KiToshaKai American Institutes  

Founder: Kaicho J. Palais, 10th Dan

About KiToshaKai
A new type of martial arts that was created by Kaicho Palais to synthesize what he felt were the strengths of a variety of other martial arts. Students of KiToshaKai range from very accomplished martial artists to beginners who while adhering to the traditional philosophical components of this art, are also quite pleased by the physical and self-defense benefits.
 

The Definition of KiToshaKai: KiToshaKai is the synthesis of hard and soft styles of martial arts emphasizing the mental, physical and spiritual training of the student, including, but not limited to, techniques of both armed and unarmed combat, for the purposes of health and self defense. Spiritual discipline, physical technique and mental training are the mortar used to build a foundation of ethical fortitude and resolve. All KiToshaKai techniques adhere to the oriental philosophy of yin and yang, creating infinite adaptability, total efficiency and maximum power for the student of the art, regardless of physical stature.
 

The KiToshaKai martial arts system encompasses all forms of personal combat. These include grappling, blocking, parrying, punching, striking, thrusting, sweeping, throwing, kicking, the joint techniques of locking, hyper-extending, hyper-flexing, dislocating, finger-pressure to nerve and acupressure points, bone displacement, soft tissue separation, choking/strangling techniques and the use of external weaponry for self-protection.

The focus of the external, practical portion of the KiToshaKai martial arts system is self defense, not sport, due to the undeniable fact that to add the restrictions to make it a safe competitive sport would seriously impede the free flowing deadly nature of the art. However if the philosophy of yin and yang is held to in regard to one's training, it is still possible to participate in tournament competition without creating the "watered down" effect. This can be accomplished by:

• Strengthening and stretching the soft tissue areas of the body.
• Performing traditional conditioning (forging of the tools).
• Attending the traditional class, with the emphasis on self-defense.
• Practicing prearranged sparring formats with the emphasis on developing the ability to end conflict in a single blow.
• Understanding that one must always practice with total concentration and sincerity, and that control does not inherently breed slowness, or lack of intensity.
• Realizing that tournament play, inter-school clinics and visiting other dojos teaches us how to react and interact in any variety of situations.

The great majority of present day martial arts focus on a select few fundamental techniques, concentrate on developing them to a high degree of proficiency and rely upon them to defeat any would be attacker. The typical martial arts response varies from the hard, linear, external nature of Karate, seen in its bone shattering blocks and strikes, to the soft, circular, internal nature of Tai Chi Chuan seen in its flowing passive parries and redirecting movements. Either the yang (hard) or yin (soft) dominates each style.

In contrast, the KiToshaKai Martial Arts System was constructed on the theory of yin and yang, and demonstrates, in its philosophical and technical makeup, the entirely indivisible nature of the two. Even the name "KiToshaKai" represents the languages of the three separate major birth places of the traditional martial arts, Korea, Japan, and China, grouped as one word, to emphasize their inseparable nature throughout history. The resulting balance of hand and foot, left and right, hard and soft, linear and circular, internal and external etc., as well as the realization that combat is by nature a most imperfect science, empowers the KiToshaKai practitioner with endless flexibility, allowing them to meet any situation with the most efficient and effective response.

In the end, the ultimate aim of the KiToshaKai student is, of course, not the mere tournament victory, or even survival in battle, but instead the perfection of their Character. In the training hall, students rather than compete against each other, work together regardless of race, religion, political beliefs, or station in life, to help each other learn. Emphasis is placed on developing inner-confidence, poise and mental as well as physical fitness. By training together KiToshaKai students learn how to communicate, act and react freely, efficiently and effectively. Students learn to live in harmony within themselves and with those around them, developing a warm, mature, honorable personality and thus becoming a constructive member of society, able to lead by example and not by words alone. This is the ultimate aim of KiToshaKai training.

KiToshaKai American Institutes
office and contact location  
17 Hidden Oak Drive
Farmington, CT USA 06032
(860) 674-9552

Telephone: 860-674-9552

Email:

Homepage: http://www.kitoshakai.com

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