Rising Sun Martial Arts

Jan 2017

I began training at Rising Sun Martial Arts when I was six. Now, almost 17 years later I still train at the same school. I can’t recommend RSMA enough. It provides an experience that is much more than simply going to a gym. It is truly a safe family environment, the students and instructors genuinely care about each other. Training at RSMA equipped me with confidence, discipline and leadership skills. I’ve had the opportunity to travel throughout New England and as far as Pennsylvania to train and compete. Kyoshi Baker is an understanding, professional and hardworking instructor. He is always willing to take on any additional student challenges with an immeasurable amount of patience and compassion. Don’t interpret this the wrong way, there is never a free ride here, all students earn their rank through a standardized curriculum. The adult’s class provides varied instruction that caters to many athletic abilities. So us netflixer’s don’t have to feel like we’re being left in the dust by the teenagers! The kid’s class integrates lots of games and different drills to improve motor skills and hone technique. The calendar offers different events including weapons training, board breaking, sparring, kid’s summer camp and guest instructors to supplement training. Students are not being taught to “fight and destroy” they are gaining the ability to share an ancient art with strong moral values of honesty, integrity and courage. I firmly believe that karate can only have a positive impact at any age, I have never regretted the years I’ve dedicated to my training at Rising Sun Martial Arts.

Dec 2016

As a parent, I went into Rising Sun seeking a place for my six year old child to learn not only self-defense, but also: greater confidence, self-discipline, greater independence, sharper fine and gross motor skills and coordination, an improved ability to listen to and accurately follow multiple-step instructions, good judgment, a strong sense of what is right (or justified use of force) and what is wrong (or violence for its own sake) in fighting, as well as an understanding of how to deal effectively and intelligently with conflict. Since we signed up in 2014, I have NEVER been disappointed. My son is now almost nine, and in just two and a half years, he has already earned his brown belt and continues to attend karate training 4x/week. He loves the martial arts, his many classmates, and his sensei. Kyoshi Brent Baker is not only one of the finest teachers I know, but one of the finest people I have ever known. He has a sharp mind, a creative way of disciplining, and is a very good judge of character. He is an extremely present person; he carefully observes each student, gives each of them his undivided attention in turn, and patiently guides them to more perfect technique. His firm style of handling his students is tempered by the obvious joy he experiences from teaching them. His students sense this and work very hard to make him proud. As my son grows older, I have no doubt that Kyoshi's example will continue to mentor to him into a strong, self-aware, fair-minded, balanced, thoughtful, compassionate, and capable young man. (I have also seen these qualities in many of the older students at the dojo, and am thrilled to know where we are headed.) The dojo creed says it all: "To strive for the perfection of character. To defend the path of truth. To foster the spirit of effort. To honor the principles of etiquette. To guard against impetuous courage." There is also a poster of the Bushido Samurai Code of Honor on the wall outside the dojo. Each of the qualities listed...justice, courage, benevolence, mercy, politeness, honesty, sincerity, honor, loyalty, self-control...are attributes I have seen in my boy to a greater extent each year. I can't help but imagine how much better the world would be if everyone studied martial arts at Rising Sun. Rising Sun has become another family to us. If you are seeking to nurture your son / daughter's body, mind, and spirit, there is no better place to do that than Rising Sun.