Brickton Community Hall, 12062 Hwy # 1 Brickton
The Classical Martial Arts
Rooted in the Contemplative Traditions
Our Philosophy
The Classical Martial Arts are a personal journey where the student will face the challenges of the mind and body, and must discover for themself how to overcome them.
We offer classes for all stages of life, from the very young with our preparatory karate classes to our oldest students in CORAH Tai Chi and the 55+ Karate. We believe that martial arts of the classical tradition has something to offer everyone and that it is a practice that has a place in every persons life.
The Classical Martial Arts are systems of deep philosophies and traditions, methods, tools, techniques and principles that we practice for personal development and healing.
There are moments in life when information is no longer enough.
We may know what we should do, yet still find ourselves unable to do it.
We may understand what peace is, yet struggle to find it.
We may long for strength, healing, belonging, or purpose, without knowing how to move toward them.
At those moments, human beings have often turned to practice.
Not because practice removes the mystery of being human.
But because it teaches us how to remain in relationship with it.
The style of Karate and Tai Ch that we practice and teach.
The core of our practice is Okinawa Goju Ryu Karate which originates from the teachings, traditions and philosophy of the Shaolin Temple and White Crane Kung Fu.
Goju consists of two kanji characters;
Go meaning strong or hard
Ju meaning gentle or soft.
It is based on the philosophy of strong mind, strong body - gentle heart, gentle spirit.
We practice Yang style Tai Chi, a popular and widely practiced form of Tai Chi characterized by its slow, continuous and circular movements with an emphasizes on balance, relaxation and mobility both physically and mentally.
The practices shared here are rooted in the classical traditions of Okinawan and Chinese martial arts, together with the contemplative traditions that have accompanied them through generations.
They remind us that strength need not come at the expense of kindness, that discipline and compassion are not opposites.
That peace is not found by escaping life, but by learning how to meet it with steadiness, courage, and an open heart.
Adult Karate Ages 18+
A person who is peaceful on the inside will not cause harm to others, because what he feels is peace.
Tai Chi, Qi Gong and Dao Yin
Tai Chi is a philosophy for living; the practice to be a centered, balanced and harmonious human being in all situations throughout life.
Children's Karate Ages 5 - 8
To discover who you are and to be the most authentic version of yourself, and share that with others.
Children's Karate Ages 9 - 12
If you are facing in the right direction, all you have to do is start walking.
Youth Karate Ages 13 - 17
Self-Confidence through Mastery.
You only have to learn how to be great at one thing to become great at anything you chose.
Adult Karate Ages 18+
A person who is peaceful on the inside will not cause harm to others, because what he feels is peace.
Tai Chi, Qi Gong and Dao Yin
Tai Chi is a philosophy for living; the practice to be a centered, balanced and harmonious human being in all situations throughout life.
Children's Karate Ages 5 - 8
To discover who you are and to be the most authentic version of yourself, and share that with others.
Children's Karate Ages 9 - 12
If you are facing in the right direction, all you have to do is start walking.
Youth Karate Ages 13 - 17
Self-Confidence through Mastery.
You only have to learn how to be great at one thing to become great at anything you chose.
Adult Karate Ages 18+
A person who is peaceful on the inside will not cause harm to others, because what he feels is peace.
Tai Chi, Qi Gong and Dao Yin
Tai Chi is a philosophy for living; the practice to be a centered, balanced and harmonious human being in all situations throughout life.
The Art of Peace
There is a common misunderstanding that the martial arts are primarily about learning to fight.
It is an understandable one.
From the outside, we see punches, kicks, forms, and self-defence.
We see discipline, belts, and years of practice.
Yet beneath these visible expressions lies a quieter tradition.
For generations, the classical martial arts have been places where human beings have learned to cultivate themselves. To learn how not to fight.
Strength has always mattered.
But so has restraint.
Skill has always mattered.
But so has humility.
Discipline has always mattered.
But so has compassion.
The deepest purpose of practice has never been simply to overcome another person.
It has been to understand ourselves more fully.
The classical traditions from Okinawa and China have endured for centuries because they understand something that remains deeply relevant today.
Human beings need practices that shape not only what we can accomplish, but who we become.
That peace is not the absence of difficulty, but the ability to meet difficulty without becoming divided against ourselves.
James R. Edwards
I have been a full-time, professional teacher for more than 35 years. My career includes teaching high school music, non-profit youth organizations for the performing arts and of course the classical martial arts. I am internationally trained in violence prevention and self defence and I am a certified teacher with Safe International. My work as a teacher has taken me throughout Canada, U.S.A and Europe and my students have travelled from all over the world to be a part of my programs. I am grateful for the privilege to have been a part of each one of their lives and to share my experience with them.
I started my training in the martial arts in 1989 under the teachings of Sensei Wayne Arsenault, received my black belt in 1993 and continue my training to this day with 7 teachers in 4 countries. I have been blessed my entire life with extraordinary teachers and I am grateful for their contributions to my life and my training.
My training and practice includes Karate, Tai Chi, Qi Gong, Ba Gua, Nei Gong and Meditation. The foundation of my of my practice are the teachings of the Shaolin Temple and the philosophy of the Taoist and Buddhist Traditions.
Stephanie Schaffner
Stephanie is a focused student of the Classical Martial Arts with interests across different disciplines. She has created for herself a unique and deeply personal practice that includes Traditional Okinawa Karate, Yang Style Tai Chi, Qi Gong and Nei Gong, Dao Yin, Meditation and self defense.
Stephanie is passionate about helping others in their practice, with a special interest in woman and girls within the Martial Arts and committed to children's Karate and its potential to positively direct the development of children and youth.
stephanie@massconservatory.ca
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