General Information
Welcome to our General Information page. This page is designed to answer some of the questions that you might have about Dragon Martial Arts, and the Tatsu Te Ryu System. Just simply click on the question, and you'll be directed to the information.
What programs are offered at Dragon Martial Arts?
What are the costs of the programs?
What days and times are classes?
Where are you located?
How old do I have to be to take classes?
How do I get started?
How do you link Christianity to the Martial Arts?
How does Tatsu Te Ryu measure progress?
What programs are offered at Dragon Martial Arts?
What are the costs of the programs?
What days and times are classes?
Where are you located?
How old do I have to be to take classes?
How do I get started?
How do you link Christianity to the Martial Arts?
How does Tatsu Te Ryu measure progress?
The Programs Offered at Dragon Martial Arts.
All Tatsu Te Ryu programs are part of an outreach ministry of the Allegan Unitied Methodist Church. These programs started in 2001 with the belief that you can incorporate Christianity and the Martial Arts. We currently offer different programs, each designed to offer specific results.
TATSU TE RYU KARATE-DO
Tatsu Te Ryu is a mixed martial art combining Traditional Karate, Tae Kwon Do, Aikido, and Jujitsu. This program covers the various aspects of the martial arts including self defense, weaponry, philosophy, and the codes of the arts. Tatsu Te Ryu roughly translated into English means, Dragon Hand Style. The benefits of this class is self-confidence, respect, and self control. Also as a student of this program you are invited to the annual Tatsu Te Ryu summer camp.
Dragon Martial Arts proudly offers a weekend Summer camp to its members every year. Camp consists of intensive training workouts, testing opportunities, guest instructors/speakers, campfires, games, and much much more.
TATSU TE RYU LADIES SELF DEFENSE
Once a year we at Dragon Martial Arts offer a Ladies Self Defense Course. This course consists of a 5 week long session and teaches it's students the basics of effective self-defense, rape awareness, and potential risk reduction. This program is open to all women ages 14 and older.
The dates for the Ladies Self Defense Course for 2009 is Coming Soon - Keep looking for updates!
The Tatsu Te Ryu Belt System
Our style offers a systematic method of student development, and a students progress is measured by colored belts. Tatsu Te Ryu System's instructors will guide the willing student through the intense training required to achieve the rank of "Black Belt."
The belt that is worn, is called an obi, and its color tells the rank. Colored belts are called kyu, and Black are dan. It takes 3 to 5 years to reach black belt. Below you will find the breakdown of our belts.
COLORED BELT RANKS
12th Kyu - White
11th Kyu - Yellow
10th Kyu - Yellow (black stripe)
09th Kyu - Purple
08th Kyu - Purple (black stripe)
07th Kyu - Green
6th Kyu - Green (black stripe)
05th Kyu - Blue
04th Kyu - Blue (black stripe)
03rd Kyu - Brown
02nd Kyu Brown (black stripe)
01st Kyu - 1/2 Red & 1/2 Black
BLACK BELT RANKS
01st Dan (Shodan) Black BLACK BELT
02nd Dan (Nidan) Black (2 stripes) ]]
03rd Dan (Sandan) Black (3 stripes) ]]]
04th Dan (Yodan) Black (4 stripes) ]]]]
05th Dan (Godan) Black (5 stripes) ]]]]]
06th Dan (Rokudan) Black (6 stripes) ]]]]]]
07th Dan (Shichidan) Black (7 stripes) ]]]]]]]
08th Dan (Hachidan) Black (8 stripes) ]]]]]]]]
09th Dan (Kudan) Black (9 stripes) ]]]]]]]]]
10th Dan (Judan) Black (10 stripes) ]]]]]]]]]]
THE COST OF TATSU TE RYU PROGRAMS
It has been said by Sensei Spohn that "The martial arts should be a privilege and not an expense". With that belief, vision, and sponsorship of the Allegan Bible Church, our programs cost have been kept low. We do however happily accept any donations.
Tuesday night Tatsu Te Ryu Karate - Free of Charge. Uniforms and Belt Fees To Be Paid At Time Of Service.
Tatsu Te Ryu Ladies Self Defense - Free of Charge. No Fees Incurred.
Tatsu Te Ryu Private Instruction - Fees Are Negociated With Instructor.
