ABOUT USMore about us, what we do, and how we can help you. |
Welcome |
How? |
What? |
Instructor |
Coaches |
Our Style |
Founder |
Welcome to Okami Martial Arts |
Welcome to Okami Martial Arts Newcastle. We teach modern, fun martial arts to chlidren whilst incorporating a respectful and disciplined approach. If you think your child would be interested in trying Karate out, please feel free to contact us with any questions you have. It would be great to see them at one of our classes. |
How Can We Help? |
- Fitness
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Fitness
We offer a comprehensive fitness program tailored to each child by focusing on one or more specific skills, as well as age/health-related needs.
We also focus on mental, social and emotional health, which is an important part of overall fitness; no matter what age.
- Speed
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Speed
We practice techniques slowly and gradually get faster, with the aim of constantly increasing your child's maximum speed.
Flexibility and a correct warm up improve overall speed. Maximum speed is improved by developing muscular strength, power, strength endurance and technique.
- Reflexes
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Reflexes
- Reaction Times: We improve perception of attacks and the interval between stimulus & response.
- Response Times: We improve the time it takes to choose a response to the initiation of the movement.
- Movement Speed: We improve counter speed and how fast your body moves to avoid attacks. - Agility
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Agility
We can improve your child's ability to rapidly change directions without the loss of speed, balance, or body control.
The more agile your child is, the quicker they can anticipate an opponent's attack and react to it. Our students learn to respond very quickly to directional orders.
- Focus
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Focus
Martial arts help us to train ourselves with a practical application rather than for the sake of 'fitness'. Fitness training regimes such as gym workouts can become tedious.
By concentrating on practical applications, your child will become more relaxed and determined, enabling them to focus more on specific tasks.
- Discipline
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Discipline
Students must adhere to strict training rules and learn to respect their seniors, mentors and training partners in our classes.
We assist you in teaching your child to behave appropriately in different circumstances, relating to both Karate and life. Discipline and respect are vital factors in shaping one’s personality.
- Confidence
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Confidence
Martial arts can dramatically increase a child's self-confidence, whilst teaching them the fine line between that and arrogance.
Our students learn to communicate with each other by working in groups, and helping each other where necessary. They are taught from the start that social interaction is extremely important.
- Determination
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Determination
Our students learn quickly that the most important predictor of success is determination. People often think it's intelligence, and while that plays a part, it's not always the key factor.
We assist you in teaching your child to push for what they want, compete, and make decisions in a rational and calm fashion.
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What We Do |
KataKata ( 型) is a Japanese word meaning' form', describing detailed patterns of movements practiced either solo or in teams. Kata are executed as a specified series of a variety of moves, with stepping and turning, while attempting to maintain perfect form. The practitioner is taught to visualise the enemy attacks and their responses. Students 'read' a kata in order to explain the imagined events. There are 17 Kata in our style, each with many minor variations. Click Here to watch more videos of our instructor performing Kata. |
KumiteKumite (組手) is a Japanese word meaning 'sparring', and is one of the three main sections of Karate training, along with Kata and Kihon. Kumite is the part of Karate in which you train against an adversary, using the techniques learned from the Kihon and Kata. Kumite can be used to develop a particular technique or a skill (e.g. effectively judging and adjusting your distance from your opponent) or it can be done in competition. Click Here to watch more videos of our students sparring. |
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Kihon
Kihon (基本, きほん) is a Japanese term meaning 'basics' or 'fundamentals'. The term is used to refer to the basic techniques that are taught and practiced as the foundation of most Japanese martial arts. The practice and mastery of Kihon is essential to all advanced training, and includes the practice of correct body form and breathing, while practicing basics such as stances, punches, kicks, blocks, and thrusts, but it also includes basic representative Kata. Click Here to find out more about our style and its history. |
