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Bennest Karate School
Edgewood, Washington Karate School operated by Renshi Tony Bennest.
Bennest Karate School
3502 Meridian Ave East
Edgewood, Washington  98371
253   864-7131  Evenings
This page was last updated: April 25, 2012
Martial Arts Alumni Association:


SHOTOKAN KARATE:

Karate is a Japanese Martial art with many different levels of training.  It is widely recognized as a sport and an art of self-defense.  While there are many extensive physical aspects of this martial art, it also incorporates psychological elements and leadership techniques.

The practice of karate relies on different forms, patterns, and interpretations.  Techniques employ kata (forms), kumite (sparring), kokoro (attitude), and kobudo (weapons training).  Kata is a series of movements that demonstrate psychical principles of a combat attack. Kumite employs grappling, punching, and kicking in a competitive environment, most notably during tournaments.  Kokoro an integral part of Karate, as it's believed to be its center.  Without heart and character, you will not be self-improved through this martial art.  Lastly, kobudo refers to training of traditional weaponry.

Karate was introduced as an art of self-defense.  At that time, only three obi-belts were used in Japan as a system of rank.  The colors were white, brown, and black.  Each belt color consisted of several levels.  It was only after Karate became so popularized and widespread that additional colors of obi were introduced.

The development of Karate took place during a time of political conflict and wars.  Gichin Funakoshi founded Shotokan karate and attributed to spreading and popularizing karate on the main islands of Japan.  In 1936, after some of the highest level martial arts masters met together, they announced the introduction of karate, which originated in Okinawa. 

Okinawa is a significant region for martial arts because it used to be a political center ruled by King Sho Hashi who banned weapons.  This prohibition encouraged the development of unarmed combat.  Little did these men who helped make karate official know what the future would hold for Karate, including it inclusion in the Olympics and the way Karate functions as an integral part of popular culture.



NINJUTSU KARATE:

Ninjutsu is a Japanese martial art that was originally used for espionage purposes.  It was the first martial art that portrayed the dark and mysterious ninja.  Even though this martial art was largely influenced by Chinese martial arts, Ninjitsu is believed to be of Japanese origin. This martial art has a very long history that is quite magical.  It is difficult for even the most studied historians to decipher factual ninja stories from fiction.

Upon its introduction, this martial art was practiced as a way to endure the hardships associated with life.  It took three hundred years to develop every skill and technique associated with Ninjutsu.  After its transformation, this martial art became the art of stealth, which contained 18 principles and disciplines.

Most of the skills of this fighting system prepare a practitioner for a journey into espionage.  Training usually emphasizes on spying skills, fighting with weapons, unarmed fighting, escape tactics, disguise and impersonation, archery, medical treatments, explosives, and concealment.  Women also train in Ninjutsu.

Over the course of the last century, the need for Ninjutsu training has declined with very few schools remaining in Japan.  While there are a few training centers in the United States, practitioners are taught Americanized versions of Ninjutsu, which often lack Japanese origin and differ with original teachings.

The decline in training of this martial art is due to the changing of times and technology. Most techniques serve little or no purpose in populated locations.   Homeland Security has also put on several restrictions about teaching poisons, explosives & assassinations.
Ninjitsu / Ninjutsu is spelled both ways, just as Jitte / Jutte is spelled both ways in Japan.  Jujutsu / Jujitsu are also commonly spelled both ways. 

AIKI-JUJUTSU:

Juijutsu is an ancient art.   Ironically, it is a martial art based on several joint locks & throwing techniques of the body to attack enemies.  It is very effective method of defense against an armed opponent.  Many Japanese martial arts advocates believe that Jujutsu is the ancestor of all martial arts in Japan.

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JAPANESE TRADITIONAL KARATE & AIKIDO SCHOOL:

The Martial Arts Alumni Association is part of the history below, following the Tradition and example of Traditional Japanese Martial Arts.  Japanese Martial Arts started during the medieval period in Japan.  It was mainly practiced by the Samurai class.  It was a period of fighting, struggling and war.  A samurai was gifted with this art, as it could save him from enemy attack.  The word Martial Arts means military practice.  It was really a fighting skill rather than a recreational sport during that period.  It helped people protect themselves in case of combative attack.  It can't be denied that, Japanese Martial Art was a powerful weapon for common people in medieval Japan.

The Martial Arts were gradually modified by the Japanese until more arts were developed.  Japanese Martial Arts differ from its Chinese counterpart in style.  Japanese Martial Arts involves straight-line attacks, whereas Chinese techniques are more circular.  The martial arts of Japan have a wide range starting from empty hand to hand techniques, to fighting with several weapons.

