|
Program
Introduction
Cedar Park’s
Christian Martial Arts ministry is designed to introduce participants to
the life-changing Gospel of Jesus Christ through a Christian form of
traditional martial arts training and the growth of their spiritual
discipline.
Participants train
under a certified Black belt instructor who will motivate them to grow
in their relationship with the Lord while they are learning an old Asian
art.
For centuries the
martial arts have provided a framework upon which individuals developed
strong bodies, alert minds, and spiritual discipline. This ministry
incorporates these principles while consistently upholding the moral and
ethical standards contained within the Holy Scriptures.
The martial art
that we study is a very old and traditional form of karate from Okinawa
called Shorin-ryu. It is a combination of hard and soft-style
techniques. The hard side is often associated with Japanese karate,
which is a direct descendant of Okinawan karate. The soft side of
Shorin-ryu came from a heavy Chinese Kenpo influence.
Classes are held Tuesday evenings from 7-8pm, and Saturday mornings from 9-10:30am. There is a $45 start-up fee per student that covers the cost of uniforms, patches and the student’s first training weapon, the bo staff. To be a member of the OSMKKF, there is a semi-annual dues fee of $18, or annual payment of $36, and there are modest fees for the student to be tested when eligible for promotion. Outside of the start-up fee, Cedar Park charges no fees for participation in this ministry. Because the class is taught an adult curriculum, the starting age for students is 11. We currently have a good mix of youth, teens and adults.
The dojo head
instructor is Jim Smoak he can be contacted via email at
karate@cedarpark.org. The overseeing dojo Pastor is Pastor Craig
Gorc, and he can be contacted through the "About Us" page on the Cedar Park Church web-site.
Back to the
Top
Instructors
The program is lead by Jim Smoak, who
is a black-belt certified by several Okinawan karate-do
associations, the most recent being the Okinawa Seito Matsumura Karate & Kobudo Federation (OSMKKF). Jim started his practice in the martial arts when he
was a teenager, and has been instructing since 1998. God put this
ministry on his heart several years ago, and he, with the assistance of
the Pastoral staff, started a similar ministry at his former church.
It has been running since 2001, and is still going strong today. The Cedar Park dojo started in 2005.
Jim is married and has two teenage
boys. He lives in Bothell WA, with his wife and sons.
Tim Amey is the dojo's assistant instructor. He is also a certified black-belt with the OSMKKF. He also is the head instructor for an OSMKKF registered youth dojo in Everett, WA. Tim leads a security company and lives in Everett, WA with his wife, daughter and youngest son.
Back to
the Top
Affiliation
The Cedar Park
Martial Arts instructor is a member of the Okinawa Matsumura Seito Karate and Kobudo Federation . The OMSKKF
encompasses active members training in affiliated dojos located
throughout North America, as well as overseas.
Headquartered in Okinawa, Japan, the Federation is overseen by Master Fusei Kise, 10th Dan. Master Kise stated in a recent speech that, "The character of Okinawa karate and kobudo is based on a foundation that the student of this discipline trains to build a strong body and mind, as well as value propriety and faith, all for the enrichment of his or her internal qualities".
Back to
the Top
Origins
Okinawa is the
birthplace of the arts of karate-do - a cultural treasure and oral
tradition that has spread throughout the world and is practiced by
millions. The OSMKKF story is only one of the
many threads within the diverse and rich living tapestry of traditions
encompassed by Okinawan karate-do.
Should
I Be Concerned About Eastern Mysticism in this Program?
Although the
martial arts were founded in Buddhist surroundings, they are not tied
to, or dependent Buddhism or any other Eastern religions. The original
purpose of the martial arts was never to lead anyone to certain
religions. They were designed to improve the practitioner’s physical,
mental and spiritual health by providing a way to bring out the best in
themselves through self-discovery and by increasing their
self-discipline. Karate-do is an excellent way of achieving this goal.
Back to the Top |
