Tatsu Dojo Martial Arts & Wellness

"If you want to work with a highly qualified teacher in a safe environment keep reading. Tatsu Dojo is a place where you will be realistically challenged. Dave knows just how hard to push, without going too far. This is a place where you will learn self defense techniques, gain physical conditioning, and build self confidence. Don’t hesitate to contact Dave to discuss your goals and ambitions, you will be glad you did."

"I love Tatsu Dojo. I'm not taking martial arts, but Tatsu Dojo more than martial arts. Recovery from injuries? Check. Functional mobility? Check. Creative and innovative workouts? Check. Community? Check. I attend the MWF Warrior Flow morning class. As a round, middle-aged woman with various old injuries, this class is amazing. Flexibility, balance, and strength combined in one class that is challenging and fun. But this class is for more than just middle-aged women. Athletes, non-athletes, weekend warriors. My husband (who is taking the martial arts classes) also enjoys the Warrior Flow class. If you are looking for a place that will compliment your overall wellness goals, Tatsu Dojo is it."

"My first review on the Tatsu Dojo website included my non attachment to seeking a black belt. Even though I started martial arts when I was 4 years old and I was conditioned to believe a black belt was to be revered, I had seen too many examples of false confidence and reward for just showing up. That is not the mission statement where I train. A black belt test is supposed to be the hardest thing you have ever lasted through. After 5+ years training with Dave and what have become family, I was told it was my turn to test for Shodan in three months. I was terrified, not ready, and also committed to rise to the challenge. I dug deep, using every method and technique from my past sports and martial arts training I thought could help me. I knew also that I had to prepare for the mind games, push through the want to slow down or stop. At the end of every self-directed exercise, when I was ready to stop (and no one else was watching), I would hear Dave yelling in my head “GET UP, GET UP, GET UP!”. I would see the black belt as my finish line and push until the end of my workout. Oh, how little did I know. Thank goodness during my preparation that I did all those push-ups, sit-ups, miles, kicks, punches, bone strikes, salads, vitamins, sprints, studies, and mental run throughs of all the techniques and katas. Otherwise, I would not have been able to stand there at the end with a genuine reply of “I don’t know” to the question: did you earn it? You see, I took this seriously. I put nearly everything into preparing for this moment, and my family sacrificed and supported my preparation. The curriculum was long, the variations were many, and there was always a fresh body and spirit there to keep me honest — no one gets a free ride here. As the hours dragged on, I held on to the hope that the shodan tests I had seen were usually about four hours. I couldn’t help but glance at the clock while struggling to recover during short water breaks. 1.5 hours left. 45 min. 15 min left maybe. Then it was apparent that four hours had just been a false comfort: there are no limitations here. At the end of the technical portion of my test, with my body failing in every way, I sprained my ankle performing aikinage, which is supposed to be an energetic technique. A gentle throw, but because I was so tired and done, I couldn’t respond to my foot planting wrong before my weight fell on it. I have a history of ankle sprains, and I had feared this exact scenario. I was crushed, because I knew it would happen, and it happened right before what I feared most. I was asked what I wanted to do. I couldn’t possibly stop. I hadn’t faced my biggest fear yet: Randori is practice against multiple attackers. Not full on punching and kicking, just nonstop coming at you grabbing, squeezing and choking. It is always a humbling experience, and it always punctuates your test. During my brown belt test, I fell short. I didn’t have the stamina or the grit. I didn’t achieve the highest rank I was testing for because I wasn’t able to stand up, turn and move. I hadn’t prepared enough. I tapped out early in every one of my randori trials. It was earned. So this time, I said “tape it up”, I’m not done. We proceeded to go through rounds of Randori, blindfolded Randori, and then an improvised “put him on the ground then punch him with boxing gloves until he stands up, then repeat” round. This was confusing, but the final push to see if I would keep going. I did. So I was called to the center of the mat, asked if I had earned it, and I said sincerely “I don’t know”. In response Dave said “it’s not about you, or them (my fellow students), it’s about what you do with it”. At that moment, all of my struggle, pain and emotional anguish released, and I was momentarily able to feel connected, grateful, and an accomplishment that is only felt a handful of times in our short lifespans. I achieved Shodan. It was not possible without my Teacher Dave, my fellow students and family, and the true mission statement of Tatsu Dojo: you are your own limitation. Derek"

"I started training with Dave in December of 2017. I was interested in learning how to defend myself as I had spent most of my life feeling uneasy just existing in the world as a woman. I had heard too many accounts growing up, some real and some fictional, of women being victims of violent crimes for it not to affect the way I interacted in the world, and particularly with men. After training with Dave for more than four years now, I’ve not only gained confidence in defending myself against an attacker, but also have gained a strong and supportive community, a level of physical fitness that I didn’t achieve while even playing college sports, and a teacher who not only displays what I hope to achieve as a martial artist, but more importantly what I hope to become as a human being. I cannot recommend Tatsu Dojo enough to anyone who wants a physical and mental challenge, a practical, self defense focused martial art, a supportive and tight-knit community and an exemplary teacher."

"I am 56 years old learning Karate for the first time. Dave makes learning as an adult fun and challenging. This is a real dojo, not a hyped up gym. You will learn how to apply the techniques in a practical, realistic manner. I find Dave to be very knowledgeable with emphasis on safety and the basics."