Martial Arts Academy

A person’s heart is the same as Heaven and Earth.

The earth is limited, while heaven knows no limits. Man has characteristics of both, as evidenced by the fact he is both the strongest and weakest being in the universe

The blood circulating is the same as the Moon and Sun.

A person should always remain in motion, circulate. As a result, in facing an obstacle, he will bend but never break.

The manner of drinking and spitting is either hard or soft.

In reference to combative techniques, if one becomes angry (hard), his balance is destroyed, but if one remains calm (soft,) balance is maintained.

A person’s unbalance is the same as a weight.

Anytime one is unbalanced, that serves as an additional obstacle that must be overcome.

The body should be able to change direction at any time.

The body should merely respond to events instead of allowing the mind to anticipate or attempt to “outguess” events. We must be able to adapt.

The time to strike is when the opportunity presents itself.

Always examine your opponent and attempt to locate his weakness. After finding his weakness, attack that point.

The eye must see all sides.

The literal application of this idea means developing your use of peripheral vision, so that with practice, you will notice more movements and objects on either side of you more easily. This also applies to human relations by trying to see things from someone else’s point of view.

The ear must listen in all directions.

This one ties in with the one above; it is impossible to “see” another person’s point of view until you “hear” his reason for thinking that way.

Also, the ability to hear in a 360° circle greatly increases your awareness in self-defense.

• Desire to train in martial arts with humility and confidence
• Desire to grow in your faith as you train and study
• Cumulative GPA of 2.5+
• Cumulative ACT score of 18+ (or SAT equivalent)

1. Do you need experience to join?
a. No, you do not need any experience to join! Scholarships are available to those who have no experience to students who do.

2. What martial arts styles are taught at the academy?
a. We are primarily rooted in Isshinryu Karate, with emphasis on Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Kickboxing.

3. What qualifications and experience do the instructors have?
a. Our instruction is based on self-defense and tradition backed by a combination of 137 years of training from different styles.

• Zak Barnes, Director, brings over 27 years of training in the Isshinryu system, with additional expertise in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and kickboxing.
• Camille Holley, Associate Director, brings 15 years of training and competition in the Isshinryu system.
• David Holcomb, Founder and Vice President of Advancement and Marketing, brings a culmination of 43 years of training with expertise in Isshinryu Karate, Judo, Capoeira, Chen Style Taijiquan, and American Taekwondo.
• Scott Shamblin, Head Instructional Advisor, boasts over 52 years of extensive knowledge of the Isshinryu system and currently serves as the President of the Isshinryu Hall of Fame and International Isshinryu Karate Association.

4. How many competitions a year do students attend?
a. We focus on three tournaments a semester, with one or two seminars or special instructors.

5. Is there a testing or ranking system in place for students?
a. Yes, we follow the Isshinryu Karate belt ranking system, backed by the leadership of Grand Master Scott Shamblin, who helped develop the Bryan College Martial Arts Academy manuals.

6. What kind of community or extracurricular activities does the academy offer?
a. The students will start out the year with a retreat to create a foundation for the community they will build. Throughout the year, the academy will do various activities to continue to foster that community. The program’s scheduling and course load are designed to encourage students to be involved in other activities across campus.

7. What is the process for enrolling in the academy?
a. Each student who wishes to join the program will be required to participate in a tryout with the leadership of the academy.