. The event was well attended with students and instructors from Colorado, New York and New Hampshire. Congrats to all the instructors, Ken Bladyka, Paul West, Harry Curtis, Steven Tulimieri, Norm Krinsky, Justin Sheehy and Jim True.
Nine hours of interactive fighting drills, ju jitsu flow and entering drills, ippon, sanbon, and yakusoku drills. All followed by an interactive flow drill with applications from Pinan shodan and self defense applications from Naihanchi shodan taught by guest instructor Sensei Bladyka and Paul West.
Not to be out done by the two day event, we finished it off with another three hours at a Japanese Hibachi Steak House. Domo Arigato Gozaimasu 👊