About

Kaikudo WordKaikudo, LLC was founded by John Okochi and Michael Issa in 2007. The Kaikudo organization was established to affect a positive change in the health, character and happiness of our community. Kaikudo programs employ traditional martial art values and training methods to engage the mind, body and spirit in a comprehensive learning program that improves our mental, physical and emotional I.Q. Kaikudo's founders recognize two destructive patterns in our society that must change in order to secure our wellbeing: 1.) the growing health risks among children, adults and seniors and 2.) the expanding gulf between generations and community stratus.

The CDC says that chronic diseases such as heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes, and arthritis are among the most common, costly, and preventable of all health problems in the U.S. Statistics show that 70% of deaths among Americans each year are a result of chronic disease and 50% of living adults have at least one chronic illness. Obesity is a growing health issue that now affects 30% of adults and 20% of youth between 6-19 yrs. In addition, stress and mental health problems contribute to a higher risk for chronic diseases due to increased inflammation in the body. Sustained inflammation caused by stress limits the body's ability to regulate itself, which can cause organ failure and depression down the road. The U.S. is in dire need of a lifestyle change that will counter these growing health concerns. Mind-body practices, like meditation and tai chi, have been shown to reduce inflammation in the body and, therefore, reduce our risk of acquiring chronic diseases.

The martial arts is especially well-suited to combat these health trends because of its unique combination of physical exercise, mental focus and breathing techniques. Physically, martial arts training improves muscle tone, flexibility, stamina and tendon-ligament health; Mentally, martial arts enhances awareness, concentration and mental stability; Emotionally, martial arts inspires confidence, self-control, compassion and stillness. These benefits are essential to mind-body healing and reducing inflammation caused by stress and poor immune health.

Philosophy

The Kaikudo organization espouses Bushido philosophy and follows its moral code as the paradigm for class behavior and community events. Originally, bushido, or the Way of the Warrior, describes the samurai lifestyle and moral code that outlined the edict of battle. Bushido accepts life's inherent struggle for survival and finds value in this struggle by conquering our fear of death. In doing so, the Bushido warrior overcomes mental anxiety and internal struggles that result in suffering. When caught in battle, whether mental, emotional or physical in nature, a Bushido warrior learns to calm their spirit, center their mind and relax their muscles in preparation for any situation. This approach to conflict allows the warrior to engage in life's struggles without the heavy cost to their mental and physical health.

The samurai were not only warriors, but political leaders as well. It was believed that if the samurai were to set an example and lead the public, then they must perfect the "art of self" through vigorous education and development of mind, body and spirit. Samurai education followed the twofold path, bun bu ryo do. Bun bu ryo do describes the education of leaders in both civilian and military matters; to harmonize gentleness and strength, mental and physical skills. The samurai were meant to exemplify the virtues of Bushido: justice, courage, compassion, respect, honesty, honor, loyalty to goals and self-control. Bushido teaches to respect oneself and others by interacting with the world through these eight virtues. In doing so, we have the ability to accomplish our goals and excel in worldly matters, thereby becoming the person we truly wish to be. It describes a lifestyle of excellence in order to train the body to become fit and healthy, to strengthen the spirit to become bold and fearless, and to tame the mind so it can attain inner peace amidst war. These are the pillars of Bushido and reflect the foundation of Kaikudo leadership.

Most applicable to the modern age, Bushido teaches one how to handle the overwhelming stress resulting from complex social interactions that we encounter on life's path. It teaches us not to be afraid to fall, but to pick ourselves up and courageously walk forward. All struggles and experiences in life must be viewed as valuable lessons to learn from, not run away from. Everyone is our teacher and the universe our classroom; therefore, we must learn to pay attention to the moment, lest we miss an important lesson. This attitude encourages learning and growth, making the individual more confident and the next obstacle easier to overcome. Kaikudo aids in that learning and growth so that one is physically, mentally and spiritually prepared to handle any situation that life presents.

