1. Learn from a 7th Degree Master Instructor ! An Excellent Family Activity: Get in Shape, Become More Self-Confident, Peaceful And Respectful Of Others: Send us an email!!!
I.H.F. HAPKIDO (the art of coordinated power), I.T.F. TAEKWON-DO, (the art of "kicking feet and punching fists") and KUM-DO (Korean weapons) are Korean martial arts for all ages. Benefits include: increased cardiovascular fitness, mental-discipline, self-confidence and self-esteem. Long-term Hapkido and I.T.F. Taekwon-Do training improves memory, concentration, school grades and helps reduce stress. Hapkido and I.T.F. Taekwon-Do can promote the healing of old injuries and can lead to increased health and peace of mind!
If you are new to the Central Okanagan, joining a martial arts school is a great way to meet new friends and increase your circle of contacts in the community!
If you are ambitious and/or have a career, your martial art contacts may help you get ahead. Listing on a resume that you are a Black-Belt is a "transferable skill" in occupations such as law enforcement, paramedics, athletics, the motion picture industry, security or wherever self-confidence, leadership or bravery is required.
I.H.F. HAPKIDO is a Korean self-defence martial art that teaches you how to defend yourself from ALL FOUR ranges of fighting (kicking, punching, grabbing and ground). Circular and linear in nature, Hapkido also gives you the option to strike or grapple; no other traditional self-defense martial art can make that claim !
Unlike Brazilian Jiu-jitsu, Hapkido (the art of coordinated power) does not advocate always going to the ground. You can defend yourself from a standing or sitting position and in fact, defeat a grappler or wrestler with hand or leg strikes, as well as groundwork. Hapkido training also incorporates weapons and sparring techniques. Therefore, self-control is an important part of the fundamentals.
2. All classes at KEL-WEST are taught or supervised by the school owner (an N.C.C.P. 'provincially' certified instructor), insuring high standards:
Here in the Okanagan, some martial art school owners give the impression that they actually 'teach,' and show up to all classes, but that isn't always the case. At Kel-West, the Head Instructor is a certified I.T.F. 7th Degree Master Black-Belt, an N.C.C.P. 'provincially' certified instructor with over 48 years of experience) who teaches and supervises at all classes, insuring you get a high standard of instruction. All instructors at Kel-West Society of Martial Arts are N.C.C.P. certified and have a reputation for producing excellent students.
Kel-West is the Central Okanagan's longest-running Hapkido and I.T.F. Taekwon-Do program, now in its 29th year of operation! Master Smith (and his assistants) have over 50 years of experience between them in both Taekwon-Do and Hapkido.We provide a LOWER 'teacher to student' ratio than most other Okanagan martial art schools.
We at Kel-West allow you (the new student) to make up your own mind, then decide for yourself if you want to join. We also offer a free tryout to help determine whether our school is right for you and also, whether you meet our pre-requisites for new students.
"The truth of all instruction is revealed through observing, not the instructor, but his students (or even his student's students?)."
-ED PARKER (pioneer of Kenpo)
3. We teach traditional I.H.F. HAPKIDO, I.T.F. TAEKWON-DO, and KUM-DO (Korean weapons art) along with the latest teaching methods! Change your thinking, then IMPROVE YOUR LIFE !
Kel-West Society of Martial Arts (above) has entered a float at the Westside Daze Parade in Westbank, British Columbia, for many years, now, and has proven to be a crowd pleaser.
KEL-WEST offers seperate classes in both Hapkido and Taekwon-Do (year-round) for children, adults and advanced students.
At Kel-West, our approach towards martial arts over the years has been largely 'Jungian' in nature; (i.e. to put the 'humanistic' element back into martial arts) while helping our students a) 'return to (his or her) basic nature' and b) insuring that the Hapkido and Taekwon-Do training has dramatically improved every aspect of the person's life (even 'life' outside of martial arts!).
Fortunately, martial art training is one of the few contributing art-forms where people are learning transferable skills such as self-defence, discipline, humility and respect for human values.
No question, consistent training in Hapkido and Taekwon-Do helps develop a more peaceful world and a positive, healthy community, and in some cases, can help change people's lives !
4. STUDENTS AT KEL-WEST have the option of competing at tournaments and/or partaking in various TRAINING SEMINARS!
Students at KEL-WEST SOCIETY OF MARTIAL ARTS have won over 400 medals and trophies in competition since 1996, including several champions featured in many Kelowna and West Kelowna media. This school has now coached students to gold medal wins (both patterns and sparring) at a record 14 consecutive tournaments! On the other hand, we also have some very good students who have trained with us for several years, but they do not attend tournaments. At Kel-West Martial Arts, we never force our students to compete, but for those who enjoy doing so, you do have that option.
Master Smith points out that competition is actually a very small part of the martial arts, but he adds: "competition can be a good thing, if it teaches good sportmanship, friendship, as well the willingness to learn from your expereinces ( both "good" and "bad?").
"Being a world champion and being a successful martial art instructor are two distinct and unrelated skills. History has shown that the world's most prolific coaches (i.e. Vince Lombardi, Scotty Bowman, Don Shula, etc.) usually had modest playing careers, while so-called retired sports 'champions' (i.e. Wayne Gretzky, Pele, etc. ) don't always make the best coaches."
Over the last 29 years, Kel-West has sponsored numerous local seminars on Free-Sparring, Self-Defence, Patterns, as well as specialized training courses for advanced students, instructor certification, etc., which have proven to be very popular!
5. HAPKIDO SELF-DEFENCE: (the Okanagan's first and ONLY Hapkido school)
Our students are trained in the International Hapkido Federation Chang Hun HAPKIDO (the "art of coordinated power"), a Korean self-defence art that offers training at all ranges: (kicking, punching, grabbing and weapons). Hapkido is extremely compatible with I.T.F. Taekwon-Do and all other styles and backgrounds. All students (age 12+) at Kel-West are trained in both basic and intermediate Hapkido principles, including Nak-Bup (basic break-falling), Tan-Jon (energy) breathing exercises, joint-lock and deflecting exercises, throwing, and at more advanced levels, knife defences, pressure points, chokes, two-on-one defences and ground-work. We encourage all serious students of Taekwon-Do to investigate the Korean art of Hapkido and strive to improve their self-defence skills. (Note: Kel-West is a member of the International Hapkido Federation Chang Hun).
6. Earn INTERNATIONAL RANK RECOGNITION
When you join our school, your belt rank is recognized in Canada and in 20 plus countries, internationally ! Our school is non-political and usually very friendly and family oriented. Many of us have spouses, best friends, children, brothers and sisters, also training in the martial arts !
The Chang Hun Hapkido Federation offers OUTSTANDING instruction in the grappling art of Hapkido self-defence ! When Kel-West hosts a local seminar, 4th, 5th and 6th Dan's are normally in attendance from every part of British Columbia and beyond !
TESTIMONIALS about KEL-WEST SOCIETY OF MARTIAL ARTS !
To receive a COMPLIMENTARY TRY-OUT, CALL MASTER SMITH TODAY at: (250) 768-1111 or click below:
