Kenshi-kai Okinawa Goju-Ryu
North America Headquarters 

"Preserving The Old Ways"

Martial Science

"TCM" Traditional Chinese Medicine

It is important to understand that Acupuncture (and Traditional Chinese Medicine in general), is not "folk medicine". It is a highly developed, systematic, recorded, researched, and peer reviewed form of medicine with several disciplines that continues to evolve. It has a massive amount of real-world data to justify the application of techniques based on several thousand years of human trials.

Chinese Medicine has been in existence since before 500 B.C. with the earliest mentions of "stone needles". Because of Western influence, which brought on the downfall of Imperial China in 1911, it wasn’t until 1950 that there was a distinction between the "old" medicine (yi or yi xue) and the "new" TCM (zhong yi).

The principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine are the basis for many of the original Chinese, Indonesian and Okinawan protection arts. Understanding what makes something work is the key to making it not work. The same medicine a doctor would prescribe as a cure can, taken in the wrong amounts or in combination with other substances, cause other problems, even death. By utilizing the effects of TCM in martial arts, one can synergistically over power or breakdown the strongest attack with ease.

It is also worth mentioning that not all TCM medical applications have application from a combative standpoint.  3 prime examples are tonification, sedation and meridian flow redirection as these procedure requires multiple point activation, lengthy time of insertion, varying metals to accomplish these actions.  

The study of TCM requires an in-depth knowledge of anatomy and physiology, including neurology (nervous system), skeletal structure, joints/connective tissue, vascular system, respiratory and muscles. Since the body, in its trillions of cells, is enlivened by qi, someone with the understanding of TCM can manipulate and weaken the systems of the body allowing for a much larger person to be more easily subdued with very little strength and effort. One of the benefits that comes with learning TCM for martial applications, is a better understanding and respect for life itself. Though we are implying the martial side, one cannot help but become somewhat proficient in the healing aspect as well.

Some of the laws and principles of TCM, as applied to such arts as Goju-Ryu Karate-jutsu (Ryukyu Kempo) are illustrated below. These are by no means the limit or extent of the sciences and practices that influence TCM.

We teach Martial Science which is the study of armed and unarmed combat.  Moreover, it is a deep understanding of all facets of fighting.  Though fighting has changed little over the millennia, our understanding of it has grown significantly over time!

What makes us unique is that we began our studies with ancient Traditional Chinese Medicine to understand the interplay of the various systems within the body-organic, systemic, energetic, and so on.  Then, we have tempered this with advanced study of Anatomy and Physiology, neurological, vascular, skeletal, body language, and much more.

Understanding how both our and our opponent's bodies react under stress has led to the development of a comprehensive system that works under stress! 

Overcoming an opponent with greater strength and size is only possible with these advantages. With them, his/her size and strength are irrelevant!