Curriculum Overview

The curriculum at the Tokon Academy is truly a mixture of martial arts and sports in every sense of the word. Our curriculum is designed to cater for those individuals choosing to study traditional martial arts that have survived the criticism of time as well those wanting a far more functional approach to training. All members have the choice of training in all 'disciplines' and thus the choice of which 'path' they may take through their training.

The curriculum on offer has been designed to bridge the various ranges associated with combat and so the academy's students/athletes have a complete array of skills at hand where ever they may find themselves.

It is our endeavour at the Tokon Academy to cater for a complete variety of individuals from children to adults; the disabled to able-bodied and professional fighters to those wishing to engage in arts simply to develop fitness, moral practices or as a social vehicle.

The Tokon Academy also has the pleasure of devising the practical content for another association- The Self-protection Network- this syllabus has to be 100% functional and does indeed pull various strategies and techniques from the sports and arts on offer at the Tokon Academy.

Please feel free to check out the links on the right to see what is on offer to members of the Tokon Academy, or read a brief description of each art/sport below I am sure you will pleasantly surprised!

Filipino Martial Arts (FMA) - Stick fighting

Coming very soon!

Muay Thai Kickboxing

Originating in Thailand (formerly Siam) 2000 years ago Muay Thai is arguably the most devastating system to deliver strikes. Incorporating punches, elbows, the head, the clinch, knees and kicks Muay Thai offers the trainee an brutally honest confidence with a system of defence that will deliver an ability and fitness level that is undeniable. All instructors at the Tokon Academy have experience in Muay Thai kick boxing as it acts as the bedrock for the Academy's striking.

Muay Thai has a long history in Thailand. Today, the Thai military uses a modified form of Muay Thai called Lerdrit. Traditional Muay Thai, as it is practiced today, varies slightly from the original art and uses kicks and punches in a ring with gloves similar to those used in Western Boxing. Muay Thai is referred to as "The Science of Eight Limbs" , as the hands, shins, elbows and knees are all used extensively in this art. Muay Thai is an especially versatile, brutal, straightforward martial art. Muay Thai classes at the Tokon Academy incorporate technique drills, bag and pad work, sparring as well as fitness and conditioning. The Tokon Academy currently offers mixed classes for adults and also runs ladies only class.

Essential equipment: Groin guard & gum shield
Recommended equipment: Water bottle, hand wraps and 14/16oz Boxing gloves

Karate-do

Karate (Lit. "Empty hand") is a martial art of Ryukyuan origin. The word "karate" comes from Kara meaning empty, and Te meaning hand. Karate has a rich and diverse history of development, incorporating countless influences from other martial arts and cultures. Today, karate is known primarily as a hard style striking art, featuring linear punches, blocks, kicks, knee/elbow strikes and openhanded techniques. However, soft punches and blocks, grappling, joint manipulations, locks, restraints, throws, and vital point striking are often an inherent part of many karate styles.

In general, there are many components to modern karate training. One common division is between the areas of Kihon (basics or fundamentals), Kata (forms), and Kumite (sparring). Another popular division is between art, sport, and self-defence training. Weapons comprise another important training area, as well as the psychological elements incorporated into a proper Kokoro (attitude) such as perseverance, fearlessness, virtue, and leadership skills. Often in the execution of a technique, Karateka are encouraged to issue a loud Kiai or 'spirit shout'.

The style of Karate taught through at the Tokon Academy is traditional Shotokan Karate-do.

As a result of training under Hayashi-Ha Shito Ryu Karate master and Kenshin & Yamanni Ryu master- Shihan Akio Minakami, 8th Dan- the Academy's style of Karate does lend itself to this influence. However, whilst practicing Shito Ryu Kata and both Kenshin Ryu and Yamanni Ryu Bo Jitsu the Tokon Academy has no direct affiliation to Shihan Akio Minakami.

