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1. This ain’t your little brother’s karate school.
Remember the days when schoolyard bullies avoided picking on the kid who practiced Karate? Those days are over, because Martial Arts schools aren't living up to their end of the deal—to build good fighters. Modern-day martial arts schools are failing you. But no more! Typhoon Martial Arts will deliver all those things you wanted to learn and be able to do... and more! This Martial Arts school is not a substitute for Soccer. We are not a day-care center disguised as a Karate school. We do not teach the latest fads and fitness crazes. We are in the business of whipping you or your child into the best shape ever, and to pass on skills to make sure you are always the predator; never the prey. Spend one year in Typhoon Martial Arts, and you will never be a victim again. If you'd like to see your son or daughter wearing pajamas, screaming, “YES SIR!” (By the way, this is supposed to be “discipline”), then turn to the Martial Arts section of the Yellow Pages. But if you are truly concerned about you or your child’s safety on the street, then look at the title of this page. 2. You will be the Best of the Best if you join us!
Some Instructors advertise the best price. Some say that they have the biggest, nicest school in town. Most will promote substandard students to the next belt level and call it “self-esteem”. (Actually, this is a form of income for those schools, which charge “testing fees”). Most of those schools avoid the subject of combat altogether to sell ideas like good grades and “life skills”, accompanied by happy letters from Mom about how Karate cured their children’s cancer or autism. None of them will promise that you will be among the best of the best if you join them. Well, read on: Look, we’re not the cheapest. We might be the priciest, but you get what you pay for. If you’re just looking for a good deal then move on (excuse the bluntness). I’m willing to bet that you are truly concerned about developing the self-defense skills you or your child needs to feel safe on the streets. So, how much is your safety worth to you? 3. You don’t just get into shape—you get into “Fighting Shape”.
Look at the requirements for Black Belt: 4. Fact or Fiction: The best martial arts schools are generally found in Asia.
FACT! I know it hurts for American martial arts teachers to admit this, but it's true. Why? Because in Asia, honor, reputation and respect are EVERYTHING. Here in the U.S., teachers strive for multiple locations, packed schools, money, higher rank, grand titles and fame. The rule of thumb seems to be that the more you see a guy in the press and larger his school is, the weaker his skills are. In fact, it’s the popular guys with the worst students! Martial arts schools in Taiwan, Philippines, Indonesia, China, Malaysia, Japan, Korea—you name it—wouldn’t dare graduate lousy Black Belts. But I’ll bet you a cheese sandwich, you’ve probably seen lousy Black Belts; you might even know some! The truth is, teachers in America have come to accept lower standards in the hopes that students will remain with them longer if classes are easier and belt promotion is quicker. The result? The general consensus is that martial arts students are not willing to train hard, and will never excel. This attitude has killed the possibility for good martial arts to be standard in American schools. Back home, the best teachers are the most difficult to get access to. Students pursue teachers, not vice-versa. (When was the last time you saw the champions challenge the contenders, or Ivy-League schools beg for applicants?) Master Gatdula was trained overseas and brings those old-school values and traditions to Sacramento. Despite the naysayers who claim that such a school is a stupid idea, we have clung to this philosophy for 15 years. Master Gatdula may never become a millionaire teaching in this manner, but at least his reputation and his conscience are intact. There is a Filipino saying that the soul of a Master’s art is in the performance of his students. Martial arts teachers should strive to make each student the best example of his martial knowledge. Apparently, many teachers do not live by this credo. Which is better: promote undeserving students in an effort to spread the art (or worse—to prop up the self-esteem of those students)? Or allow the art to die because no worthy students came along to carry the torch? Master Gatdula and many masters before him would choose to let the art die than to weaken through the generations. The modern martial artist could never understand this; they would probably sell their arts on DVD.Visit our school. It is not the prettiest building in the nicest neighborhood, but it does contain all the tools you need to transform yourself into a human wrecking ball on the streets. This—not sterile, plush facilities—is what Asian schools are known for. 5. Get the body you've always wanted.