John Okochi Sensei

John Okochi is the lead instructor of Kaikudo Karate. Okochi has studied Bushido in traditional Japanese martial arts for over 30 years. He not only demonstrates a deep understanding of martial art theory, but has also mastered the more difficult task of teaching that theory to all ages and skill levels. Okochi sensei is known for a refined instinct and understanding of each individual's abilities and needs. His superior teaching style and compassionate nature has inspired countless students to develop as martial artists and evolve as human beings.

Okochi sensei envisions a community center for all ages that promotes a healthy lifestyle, community service and after-school programming for young adults. Okochi is a firm believer in creating positive change through children programs that develop the mind, body and spirit. He recognizes how to bring-out the best in each individual, so that they can achieve their personal goals with honor and self-respect. His vision is to create leaders in conflict resolution and peacemaking that can tackle many of today's crises. Okochi sensei has taught thousands of students over the past 30 years and now, with his own school, he is prepared to impart his legacy of martial arts and knowledge of the human spirit for the benefit of our community.

Some of the classes John Okochi Sensei Teaches: Karate Kids, Adult Martial Arts, Self Defense and Fitness.

Bio

Michael Issa Sensei

Issa sensei is the lead instructor of Wu Dang Tai Chi and assistant instructor of Kaikudo Karate. Issa began training in the martial arts at age six under the tutelage of John Okochi. After 16 years of training in various karate forms, wrestling and Aikido, Issa sensei expanded his training to the internal arts under Wu Dang Master Yun Xiang Tseng (Chen). Master Chen is a 14th generation Wu Dang Zhang Sanfeng Taiji lineage holder and 25th generation Long Men healer. Chen is currently the only Wu Dang Taoist priest teaching in the United States. He has maintained the authentic tradition of Wu Dang Tai Chi and Qi Gong in hopes of promoting the ancient healing arts in America. Issa has studied extensively under Master Chen in traditional Wu Dang tai chi, kung fu, qi-gong, dao-yin stretching, meditation and External Qi Healing. Issa is well-known for his detailed instruction and ability to breakdown complicated movements, so that students can understand tai chi theory and progress quickly. He demonstrates patience, compassion and joy when teaching Tai chi and martial arts. Issa has devoted himself as a life-long student of the martial arts and currently studies Wing Chun, Aikido and Kung Fu to expand his knowledge. Issa has combined his skills to design a unique curriculum that allows students to master total body movement and mind-body awareness in the martial arts.

Michael Issa is a graduate from the University of Michigan. After graduation, Michael moved to Syria on a Fulbright Scholarship to study Arabic and Islamic culture. Upon returning to the US, Michael joined the Emory University community as a Senior Research Coordinator in the Mind-Body Program of Psychiatry. He conducted research with Dr. Charles Raison and Geshe Lobsang Negi on the effects of Tibetan compassion meditation. Their research found direct correlations between meditation practice time and a reduced physiological response to stress after only 8 weeks of compassion mediation training. These findings have great implications in reducing the risk for chronic disease and mental health problems such as depression. Further research is being conducted to explore the effects on brain functioning and to determine if different meditation techniques influence the body in specific ways. Issa was fortunate to learn Tibetan shamatha (attention) and lojong (compassion) meditation under Geshe Lobsang during his research at Emory.

Some of the classes Michael Issa Sensei Teaches: Tai Chi, Karate Kids and Adult Martial Arts.

Publications

  • Pace TW, Negi LT, Adame DD, Cole SP, Sivilli TI, Brown TD, Issa MJ, Raison CL. Effect of compassion meditation on neuroendocrine, innate immune and behavioral responses to psychosocial stress. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 2009 Jan; 34(1):87-98.
  • Pace TW, Negi LT, Sivilli TI, Issa MJ, Cole SP, Adame DD, Raison CL. Innate immune, neuroendocrine and behavioral responses to psychosocial stress do not predict subsequent compassion meditation practice time. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2009 Jul 15. [Epub ahead of print]
  • Qiu Y-L, Li L, Hendry TA, Li R, Taylor DW, Issa MJ, Ronen AJ, Vekaria ML, White AM: Reconstructing the basal angiosperm phylogeny: evaluating information content of mitochondrial genes. Taxon 2006, 55:837-856.