Fun & GamesAlong with the serious stuff, we believe that our students must always enjoy their martial arts. We understand that children need to release some energy, have a laugh and go home with smiles on their faces. We play a variety of games, some of which some teach discipline, improve reactions and build speed without the child even knowing! We use a variety of props such as the Karate belts, cones, balls, bean bags and more. Click Here to watch more videos of our students having fun! |
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Sensei Aaron Milan-Vega - Instructor |
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Personal Info: Nationality: Karate Info: Rank: 2nd Dan (Black Belt) Professional Info: Japanese-Recognised Second Dan Black Belt Major Competition Achievements:
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British - 
Half English / 
Half Spanish
Bronze, Kata, World IKGA Championships (2005, Rotterdam, The Netherlands) 
Bronze, Kumite, European IKGA Championships (2007, Bern, Switzerland) |
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Coaches |
Alan Crozier Rank: 2rd Kyu (Brown Belt) |
Zenobia Soto-Alaienia Rank: 6th Kyu (Green Belt) |
Kath Samways Rank: 6th Kyu (Green Belt) |
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Our Karate Style - Goju-Ryu |
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Goju-Ryu (剛柔流), (Japanese for "hard-soft style") is one of the main traditional Okinawan styles of karate, featuring a combination of hard and soft techniques. Both principles, hard and soft, come from the famous martial arts book Bubishi (Chinese: wu bei ji), used by Okinawan masters during the 19th and 20th centuries. Go which means hard, refers to closed hand techniques or straight linear attacks; Ju which means soft, refers to open hand techniques and circular movements. Major emphasis is given to breathing correctly in all of the katas but particularly in the Sanchin kata which is one of two core katas of this style. The second kata is called Tensho, meant to teach the student about the soft (ju) style of the system. Goju-Ryu practices methods that include body strengthening and conditioning, its basic approach to fighting (distance, stickiness, power generation, etc.), and partner drills. Goju-Ryu incorporates both circular and linear movements into its curriculum. Goju-Ryu combines hard striking attacks such as kicks and close hand punches with softer open hand circular techniques for attacking, blocking, and controlling the opponent, including locks, grappling, takedowns and throws. The Goju-Ryu founder, Chojun Miyagi believed that "the ultimate aim of karate-do was to build character, conquer human misery, and find spiritual freedom". He stated that it was important to balance training for self-defense with "training the mind, or cultivating the precept karate-do ni sente nashi ('there is no first strike in karate')"; he also emphasized the importance of "cultivating intellect before strength". Miyagi chose the name Goju-ryu ("go" meaning "hard" and "ju" meaning "soft"), to emphasize that his style integrated both "hard" and "soft" styles. Goju applies not just to karate, but to life in general; only hardness or only softness will not enable one to deal effectively with the fluctuations of life. When blocking, the body is soft and inhaling; when striking, the body is hard and exhaling. Information taken from Wikipedia. For more information on Goju-Ryu, please click here. |
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Sensei Ozel Osman - Founder of Okami Martial Arts |
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Our schools are overseen and directed by 5th degree black belt Ozel Osman. Sensei Osman (Sensei is Japanese for Teacher) began studying the martial arts way back in 1973. He had experienced a bit of bullying at school and both he and his parents thought it would be a good idea to learn some self-defense. Little did they know how important that decision would become in young Ozel's life! Seven years later, in 1980, Sensei earned his first degree black belt. Now completely absorbed in his study of the martial arts, he began making training trips to Japan where he sought out and studied with some of the world's most renowned master's of karate. Over the years, besides a rather rigorous personal training schedule, Sensei attended a wide variety of instructor training courses here at home and abroad; most memorably with National Team Coach, Sensei Ticky Donovan. Sensei Osman competed at local, national and international tournaments, most proudly representing England on the Goju-Kai team and with a number of successes in individual and team forms (kata) and sparring (kumite). Sensei also trained in Muay Thai boxing in Thailand (read: hard work) and was, honored as Castle Point Sports Personality of the Year. Sensei Osman is a qualified Massage Therapist to ITEC standards and has enhanced CRB disclosure (child protection). "It is an honor and a privilege to be a martial arts teacher. I try to teach with a balance of humor, play, intensity, and focus. My goal is to treat my students with more respect than they treat me –and to serve as a role model for them not as a karate teacher, but as a compassionate and engaged human being. That is what I have learned from my teachers, both in and out of the martial arts –and it has become my mission in life to pass it on." |
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