The costs for Uniforms and Testing will be covered at your One on One orientation with the Instructor.
AGE REQUIREMENTS
We at Tatsu Te Ryu believe that everybody can benefit from the martial arts. With that in mind our age requirement for our programs are as follows:
Tatsu Te Ryu Karate-do - Minimum age 4. However any child under the age of 10 must have their parent/guardian enroll in the class with them.
Tatsu Te Ryu Ladies Self-Defense - The material covered and taught in this class may not be suitable for younger students, minimum age 14. Parent/Guardian required for all under 17.
GETTING STARTED
Getting started in one of the Dragon Martial Arts programs is simple. First contact Sensei Geoffrey Spohn, by telephone, or by using our contact page, and set up an appointment to view a class. Second after viewing a class if you feel that Tatsu Te Ryu will fit what you are looking for, you may sign up to take classes. It is that easy.
CLASS TIME AND LOCATION
The current class schedule is as follows:
Tatsu Te Ryu Karate-do - Tuesday Nights - 6:00pm-7:30pm
Tatsu Te Ryu Ladies Self-Defense - 2009 Program - To Be Announced
Tatsu Te Ryu Private Lessons - Various Times Are Available - Contact Sensei Spohn
Our Current Location
Thanks to their sponsorship Tatsu Te Ryu calls the Allegan Bible Church home.
The Allegan Bible Church is located at 412 Sherman Street Allegan, MI 49010. This church is situated 1 block past the Sunset Bowling Alley.
CHRISTIANITY AND THE MARTIAL ARTS
We believe the martial arts offer several potential benefits to participants, including higher levels of self-confidence and a higher level of respect for others. We believe that the martial arts can be used as a tool to develop a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ and proclaim the Gospel. We also believe that God can use properly trained, Christian-based martial artists to fight His battles on Earth. Tatsu Te Ryu Karate-do not only teaches self- defense, but uses the martial arts as a tool to teach students about Christ's love.
The marriage of martial arts and Christianity is a natural one. We achieve in several ways.
#01) Look at the eight major tenets of the martial arts: respect, loyalty, wisdom, honor, courage, compassion, forgiveness and discipline. Those are the same values taught in Christianity. In addition, both also teach selflessness and caring about others. So there really are quite a few similarities. We at Dragon Martial Arts have committed ourselves to following these tenets in our lives, through our training, teaching, and practice. We vow to follow these tenets in the same manner as the Samurai followed the Bushido.
#02) Each color of the Tatsu Te Ryu belt system has a religious significance, which the student learns along with a scripture passage which matches the significance.
The White Belt Signifies - The Purity of Life. A life Given to us by God
Genesis 1:27 So God Created Man In His Own Image, In Image Of God He
Created Him; Male And Female He Created Them.
The Yellow Belt Signifies - The Warmth Of The Sun. So To Remind Us Of The Love Of The Son Jesus Christ
Romans 8:38-39 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, things present, things to come, nor
any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in
Christ Jesus our Lord.
The Purple Belt Signifies - Royalty. As We All Should Become Members Of Christ's Royal Priesthood
1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar
people; that you should show forth the praises of him who has called you out of
darkness into his marvelous light
The Green Belt Signifies - A Plants Growth. As A Plant Matures And Grows To The Light, So Must We Mature
And Grow In The Light Of The Lord.
Genesis 1:12 The earth produced vegetation: plants bearing seeds, each according to its own type,
and trees bearing fruit, each according to its own type. God saw and it was good.
The Blue Belt Signifies - The Sky And The Heavens. Heaven Is Our Final Home, And One Day Jesus Christ
Will Return All Of God's Children.
Acts 7:49 'The Lord said, "Heaven is my throne. The earth is my footstool. What kind of house
are you going to build for me? Where will I rest?
The Brown Belt Signifies - The Earth. Jesus Christ Descended To Earth To Lead Us To Victory Over Death.
John 3:16 God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, so that who ever believes in him
shall not perish, but have everlasting life.
The Red & Black Belt Signifies - The Blood Christ Shed For Our Salvation & The Dark Day Of His Crucifixion.
Isaiah 42:13 The LORD will march out like a mighty man, like a warrior he will stir his zeal, with
a shout he will raise the battle cry, and will triumph over all his enemies.
The Black Belt Signifies - The Christian Warrior.