Japanese arts can be categorized generally in to 5 different arts of fighting. They are Karate, Aikido, Jujitsu, Judo, and Kendo.  Karate is the most popular amongst all of these.  Karate was originated in Okinawa.  Karate means empty hand.  This isn't irony, because the people of Okinawa fought empty handed using this famous Japanese Martial Art.

Gichin Funakoshi is the Modern Founder of  Karate.   He impressed the then Emperor of Japan by showing his skill and started teaching this Japanese martial art in Japan in 1921.  Within five years, Karate became the most popular Japanese Martial Art.  Funakoshi also opened a training hall (dojo) in Tokyo.  Thus, Karate gained popularity inside and outside of Japan.

Aikido is another popular Japanese Martial Art.  It is a purely traditional art and a very strict one at that !  It is a self-defensive type of art.  The name  Aikido defines the characteristic of this art.  Ai means harmony, Ki means source of energy, & Do means the way.  These three words together mean that it is a way of keeping harmony in the body by using the spirit of energy.  Aikido has a religious influence and practitioners believe that it's the way to save mankind from danger or evil.

Jujitsu is an ancient art.   Ironically, it is a martial art based on several joint locks & throwing techniques of the body to attack enemies.  It is very effective method of defense against an armed opponent.  Many Japanese martial arts advocates believe that Jujitsu is the ancestor of all martial arts in Japan.

Additional martial arts include Kendo and Judo. Kendo is a martial art which utilizes swords.  It's a fencing martial art that requires a lot of discipline and skill.  This art differs greatly from Judo, which is a unarmed combative sport.  It's rules are very complex and it is one of the most popular Japanese martial arts practiced globally.

Currently offered at the Bennest Karate School with ranking Black Belt Instructors is Shotokan Karate, Ninjutsu, & Aiki-Jujitsu.
CW
Bennest Karate Schools, under the Martial Arts Alumni Association
was founded in 1972 and instigated by Soke Steve A. Bennest,
who is currently a JUDAN / 10th Degree Black Belt after 42 years in the Martial Arts. 
This was after his 2nd tour of duty in Vietnam
and serving with the US Army.
Bennest Karate Schools, located in multiple states and  under different club names,
locations of Washington, California & New Mexico;
from 1972 to 2011.
Renshi Tony Bennest has picked up the ball and continued the
efforts of trying to help others in achieving Black Belt Status
Since 2006.
The Top Black Belts or Senior Students of each school are listed:

Tacoma Community College
Sensei Francis Xavier

San Luis Obispo Karate School
Sensei Floyd McAdams
Ricky Wong & Jan Moon

Kenyukan Karate School
Sensei Rick Gracie
Sensei Steve Parmater

Cuesta College
Sensei Hideki Monobe
Sensei Floyd McAdams

Atascadero Karate School
Terry & Chad Keller

Cal Poly University
Sensei Ira Manroe

Shadow Warriors
Sensei Arlander Bell
Sensei Yolanda Martinez
Mike Peacher,  Del Taylor, & Shih-Hsin Hsu

Washington Karate Federation
Mitch Roberts
Sensei Venus Coburn

Fife Karate School
Sensei Jeremy Hovies

Morro Bay Aikido School
Sensei Mateo Toribio

Milton Karate School
Sensei Venus Coburn

Edgewood Karate School
Sensei Tony Bennest

Bennest Karate Schools
Sensei Ken Drewry


Soke Steve Bennest

    Everyone has problems in life, it is not something we enjoy.  But one must never quit, get back up and continue in getting better, improving and helping others.  The rich get richer and the poor get poorer, because humans do not help each other.  For every success that Steve has had, he has had ten failures.  Below are some of his successful organizations, that he organized.


Martial Arts Alumni Association.
Washington Karate Federation.

IDC  -  Instructor Development College.
ESTF  -  Eiger Sanction Mountaineering Task Force.

SAT-SAR  -  Seattle-Tacoma Search & Rescue Training Unit.
Thunderfist Championships.

Shadow Warriors Karate School.
He-Man Competition.

Atascadero Kenyukan Karate School.
Olympic Fieldday Event.

San Luis Obispo Karate School.
Martial Arts 50 Merit Badge Program.

MAA Awards Program with over 55 Awards to earn in the Martial Arts
to include Karateka Award, Presidential Sports Awards, etc.
FREE Karate Program for 30 years.

FREE Women's Self-Defense Program for 35 years.
MAA Gold, Silver, Bronze Medals Program.

Bushido Kai of Morro Bay Aikido School.
Washington Karate School of Milton.

Samurai Poker Games for 33 years.
TCC Karate Club.

Shodan Karate Club.
Fife Karate School.

MAA Regional Top Ten Awards Program.
Santa Lucia Mountain Range Karate Championships.

Puget Sound Karate Tournaments.
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January 1st, 2012
Bennest Karate School
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