Martial Arts in Bay View

Practicing martial arts is a great way to stay in shape, boost self-confidence and discipline levels, and learn methods of self-defense. For those interested in studying both ancient and newer styles of martial arts, Bay View offers a variety of quality venues.

Bay View Martial Arts Club

To Sensei Sahnya Thom, master teacher and fifth-degree black belt in karate, martial arts is more than a hobby or an item on a person’s agenda-it’s a lifestyle.

Thom teaches a style of Jeet Kune Do, or Bruce Lee’s art, combined with elements of the Universal Systems of Karate (USK) at the Chiropractic Health and Wellness Center, 3101 S. Delaware Ave. She said she believes in a holistic and balanced approach to teaching martial arts. The students in her club meditate and learn principles of Buddhism and Taoism as well as methods of self-defense.

“My philosophy is if you are getting injured in sparring [every week], then you are losing,” she said.

Thom refers to her classes as “garage-style” dojo, meaning that students attend classes to enhance themselves mentally and spiritually rather than paying for a belt, which many commercial martial arts school encourage, according to Thom. She used to own a commercial school in Milwaukee, Alive and Kickin’, which closed in 2007 after 10 years. Thom said that owning the school created a lot of headaches and worry.

Thom, who has been studying karate for 28 years, got her start after her father required that all his daughters take self-defense courses. She first studied at the Ripon Karate Club, where she was one of the few women in a class of mostly men. She said that her instructor didn’t treat her any differently than the men in the class, and that her students today enjoy having a female teacher. “I’ve often been told by both men and women it is nice to have a woman teacher because she can teach power with elegance and flow with the mental hardiness needed follow through on a technique,” Thom said.

Thom’s classes meet on Thursday evenings and Saturday mornings, $75 a month for two classes a week. Contact Thom at (414) 559-2242 or senseithom@yahoo.com; bayviewmartialarts.com.

Milwaukee Aikido Club

The Milwaukee Aikido Club is a nonprofit organization founded in Milwaukee in 1967. There’s been a Bay View studio at 2235 S. Kinnickinnic Ave. since 1989.

Aikido is a modern Japanese budo, or martial art, that combines judo with kendo, or swordsmanship. Classes teach students to respond to and mimic an attacker’s moves without being overly violent or aggressive, which could lead to the attacker inflicting more harm upon the victim. Aikido teaches blending reaction with non-reaction, which, if used properly, will throw the attacker off balance.

Chris Rizio, Milwaukee Aikido Club president, said that aikido tactics are often used by law enforcement personnel, particularly because they are effective in warding off multiple offenders and provide a nonviolent way to restrain people.

“It’s a safe way to deal with larger people without inflicting harm,” said Rizio.

Since the Milwaukee Aikido Club is a nonprofit organization, they don’t push promotional testing, although instructors do encourage students to practice as often as possible, said Rizio.

The club is a communal environment, with everyone, including the sensei, working together. Students often help other students in class, and all of the instructors are unpaid.

“We all chip in on a lot of different duties and responsibilities,” said Rizio.

The Milwaukee Aikido Club offers a variety of times and days for classes as well as a children’s class Saturday mornings. Fees start at $30 a month per adult. For more information on fees and class times, contact the Milwaukee Aikido Club at (414) 744-9220; milwaukeeaikido.com.

Krav Maga

Krav Maga (krahv mah-GAH) is an interactive, high-intensity workout designed to help people use hand-to-hand combat to defend themselves against opponents, but without the use of guns or clubs. The system of fighting was developed in Israel during World War II and was designed to protect citizens. Unlike other forms of martial arts, it’s non-traditional, without a uniform requirement.

“You’re not going to find the path to enlightenment in Krav Maga,” said instructor Kurt Lakatos, who opened a second studio in the Bay View Hide House, 2612 S. Greeley St., several weeks ago. Lakatos opened a studio in Brookfield about two years ago and has been practicing Krav Maga for five years. Along with Krav Maga classes, he also teaches a women’s self-defense seminar in Brookfield.

Lakatos said that although he trains a lot of police officers and some military personnel, he teaches diverse groups of students, whose ages range from 16 to 60. They share a common goal-they all want to learn to protect themselves.

“Our goal is to make the community a safer place,” said Lakatos.

Lakatos offers classes at the Bay View studio Tuesday and Thursday mornings 6:30-7:30am and can be contacted at (262) 412-3757; kravmaga-milwaukee.com.

