Tatakai No Shinjitsu
(Truth of Fighting)
I (Dr. Joel Bowling) began Martial Arts training in 1975 and opened A.F.T.A. Martial Arts in 1984. Coming out of a Martial Art school that was reality based (combat) I was very disillusioned by other schools that called themselves a Martial Art and were not teaching combat, they were in fact sport schools. This made me consider building a true Martial Art, one that would encompass all possibilities in the event of a self-defense situation. I felt that I would need to make use of the many weapons that the body provides: finger, hand and arm strikes, head, foot, knee, and shin. Basically the entire body as a weapon, not just a few typical foot and fist strikes that the sport arts use.
I realized that it was also important to be able to fight in every aspect of combat: wrestling, standing, take downs and ground fighting. To achieve this, the study of several Martial Arts had to be undertaken. Tang Soo Do for its kicks; Jiujutsu for its ground fighting; Kyokushinkai for its truth, attitude, kicks to the leg, and pressure points; Hapkido for its holds, locks, and throws; Traditional weapons as well as guns and modern knives also needed to be added.
This would be a Martial Art with the skills and techniques that would be horrifying to watch in action. I needed this to be a Martial Art that has techniques which could never be prostituted into a sport. But at the same time it would need to make the average individual capable of defending their own life and that of family and friends.
In 2006 I received the “Founder of the Year” award by the USA Black Belt Hall of Fame for my new style which I named “Tatakai No Shinjitsu” which means (Truth of Fighting). Tatakai No Shinjitsu is for those who do not want to have to train twenty four hours a day, seven days a week. You do not need to become an ultimate athlete, and that’s the beauty of Tatakai; it simply teaches you how to defend yourself, family and friends.
Tatakai no Shinjitsu was not born overnight, it took many years of study and hard work for this new style of Martial Art to achieve its true ferocity. Come and try us free for one week, without obligation and then shop around at the other places in town. Decide for yourself if you want to learn a sport or a true method of self-defense.
Dr. Joel Bowling, 8th Degree,
Founder of Tatakai No Shinjitsu