Arts of Self Defense (ASD) is dedicated to the mental, physical and spiritual advancement and well-being of its students. We guide the students with fitness training, confidence building with self defense and empowerment by accomplishment. All students can procede at their own pace.
Arts of Self Defense in Hawthorne, NJ is headed by Sensei Cliff Downey is the Chief Instructor. He is a retired Fair Lawn, NJ, police officer. He has been a self-defense instructor at the Bergen County Police Academy. Prior to that he served in the U.S. Marine Corps. He is assisted by Sempai Tom Puleo who earned his Shodan from Shihan Thomson. Shodan Al Connelly is the Business Director. Sensei Ed Di Nardo, though in Arizona, remains the technical leader of the system.
GOSHIN KAGEN GOJU KARATE DO
Sensei Jerry Thomson founded ASD in 1964. In 1987 Sensei Puleo assumed management of ASD, and from 1989 to early 2007 Sensei Di Nardo operated the dojo. Sensei Puleo & Di Nardo earned the highest praise by maintaining the techniques and principles of Goshin Kagen Goju Karate Do.
Goshin Kagen Goju Karate Do means "Self Defense Modified Hard Soft Empty Hand Way". We train in self defense, traditional karate-do (the empty hand way), and sparring for combat and sport karate.
THE ASD CONCEPT:
DESIRE............SELF DEFENSE DISCIPLINE......SELF ASSURANCE HARD WORK....SELF CONTROL REPETITION.....PHYSICAL FITNESS
It is through discipline and hard work that that the spiritual advancement is achieved.
A QUIZ FOR PARENTS
If you can answer "Yes" to any of the following questions, your child should be studying self-defense: Is your child shy? Has your child been bullied? Is your child poor in sports? Does your child lack self confidence? Does your child have too much energy? Is your child aggressive? Would your child run from a fight? Does your child lack interests? Has your child expressed a desire to learn the martial arts?
The Arts of Self Defense concept of teaching children is to give them: * Self-Defense Training * Confidence * Self-Control * Physical Fitness * Achievement
Al Connelly (BL), Tom Puleo (BR), & Sensei E. Di Nardo (FL) with Kyoshi Masaji Taira (FR) at a Jundokan seminar photo op in 2005
STATE OF MIND FOR KUMITE (Fighting):
