Traditional Martial Arts Teaches More Than Fighting

Instructing a martial arts school at night might not be the typical hobby of full-time working fathers, but for Joe Urich and David White, teaching students to fight is more than a hobby—it's a second occupation.

At their school, the Traditional Martial Arts Society on Baum Boulevard, East Liberty, students learn more than just how to fight from their teachers. According to White, students may not leave the dojo knowing how to fight like Bruce Lee, but they will find themselves better for it.

“I like to watch their development,” White said.

Urich and White discovered and became enamoured with Japanese fighting techniques during college at Carnegie Mellon University. While the two may have graduated out of school and into separate real life careers, they never gave up their martial arts.

It was the love for the sport that led them to open The Traditional Martial Arts Society in 1996. While they teach others, they continue to train themselves, proving that even after 19 years there is always more to learn.

“It’s not heavy stress because worst case scenario the school fails and shuts down. Regardless we will still continue to train,” White said.

One of his favorite parts of teaching at the dojo is watching his students mature and become stronger—not always in their muscles, but in their personality.

“Really what this will help them do is actually trust themselves so they can relax, so they can get their balance and as we call it, find their center,” White said.

At the dojo, which is the Japanese term for the studio where they train, students learn multiple kinds of martial arts. The instructors, known as a sensei to their students, teach what they consider to be purely authentic skills from punches and kicks, to sword and staff fighting techniques.

“All of the arts in general focus on the same principles,” White said.

These principles include ways of blocking, offensive lunging attacks and ways of breaking free from different holds. White stresses that, mentally, a lot of these same principles have to do with the way people interact with each other in social situations as well. Just like in martial arts, where you have to understand your opponent and then effectively control the fight, confidence is a key factor in dealing with anyone from bullies to your boss.

“You learn authority in terms of how to express it in whether or not you're leading or you’re following,” White said.

Student Sam Waters’ motivation to join the dojo seven years ago was to defend himself from bullies.  

White said watching Waters develop so quickly has been inspiring to him. Waters walked into the dojo at the age of 10 feeling weak and scared but now he is very close to becoming a black belt and being officially labeled a sensei himself.

“He’s not afraid and I’ll continue just for that,” White said.  

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The Traditional Martial Arts Society offers these martial art techniques:

• Aiki Jujutsu- Grappling techniques  
• Atemi Jutsu- Striking attack techniques
• Ken Jutsu- bladed weapon techniques
• Jo Jutsu- staff techniques

To join a class:
Call the dojo at 412-361-1080, but remember the sensei have full-time jobs so call in the evenings. Another option is to email inquiry@tmas-dojo.com or just visit in person. Don’t be surprised if David White tries to get you on the mat right then and there.

Located: 5738 Baum Blvd., Third Floor
Hours: Open Monday to Thursday at 7 pm.