San Do Kuen Martial Arts

Although Sand Do Kuen is a modern system, it is not a mixed martial art, nor is it a traditional martial art. Both the MMA and traditional martial arts approaches have their own strengths and flaws, and San Do Kuen occupies the middle ground between them. The Three Way Fist system is not better than MMA or classical training, it is simply different.

A Student-Focused Program

Martial arts exist today, not because of the teachers, but because of the students.  It is the students that make the arts alive.  Students motivate instructors to be creative and innovative.

Most programs are focused on developing style and technique and they often ignore the unique abilities of students. Instead of forcing students to emulate the characteristics of a fixed system of movement, San Do Kuen provides a simple and effective framework for martial arts skill development on a student-by-student basis.  All students must complete the Foundation Curriculum, which provides the basis for exploration.  After that, all training is customized to the individual, not determined by abstract, stylistic limitations.

The goal of the Three Way Fist is for students to find their own style. By choosing 1 of 3 customizable training plans and working closely with their fellow students and instructors, students can keep their skills alive and their minds open to learning.

Styles Don’t Mix

San Do Kuen does not blend or mix systems together as many other programs claim to do. There is no authentic way to blend classical systems because, by definition, they are categorically distinct.  MMA has “mixed” martial arts systems by simply throwing out any technique that is not allowed in competition.  In doing so, this style has lost a lot of its tactical and combative applications.

The only way to understand and develop the dynamic relationships among multiple martial arts systems is to find the attributes they share.  San Do Kuen bridges the gap between styles by focusing on the dynamics of the human body. No matter what kind of martial arts a person studies, he or she still has two hands, two feet, two elbows, and two knees, etc.  These joints function alike in all humans, and therefore the effectiveness of martial arts technique is dependent on the dexterity of the human body.

Once we free ourselves from the constraints of competition and style, we can develop an awareness of our own body and its unique capabilities.

What if Students Want a Single Style Perspective?

This kind of training is not appropriate for all students. Some people prefer to stay within the limitations of the classical (traditional) arts.  Because San Do Kuen goes beyond any single system, it also includes several systems.  Students who prefer a more style-specific program will also receive excellent training in the context of the Three Way Fist.