Martial Arts

Shuri-Ryu Karate-Do is an Okinawan-American system of Karate developed by Robert A. Trias. Trias was a Navy champion boxer that was first exposed to East-Asian martial arts while he was stationed in the Solomon Islands during the second World War.

The art combines some classical Chinese martial arts with Kata (forms) and material from traditional Okinawan Karate/Kempo methods. It includes striking, blocking, kicking as well as throwing, grappling, and joint bending. The system is an internationally recognized system with the majority of players in the United States.

Nate Mohler is recognized as a Rokudan (6th degree black belt) and Shihan (master instructor) in Shuri-Ryu by the International Shuri-Ryu Association (ISA) and the Shuri-Te Bujutsu-Kai (STBK).

Chen Shi Taijiquan is a classical Chinese martial art that is believed to have been founded by Chen Wangting in the 16th Century in Chen Jiagou (Chen Village) in Henan Province. Chen Wangting was a Ming Dynasty military officer that retired to Chen Village later in his life.

Beyond about the 17th century, the history of Taiji is cloudy, at best. But what is known is that the modern family styles of Taiji have all descended from the Chen family method.

Like other styles of Taiji, it is often practiced as a method of improving health. However, it is a classical fighting art. Chen Taiji is typically found to be more lively than some of the other family systems often mixing fast movements with slow movements.

Nate Mohler has been training and teaching Taiji since 2004. He teaches Chen Shi Lao Jia (Chen Family Old Frame).

Qigong means "breath work" or "energy work." The practice is often meditative and employed to improve health and vitality.

There are different methods of Qigong, some are soft in practice and others are hard. Some are performed still and others are performed with movements. Some Qigong is used, specifically, to improve health while other methods are practiced to improve one's martial art performance. Some of the moving Qigong resembles rather closely certain Yoga methods and some of the still Qigong resembles certain meditative methods.

The Qigong practiced by Nate Mohler comes from both the Shuri-Ryu Karate tradition as well as the Chen Shi Taiji tradition and mixes a little bit of all of the various methods mentioned above. Typically, these are practiced alongside the martial arts, though they can be taught separately.