Shuri Ryu Karate

With deep roots in Okinawan traditions, Shuri Ryu means “beautiful and graceful; learn from tradition, excel & go beyond.’ The system:

• Includes a wide repertoire of stances, blocks, strikes and kicks

• Is inspired by 5 major animal strengths - the dragon, the tiger, the leopard, the snake, and the crane - each represented by a specific striking form and energy

• Contains short form (Wazas) and sparring exercises with focus on power, speed, flow, precision and responsiveness

• Has 15 kata – the formal exercises of the system – whose practice promotes physical, mental and spiritual development

• Is identified with power, speed and grace

At The Leopard School we honor and extend the traditions of Shuri-Ryu while exploring contemporary and everyday applications of the physical, mental and spiritual tenets of the art.

Modern Arnis

Modern Arnis is a modern day iteration of weapons-based Filipino martial arts, as developed and taught by Grandmaster Remy Presas. The art emphasizes the use of a rattan cane in both single-stick and double-stick techniques.  Modern Arnis also includes empty-hand striking, locking and throwing techniques as well as a system of anyo (kata) performed both with and without canes. 

While some practitioners study Modern Arnis alone, many others find that its training of flow and energetic redirection - ‘the art within the art’ –– both complements and enhances  their training in other martial arts systems.

At The Leopard School, Modern Arnis is offered as a stand-alone class and is woven into training in Shuri-ryu karate.

Empowerment Self Defense

Everyone has the right to be safe. We are all worth fighting for. Empowerment Self Defense instruction provides skills training with an focus on options and personal choice. ESD emphasizes everyday life situations in context of the continuum of violence, from verbal and emotional abuse to physical assault. For more info about the profession of ESD internationally, visit the Association of ESD Professionals, which Sally, as part of its founding Board of Directors, proudly helped to launch.

Five Fingers of Empowerment Self Defense

(Feminist empowerment framework for safety skills; shared with deep appreciation for National Women's Martial Arts Federation leaders and founders who distilled and have shared knowledge this since the late 1970’s)

THINK: Use your head

YELL: Use your feet, move

RUN: Use your voice

FIGHT: Fight back if you have to

TELL: Tell someone you trust (& keep on talking till you feel better)