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166
Swashbucklers
Group classes and private instruction held in Jackson, Madison, Ridgeland, & Brandon.
Mississippi Academy of Arms
Cane Classes
Academy Headmaster Rez Johnson with three of his award winning cane students
The Mississippi Academy of Arms offers instruction in practical, effective self-defense using the gentleman's cane, walking stick, and umbrella. The walking cane is the only weapon of self-defense which is still completely legal to carry anywhere in the world: on an airplane, in a court house, school, or church, to a restaurant or sporting event. When attacked by one or more assailants the walking cane becomes a great equalizer for able-bodied persons as well as for the elderly or the handicapped. For these reasons the walking cane is the perfect weapon for self-defense in our modern age and is increasingly being carried by people of all levels of ability and disability.
The Mississippi Academy of Arms offers two different cane classes:
1. Walking Cane for Senior Adult Fitness & Self Defense
2. Goju-Shorei Weapons System
Walking Cane for Fitness & Self Defense
Tuesdays: 5:00 - 5:30 pm (Ages: Senior Adult)
(Starting in April)This course, for senior adults, lasts six weeks and then starts over. However, it is designed so that students can start at any point during the six weeks and receive the full training.
Fitness: Participants learn a simple whole body exercise routine which uses a common walking cane or umbrella to stretch, strengthen, and tone the muscles in their arms, neck, chest, back, stomach, and legs. The cane is the perfect exercise tool for developing strength, flexibility, balance, coordination, improved circulation and cardiovascular health.Self-Defense: Participants will also learn simple, yet effective ways, to defend themselves using a common walking cane or umbrella, against all forms of attack, including; close quarters pushes, grabs and chokes as well as punches, kicks, and attacks with blunt and sharp weapons. The walking cane is the only weapon of self-defense which is still completely legal to carry anywhere in the world: on an airplane, in a court house, school, or church, to a restaurant or sporting event, etc. When attacked by one or more assailants the walking cane becomes a great equalizer for able-bodied persons as well as for the elderly or the handicapped. For these reasons the walking cane is the perfect weapon for self-defense in our modern age and is increasingly being carried by people of all levels of ability and disability.
Goju-Shorei Weapons System
Tuesdays: 6:00 - 7:00 pm (Ages: 13 & up)
Grand Master Dave McNeill
Soke of Goju-Shorei SystemsGoju-Shorei Weapons teaches any individual how to use a cane as a legal and practical self defense weapon. Practical self defense, is the key element in the Goju-Shorei Weapons System. The cane is a weapon that can be carried anywhere in the world without confiscation and is a formidable weapons when used correctly against an attacker.
Goju Shorei did not invent the cane, but they systematized the study of the cane by developing exercises, katas, techniques and ranking standards.
Exercises: A complete series of dynamic tension exercises, using the cane, were developed under the guidance of trained professionals. These exercises are designed to tone and strengthen the upper and lower body of the martial artist and the non martial artist alike. Anyone with a physical impairment would still be able to benefit from these exercises as many of them can be done sitting or lying down.
Katas: The six katas are designed to be chained together; the last move(s) of each kata is the first move(s) of the next kata. And the last move of the last kata is the first move of the first kata. By running through the chained katas several times the student develops remarkable endurance and cardiovascular strength. The katas are not just a series of random moves strung together, each kata is meant to teach a specific self-defense idea or concept.
Self-Defense Techniques: The techniques are the core of the weapons system. Each of the moves in the katas are broken down into individual techniques, so that the student is learning realistic self-defense applications as he progresses through the ranking. These techniques use all aspects of the cane at all ranges; weapon, striking and grappling.
Ranking: The Goju Shorei Weapons System has a unique way of designating rank for those who study it in a martial arts school which already has a belt ranking system established. An octagonal patch is worn on the students uniform with the appropriate colored chevron - from yellow to black - indicating the rank of the student, sewn to one of the eight sides on the outside of the patch. This means that the student can still wear the uniform and belt color of his/her parent martial arts system while receiving rank in a supplementary weapons system. At the Mississippi Academy of Arms, Goju-Shorei Weapons System students receive the rank patches and a rank belt. Academy members who take fencing classes wear the Goju Shorei rank patches on their fencing jackets. Academy members who do not take fencing classes or who do not yet own a fencing uniform wear the Goju Shorei rank belt.
The cane is generally thought of as a long or middle range weapon, however Goju-Shorei Grand Master Dave McNeill has has transformed it into a devastating close quarters weapon. Goju Shorei Weapons System teaches an extremely effective, efficient and practical use of the self defense weapon of the 21st century, the humble walking cane.
* Parts of the above are taken from RAISING CANE by Master Dave McNeill, Soke, March/April 1998
Academy Headmaster Rez Johnson with his Goju-Shorei Instructor, Grand Master Dave McNeill, Soke of Goju-Shorei Systems
Rez Johnson, the Headmaster of the Mississippi Academy of Arms has been practicing the Cane techniques taught by the Weapons Branch of Goju-Shorei Karate since 1999. Later that year he started teaching cane fighting Techniques to two of his private students. In April of 2004, due to the overwhelming number of requests by his fencing students for a group class, he began teaching a Goju-Shorei cane fighting classes two nights a week at the Academy.
Rez became the personal student of Goju-Shorei Weapons System creator and founder, Grand Master Dave McNeill and has tested for all of his rank advancements directly with Master McNeill. In 2004 Master McNeill recognized the Mississippi Academy of Arms as an official Goju-Shorei Weapons System affiliate school and authorized Mr. Johnson to teach the weapons curriculum of the Goju-Shorei Weapons System. Mr. Johnson was the first person authorized to teach the Goju-Shorei Weapons System in Mississippi and the Mississippi Academy of Arms was the first affiliate school in Mississippi.
Students in the Goju-Shorei Weapons System measure their progress through seven colored belt ranks and eight black belt ranks. Cane Students Ranks.
"In martial arts, as in life, the real winner is not the person who defeats another human opponent, but rather the person who defeats his own inadequacies, who develops self-discipline and self-control over his own thoughts, tongue, attitude, and actions. Who aspires to continually improve himself to become a better martial artist, and more importantly a better person, by developing the traditional Christian virtues and character traits of honesty, integrity, courtesy, reliability, loyalty, patience, perseverance and genteel manners. Who chooses to live his life, in all he does, both public and private, honorably in accordance with this code of conduct. This is the true meaning of The Code of Honor. Without this code of honor a martial art is reduced to a mere sport with no inherent life-changing values to contribute. The Code of Honor is considered paramount in the USTFA and at the Mississippi Academy of Arms." Rez Johnson
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