Remember that body you said you’ve always wanted? Remember those last 30 pounds you wanted to lose? Remember when you saw your first Kung Fu flick, and you swore to become a lean, mean fighting machine? WELL, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? AN INVITATION!!!??? (Read the headline again!) 6. Our Kung Fu Program contains over 40 forms and weapons.
You will not waste time with simple, mindless katas (routines) that even a 5-year-old could learn. Jow Ga Kung Fu was created by a Military Fighting Instructor in China, for military fighters. It is not the watered down Mickey Mouse Karate you’d find at your local shopping center Dojo. You will learn ancient forms that date back hundreds of years (movies were even made about some of our forms) containing everything from submission holds to fatal strikes. Ever heard of Iron Palm? Chin Na? White Eyebrow? Any instructor who ridicules these arts and claims that they do not exist—simply does not know these arts. Our fighting techniques are real—they have a real history, with real lineage—and you will learn them! 7. We teach nearly every weapon you’ve ever read about.
Okay, so the McSensei at the local McDojo told you that gang members won’t attack you with Double Tai Chi swords or Spears—and it makes sense. But, how much do you want to bet that they won’t attack you with Spinning Jump Kicks or Figure Four Leg Locks either? Sometimes, we learn things for their cultural value and appreciation. And you’ve got to admit: Haven’t you always wanted to learn how to use swords? A thought: When was the last time you computed the square root of a number? But I’ll bet you still took algebra, didn’t you?The study of exotic weapons arts is really interesting, and keeps life from getting boring. Plus, they give you a great workout. (And they look more macho than other alternatives, like Pilates or Yoga...) 8. You will study from a wide range of visiting instructors; often, for peanuts!
Master Gatdula invites guest instructors who drop by and share knowledge (many times for free) and they come from many different styles from many other countries. Some of our students have fought and trained with professional boxers and coaches, NHB fighters, Filipino Masters, even world-class fencers! All this, and it won’t cost you an arm and a leg. 9. We have competed at the national level all over the world.
The global martial arts community is so vast; you have no idea what you could be missing by joining a chain or franchise school. Most of these schools actually discourage students from competing or seeing the world outside their padded and mirrored walls. (I bet it’s because they don’t want you to see how foo-foo they really are!) On the contrary, wouldn’t you want to meet masters and grandmasters of other styles and nationalities? How would you like to compete against the best of other nations and see how you fare against them? Master Gatdula has students who fight and train in Brazil, El Salvador, Japan, Thailand, Hong Kong, Canada and New Zealand! Students travel from as far away as Australia to study at Typhoon Martial Arts. This is not just some local hole-in-the-wall school, and this definitely ain’t your little brother’s Karate school... 10. Are you a leader, or a follower?
Do you follow trends or do you set them? Master Gatdula is one of the most controversial martial arts masters around. If you’re interested in cookie-cutter karate, this isn’t the school for you. But if you want your money’s worth, and you want to be a part of an elite few who get to study with “thekuntawman”, you will rise out of the masses and stand out as one of the best. You will learn martial arts styles and techniques most guys have only read about. You will be one of the best fighters around. Your skill will outshine 99% of your peers. You will develop the kind of confidence the shopping center McDojos promise, but deliver only in their dreams. Be at the top of the food chain. Be the predator, not the prey. All this, because you didn’t buy into the sales pitch of some million-dollar Karate CEO who thinks real arts don’t exist so we have to disguise our martial arts as replacements for a good spanking. If you want your kid to stop talking back, spank him on the butt. But if you want your kid to be safe while he’s walking home from school, "accelerated" Black Belt programs won’t help him (and neither will running around in pajamas yelling “YES SIR!”). Love your kid enough to know that he may have to come in contact with the “other side of the tracks”, and give him the training so he won’t have to fear being there. We’re not after your money; we want dedicated, strong-willed, committed martial arts students. Learn real life-preservation skills. Learn real life-protection skills. Get that body you always said you wanted. Don’t be afraid to say you know how to “KICK ASS”. Give us a call. This ain’t your little brother’s Karate school. © |