Level 1 – Foundations of Self-Protection

The To-Shin Do 9-month Adult and 12-month Youth Level 1 Foundations of Self Protection course is designed to provide you with a grounding in effective physical, intellectual, and emotional self protection.

• White Belt is the most important rank in the martial arts – a new beginning. You are starting a quest for knowledge and skill through the 5 elements of potential. The Earth element theme is personal vision and strength. Your initial challenge is to build a foundation for growth, setting training habits and patterns to pave the way for the rest of your martial arts career.
• Yellow Belt indicates the middle of your exploration of earth strength and confident command. You will perfect your 12 kata “fight scenario examples”, simulating what it feels like to handle successfully different forms of confrontation from start to finish.
• Yellow & Black Belt classes explore making decisions under pressure, how to recognize specific attacks and make effective choices for successful defense.

Level 2 – Advanced Self-Protection

The To-Shin Do 18-month Adult and 24-month Youth Level 2 Advanced Self-Protection course builds on the success-generation principles of personal confidence, ability to recognize potential danger, and capacity to respond effectively that you learned in Level 1 Foundations of Self- Protection. Beyond grounded “earth-strong” stability and command, you now explore two more elemental possibilities.

Sui-no-kata water element dynamics are the tactics of power and knowledge – the cool science of learning a secret for success and applying disciplined training to develop that secret into a skill. Learn to use strategic timing, distancing, and positioning to win over adversity. The “water influence” in our personality reminds us that we all want to know who we really are, know what is true, and that we are right. Typical water element heroic characters are the resourceful scientist, troubleshooter, or investigator, cunningly and tactically shifting position whenever needed to facilitate a better angle on winning.

Hi-no-kata fire element dynamics are the energy of committed intensity and focus as keys to accomplishment. Learn to recognize a problem as it builds, and intercept at just the right moment. The “fire influence” in our personality reminds us that we all want to experience connection with those we respect, and feel that we are respected and acknowledged in turn. We care that others care about us. Typical fire element heroic characters include artists and communicators, people “in touch” with the right thing to do, winners ready to generate explosive energy in motion through timing, positioning, and leverage in relation to others.

Level 3 – Path of the Protector Martial Arts

As a graduate of the Advanced Self-Protection course, you will progress deeper into the lore and technologies of To-Shin Do 18-month Adult and 24-month Youth Level 3 Path of the Protector Martial Arts course. Your training evolves into a “path to self-knowledge.” Beyond earth-solid command under pressure, water element icy cool scientific response capability, and fire hot intensity interception take-charge skills, are two more elemental spheres of possibilities.

Fu-no-kata wind element inspires effective action as key to accomplishment. Freedom of movement, efficient leverage, and actively directing momentum makes it difficult for an attacker to pin you down, and provides a very advanced way to win. Wind role models include warrior idealists, like the self-giving protector, peacekeeper, or server of a great cause. Under wind element influence, we are reminded that we all want to feel needed, and we all want to be a part of something bigger than individual self. There is a part of each of us that longs to serve some ideal that is worthy of us.

Ku-no-kata “void-potential” element at the center of the five elements is creative capability that produces results. You refine the principles and techniques studied in the first four element realms. Your ability to use spontaneous creativity and adaptation to produce the unexpected is your means for creating success. Void role models are creative or visionary people who can see opportunities in what others call problems. We all seek a sense of fulfillment in life, a feeling of living up to our potential, the “exciting peace” of coming home to the fullness of who we really are meant to be.

Level 4 – Black Belt Mastery

As a Black Belt student, you go beyond basic technique to enter the realm of training a winning spirit for all of life’s challenges. Some of the advanced skills you develop include: using less effort to generate more speed and power, how to respond with grace and intelligence when confronted with brutality or ignorance, how to deal with multiple attackers, weapons or attackers skilled in street-fighting or other martial arts, how to protect others.

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