Elite Yoshukai Karate

08/03/2023

Ok finally have a medal count for Alabama athletes but not counting Sean Gilham group out of Clanton ...

Gold-16
Silver-13
Bronze-7

US Team as a whole

08/03/2023

Well unfortunatly with my phone being stolen on the very first day of competition I am unable to post any photos of the 2023 World Martial Arts Games So I hope no one minds but I will be stealing your pics off FB !!!! 🤣🤣

Thank you in advance !!!
UUUUUUSSSSSAAAAA!!!!

08/03/2023

OK I have a new phone and apparently not all my contacts came back .. so if you are my friend drop me a PM with your number so can put you back in phone

11/01/2022

Elite Yoshukai Karate classes will resume tonight at Clay County Farmers Market.

6:30 PM - 8:00 PM

If you or someone you know might be interested in practicing martial arts, we offer classes to children and adults from 5 yrs of age and up !

You can learn to defend yourself and get healthy, get flexible, traditional japanese kata, traditional japanese weapons kata, respect and honor and self-discipline in a martial arts that's been around for some 1400 years!

If interested please call Renshi Tommy Denson @ 256-276-0209 (Head Instructor) or Sempai Martha Denson @ 256-252- 2832 Asst. Instructor)

Look forward to seeing everyone that's coming back and meeting the new students who are coming tonight and in the future!

OSU !!!!

09/12/2022

Well....I'm at a loss for words .... This is a very hard post to make....

For 35 years now I've traveled back and forth to Ashland Al. every Tuesday and Thursday night ... sometimes 3-5 days a week to do what I've truly loved doing so much over the years ..... Teach Elite Yoshukai Karate... To give back something that was given to me. I think I can honestly say that Pizza Shack and the Pawn shop and maybe the dry cleaning place are the only businesses thats been around longer than Yoshukai Karate.

But I am heart broken to say that Elite Yoshukai Karate will be closing its doors.....
Myself and the new owner of the building could not come to an agreement on the new lease he wanted me to sign. But it is ok .... it's just business and I understand what he is wanting.

But the thing about it folks is I've never made money off the Dojo because it's never been about the money for me .... it's always been giving_ back something very special that was given to me a long time ago by my Sensei Randall Browning .... Now I will admit back in day I was all about being the best ... I had to win in every tournament I entered .... if I didnt ... I had failed myself, my Sensei and all the other students that had worked just as hard as I had to get to where we were..... But for the last 20 years I guess ... its been all about my students!!! To have a child enter the dojo as a beginner...with no confidence, no self esteem, walking around with their head down, barely speaking to anyone, wont look you in the eyes...scared to death of everything and anything (a lot of them would start crying even) and 6 months after they began Karate you see them ... they got their head up, their focused on what their doing, they have friends that they are actually talking to and doing things that they enjoy doing but 6 months before they were a totally different kid ... but to see that change in them guys ... and knowing that you, as their Karate instructor had something to do with that ..... To see them go and compete in their first tournament...(something they would never done if it wasn't for Karate classes) and win that coveted 1st, 2nd or 3rd place trophy 🏆 or to watch them win those coveted 1st 2nd or 3rd place medals 🥇🥈🥉
Dude .... that was the ultimate rush for me not only as a instructor but as a person...That's why I've done it or so long because I always felt like there was someone out there that needed my help.. and I was going to help ... if I could...

That's was my job ... to try and help kids and some adults as well... (including me lol) become better people .. a pillar to the community instead of a hindrance... I've taught / Coached several people over my 35 years in Ashland I've had some great athletes.. heck I'll go as far as to say some world class athletes...I've Coached over 200 World Champions if not more as a coach for The U.S. Martial Arts Team and I have enjoyed every second of Teaching/Coaching every single one of them!! It has truly been a honor !!

As far as the future for Elite Yoshukai Karate...I don't know at this time ... working on something right now so I maybe get a couple things to it's end.. As some of you already know we will eventually be moving to Tuscaloosa within the next year (being on the safe side) and I will be looking to open a dojo down there somewhere if everything goes right. But as far as the Ashland dojo .... it will be closed while I begin moving things out of that building this week .... Thank you to all my former students,
my students now and all the family members that has supported myself and the Elite Yoshukai Karate Dojo over the past 35 years !

OSU !

10/11/2020

Come join us at Elite Yoshukai Karate dojo in Ashland, Al.
The longest running active karate dojo in Clay Co.
Classes are tuesdays and thursdays from 6:30 - 8:00
First class is free !!!
Discounts for multuple family members !!
Only $50.00 a month !!!!!

OSU !!! Hope to see you there
114 court square
Ashland, Al.
Call @ 2562760209

06/07/2020

"The Last Samurai"

Everytime I watch it I am reminded of "Bushido" the code in which the Japanese Samurai lived by ....
One line in the movie that particular stands out to me is "To know life in every breath, every cup of tea"
Its very powerful ...but yet a simple truth. Although it is a deceptively simple statement, it is a powerful message as we navigate our fast-moving and distracted world.

The Samurai were dedicated to a set of principles that are aimed to bring true mindfulness to every moment of their existence.

Ive been studying the martials going on 33 years now and the one thing I have found is that all roads point to the same simple and enduring message, and "to know life in every breath" is pretty much one of the most beautiful ways to say it.

It means being awake to what is going on right now, to be present with who is right in front of you, and to bring yourself to each action you take. It means investing your precious and limited attention in the things that matter most. It means savouring whatever crosses your path rather than wishing for the thing that did not. In this state, moments seem to linger longer, there is a fullness to even the most mundane experience, and each action feels perfectly complete. To know life in every breath is to live fully, consciously and intentionally.

"A simple breath, a pause, can make the world of difference."

Do Less Be More

04/17/2020

Ok ... as it stands right now its looking like we might be able to get rolling again soon ..... so I wont be starting the online classes ...

So I am tentively announcing Elite Yoshukai Karate in Ashland, Al. will hopefully be opening back up on May 4th .... Looking forward to getting back to training !!!
Miss you all very much !!!!

OSU

02/06/2020

01/10/2020

The reason why Martial Arts is a beloved art form and way of life is because of the beautiful paradox that it presents. Martial arts is all about learning to fight so that you don’t have to. Wait, what?! Yes, it is true. The main and most crucial lesson that Martial Arts teaches is for one to know...

08/03/2019