The Kojosho Style 

Kojosho (Old Castle Pine) is a Kempo Karate system that teaches the traditional foundations and fundamentals of Okinawan/Japanese katas and Chinese animal forms, providing the practitioner a unique balance of hard and soft styles. Kojosho is also the world's foremost authority on two- and three-person animal forms. Kojosho weapons training includes jo (short staff), bokken (wooden sword), fan, and more. Weapons forms based on the animal forms are also practiced as two- and three-person forms. 

Kojosho is taught in a traditional Japanese dojo atmosphere, emphasizing physical skills, mental balance, and the traditional virtues of the martial arts. Students of all ages and physical abilities can practice and benefit from Kojosho.

Benefits of Martial Arts

Martial Arts as practiced in the Kojosho style provide many benefits; including:

Self-Defense

Kojosho Karate gives you tools to avoid, deflect, and defuse situations before they can develop into physical violence. But should a physical conflict become unavoidable, Kojosho also gives you the skills to effectively defend yourself and your loved ones. By knowing self-defense, you’re in control of the outcome rather than being at the mercy of someone who intends you harm.

• Instruction emphasizes awareness as a means to circumvent physical violence.
• Traditional values aid the student in defusing situations before they become violent.
• Should an attack occur, drills and katas ensure a trained response rather than a forced reaction.
• Two and Three-person Kojosho forms, "the art of fighting without fighting", teach timing, distance, and intersection.
• Sparring class allows you to test and improve your skills in a safe and conducive environment.

Physical Health and Fitness

Kojosho Karate is a fun full-body workout in a friendly environment. Master Absher works with each student at their level of ability and individual development, so students of all ages and physical abilities can work out in our dojo. (We have older students, those with physical limitations, etc. that would not be able to work out in other dojos!) The physical benefits of Martial Arts help you in everyday life and provides just about any fitness benefit you can name:

• Improve cardiovascular health
• Build strength
• Gain flexibility
• Increase coordination
• Improve balance and mobility
• Create faster reflexes
• Slim down

Mental and Emotional Well-Being

Kojosho training includes deep breathing, meditation, and mindfulness which are proven techniques to maintain mental strength and balance even in face of life’s aggravating moments. Not to mention, a good hard Martial Arts workout helps release tension, stress, anger and other negative emotions! Working out with others in the supportive atmosphere of our dojo also provides the benefits of social connection with other members of the Kojosho family. Benefits of meditation include

• calmness
• clarity
• alertness
• focus

Martial Arts Virtues

Traditional Martial Arts virtues are embedded in Kojosho. Youth are held to a high standard and expected to exceed expectations at home and at school as well as in the dojo. We adults also benefit from refreshing our acquaintance with these common virtues, which aid and guide us in all aspects of life! 

• Self-discipline
• Respect towards others and yourself
• Self-confidence
• Humility
• Empathy
• Courage

Marital Arts links these together, providing all students with benefits not only in self-defense but in all arenas of life!