Shin Kai Karate & iji

Steven Salfer, a Bay View resident for 30 years as well as a realtor with his wife Robin, teaches classes on Shin Kai Karate and an iji (roughly translated as “preservation, protection, and peace”) workshop at Bay View Fitness, 2121 S. Kinnickinnic Ave. Salfer took over the Shin Kai Karate course after his former teacher, Feierabend Sensei, moved to Colorado about five years ago. Salfer has been an enthusiast and practitioner of martial arts for about 25 years.

Shin Kai Karate, a traditional style of Japanese martial arts that focuses on breathing techniques and meditation along with physical forms known as kata, is derived largely from Kyokushin karate. Although Salfer said the school does encourage advancing in rank, or the belt system, he said it’s not necessary for development, and that practicing martial arts can benefit individuals in many ways.

“It can be whatever you want it to be,” said Salfer. “You can use martial arts to stay in shape, release stress, or to take a belt.”

Salfer’s iji  workshop is a 90-minute self-defense seminar that focuses on natural body movements and how to effectively react to an attack. He also demonstrates how to use improvised  weapons, such as a purse or a bag, against an attacker.

“You realize that how you move on a daily basis can help protect you,” said Salfer.

Salfer’s Shin Kai classes meet at Bay View Fitness 6-8pm Wednesdays and 10-11:30am Saturdays. He said right now he does not have a set time for the Saturday iji workshop but is willing to schedule private classes for small groups. One can attend as many classes as they like for $45 a month, or attend any four classes for $30.

Contact Salfer at (414) 526-4395 or iji@thetwoforyou.com.

Futen Dojo

Futen Dojo, established in 1988, opened its new location in Bay View at 2234 S. Kinnickinnic Ave. in 2007. The building is bigger than its Brady Street location, which instructor Michael Coleman said will enable him to help more students.

Coleman, a sixth-degree black belt in Genbukan Ninpo and jujitsu, both traditional forms of Japanese martial arts, started studying martial arts at the age of 4 after his uncle, a military law enforcement officer, introduced him to karate. Coleman has been teaching in Milwaukee for 20 years. He’s taught martial arts to a diverse mix of people, including women, the visually impaired, and a man who was critically injured in a skiing accident. Coleman has taught at numerous locations, including psychiatric hospitals around the area, schools, and the Milwaukee Police Department, which has garnered him praise from both the mayor and governor.

Coleman said instruction at Futen Dojo centers around the “three T’s”-tradition, techniques, and teaching. He teaches classes that are derived from ninpo, an ancient Japanese style of martial arts, including Bojutsu, or staff techniques, and Taijutsu, or unarmed techniques, along with jujutsu instruction and Koryu, or ancient “China Hand” karate. He said he teaches a variety of different self-defense tactics but the techniques are meant to be used only when necessary.

“We teach civilians, so we have to be responsible,” said Coleman.

Coleman said that martial arts should not be used for violent purposes or to compete with others, and, unlike more commercial martial arts schools, he doesn’t want students to participate in martial arts for entertainment or an ego boost.

“We want to teach people to be creative and to be the best they can be,” said Coleman.

Various classes are available every day at the Bay View location and cost $100 a month for two classes per week. Contact Michael Coleman at (414) 736-9272 or mcoleman@futendojo.com for more information; futendojo.com.

Henry Matamoros Brazilian Jujitsu

Henry Matamoros, one of few people in the state of Wisconsin to have obtained a black belt in Brazilian jujitsu, offers mixed martial arts classes at his studio, Henry Matamoros Brazilian Jujitsu, 2653 S. Kinnickinnic Ave.

Originally from Costa Rica, Matamoros competed in numerous wrestling tournaments before he began studying Japanese jujitsu at age 16, which led to an interest in other forms of jujitsu. He began teaching jujitsu in Milwaukee in 1998, in a variety of different locations, including attics and basements, and opened his studio in Bay View in 2003. Matamoros said that each class consists of about 20 students, with 150 students total.

Matamoros enjoys Brazilian jujitsu because his students train hard and sweat hard, he said. Students spar with other students, and Matamoros’ classes incorporate tactics of self-defense with wrestling and kickboxing. Matamoros said that combining different martial arts tactics enables his students to become well-rounded, and that followers of Brazilian jujitsu learn the most realistic self-defense strategies.

Matamoros teaches children’s classes and helps them achieve their goals through the belt system, with white being the beginner and black being the most advanced.

He said he enjoys teaching kids who are shy or suffer from low self-esteem because jujitsu classes help them build confidence through hard work and discipline.

“I want all my students to be leaders,” said Matamoros.

Contact Henry Matamoros at (414) 431-1888; milwaukeebrazilianjiujitsu.com.

[EDITED OCT. 7, 2009--This version corrects errors to Bay View Martial Arts Club and Futen Dojo sections found in the print edition and also adds web addresses and modifies the first photo caption. MT]

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