People love training at Mountain Karate, in western NC. It is a unique martial arts experience – authentic, challenging and exhilarating. Our members come from Saluda, Hendersonville, Columbus, Tryon and beyond.
Many have trained at Mountain Karate for years.
Here is why:
We use proven training methods, and get great results.
Our classes aren’t easy, but they get the results they want: a practical martial art, to get strong, confident and skillful.
They want instructors with real-world, hands-on experience who respect everyone, know what they are doing, and know how to teach.
They want to be able to defend themselves and their families if they need to.
They want a workout that challenges them – mentally and physically.
They want to deepen their skills and their knowledge every time they train.
They want to be part of a community of people who are strong, honorable and determined.
In more than a few cases, they joined because their kids joined, and love our classes.
They could tell that Mountain Karate is the real thing.
Our style is rooted in the martial traditions of Okinawa, Japan and east Asia. It is not boxing, kick boxing, wrestling, groundfighting, sportfighting, or mystifying. It is not the stilted, impractical movement sometimes presented as “karate.”
Our style includes striking, grappling, anti-grappling, throwing, off-balancing, and other specialized martial skills.
Like all martial arts, we learn to use the opponent’s force against them. Like any practical martial art we deal with ground fighting. But we are a full spectrum martial art. We are not limited to the ground.We train to stay on our feet, and use our entire body to optimize speed and power.
We use tactics that sport martial arts do not use.
Modern karate lost its edge years ago, when it grew too fast. It too often became commercial, silly and shallow.
Mountain Karate has restored the depth, combative effectiveness, fitness challenge and community spirit – without pretense or posturing – that make our school unique, authentic and valuable.
Mountain Karate’s lead Instructor Jeff Brooks trained in Okinawa, Japan and the US. He has taught thousands of students at his karate schools over his 40-year career.
He is recognized for his influential books and hundreds of published articles on martial arts.
His teaching is informed by practical, real-world experience, as a police officer, Deputy Sheriff, detective, and deputy US Marshal. He was a law enforcement instructor/trainer in defensive tactics, use of force, firearms and other disciplines.
He is currently the leader of the Yamabayashi Shorin Ryu karate style.
Our members come from all walks of life. Some are professionals who rely on their martial arts training at work. Some are veterans with experience in combatives, others were experienced martial artists when they joined Mountain Karate.
But most start from the beginning, with a desire to get fit and strong, curiosity about real martial arts training, and an interest in taking on a challenge.
We invite you to check out a class at Mountain Karate. Take a look. Give it a try.
We hope you will find what we have found: a challenge you can enjoy every day, and get better at for a lifetime.