Essential equipment: Karate Gi and Obi (belt)- unless beginner then comfortable clothing
Recommended equipment: Groin guard, water bottle, sparring mitts & gum shield

Olympic Judo

Judo (Lit. "Gentle way") is a martial art, combat sport and philosophy which originated in Japan. Judo was founded by Dr. Jigori Kano in 1882, also an Olympic sport; Judo is quite similar to both wrestling (in make-up) and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (in appearance). Judo has the ability to teach terrific break falling techniques, unbalancing mechanisms, aesthetically pleasing yet devastating throws and a proficiency in groundwork that is unsurpassed. The trainee is taught trips and throws in abundance through grips that attack various regions for the desired result. Also Ne-waza (ground techniques) adds another dimension of hold-downs, a multitude of chokes, sanguineous strangulations and joint locks.

Judo classes at the Tokon Academy incorporate technique drills, for throws, sweeps/trips, pick ups and takedowns and incorporates work on pins/hold downs and various joint manipulations, chokes and strangulations as well as fitness and conditioning. The Tokon Academy currently offers mixed classes for adults and juniors.

Essential equipment: Judo Gi and Obi (belt)
Recommended equipment: Groin guard, water bottle & gum shield

Submission Wrestling

The term Submission wrestling is a name coined back in the late 1990's through the emergence of a competition involving grappling champions in Abu Dhabi that combined elements of all grappling arts. Submission wrestling (also called submission fighting, and technically referred to as submission grappling) is a general term describing an aspect of combat sports that focuses on clinch and ground fighting with the aim of obtaining a submission using various holds. Submission wrestling is sometimes also considered a separate sport; with many grappling arts integrated into single system, and can include techniques from a wide range of arts. Submission grappling is very common in association with Catch wrestling, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Shootfighting, SHOOTO and others.

Submission wrestling is a 'no-gi' based sport and is a formidable adjunct to any combat system. Its technical efficiency comes from the fact it combines the best from all grappling sports/arts from Olympic wrestling, Judo, BJJ, Russian Sambo, Lutre Livre, etc. The simple yet devastating training approach means the learner will develop at an astounding rate.

A typical class involves a steady but efficiently taxing and functional aerobic warm-up followed by some functional positional exchanges and or agility exercises to warm the body both locally and completely for the work to be done throughout the class. Class is usually focused on one specific theme, be that positional play, sweeps & reversals, pins & hold downs, joint locks or chokes and or strangulations, that ultimately leads to ground based sparring with a partner.

Essential equipment: None
Recommended equipment: Groin guard, water bottle & gum shield

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) is predominantly a ground-based art that is similar in scope to Judo minus the emphasis on winning throws. BJJ places heavy emphasis on positional strategy and takes into account attacks from top and bottom positions. Proficiency in the various positions is developed through stable situations, from which a large variety of sweeps, reversals and submissions can be employed. All instructors at the Tokon Academy have experience in BJJ as it acts as bedrock for the Academy's ground game.

A typical class involves a steady but efficiently taxing and functional aerobic warm-up followed by some functional positional exchanges and or agility exercises to warm the body both locally and completely for the work to be done throughout the class. Class is usually focused on one specific theme, be that positional play, sweeps & reversals, pins & hold downs, joint locks or chokes and or strangulations, that ultimately leads to ground based sparring with a partner.

Essential equipment: BJJ or Judo Gi and Obi (belt)
Recommended equipment: Groin guard, water bottle & gum shield

Mixed martial arts

Combining the most efficient arts and sports over a number of ranges of combat, mixed martial arts (MMA) is as simple as it gets. In a world where the majority of combat arts have lost all integrity and instructors blindly preach techniques for aesthetic purposes or worse, for financial gain, with MMA it's not hard to establish who is real and who is fake. Examples of techniques, tactics and strategies from traditional arts and sports encompassed in MMA are those from Muay Thai kickboxing, Olympic wrestling (Freestyle and Greco-Roman), Judo and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (sports that form the bedrock of all practice at the Tokon Academy). The actual concept of MMA has been around for aeons but more recently the sport has grown into a worldwide spectacle that draws millions from around the globe.

A typical class involves drilling flows, transitions and techniques in isolation with a partner from standing to ground and back again using the body as a single unit with the object of developing an athletic 'machine' capable of competing at any range. This development through isolation of position or technique or theme ultimately leads to full MMA sparring.

Essential equipment: None
Recommended equipment: Groin guard, water bottle, 14/16oz Boxing gloves & gum shield

Natural Athletix **New**

Coming soon!