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.

The dojo head instructor is Jim Smoak he can be contacted via email at mailto:karate@cedarpark.org.

Instructor

The program is lead by Jim Smoak, who is a black-belt certified by the Beikoku Shido-kan Karate-do Association. 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.

Jim is married and has grown sons. He lives in Kirkland WA, with his family, and a variety of household pets.

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".

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 North American Beikoku Shido-kan 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.