Welcome to our website. My name is Jose Torres and my mission for this website is to provide information about the Martial Arts.

I studied Martial Arts a good part of my life and currently hold a 4^th Dan in Kensho-ryu Kenpo. My love for the arts began when I was introduced to Shotokan Karate during my military service. After leaving the service I tried other martial art schools however I didn't find a style that touched my spirit until 1995 while studying Nick Cerio's Kenpo with Sensei Paul Mayo. Under the instruction of Sensei Mayo I achieve my 1^st Dan rank in 1999. During this time the school went through a change due to the passing of Professor Cerio and today is known as Kensho-ryu Kenpo.

In the year 2000 I did open my own Kensho-ryu Kenpo school in Millbury, MA and taught for several years. Currently I continue to teach and share my knowledge with students at the Spencer, MA Kensho-ryu school.

The martial arts has enhanced who I am today and is a Way of life for me. I was fortunate to share this part of my life with my children as we were able to study together. Through all the pain, sweat and effort, we developed a love for the art that touches every aspect of our lives. Many times I witnessed how some practitioners loose their way along the path. I believe there is a difference between a good practitioner and actually living the martial arts way. A good practitioner can achieve a high degree of efficiency in movement and balance with kata but can miss the character and discipline that defines a true martial artist.

My desire for this website is that it will be a great source of information for all interested in the martial arts and a place for sharing experiences and knowledge. We welcome comments and invite our readers to participate. This can be done by emailing me at senseijose@aol.com.

Martial Arts lessons provides fun, exercise, discipline, self-respect, respect for others, self-control, and physical skills individuals of all ages can use their entire live. The capacity of the Martial Arts to promote physical and mental health is widely appreciated and documented. Some positive changes will be noticed immediately. Other changes will develop over time.

Martial Arts lessons develop:

Studying the Martial Arts improve general fitness including reflexes, flexibility, coordination and agility. Exercise strengthens the muscles, build strong bones, improves cardiovascular fitness, prevents heart disease and high blood pressure, and decrease depression. Physical fitness decreases stress, anxiety, and hostility, while it improves sleep habits, concentration, and energy levels.

Other developments:

Cardiovascular Fitness

Large portions of each martial art class are aerobic-type activities in which you must breathe properly, thus pushing oxygen to all parts of the body.

Muscular Strength

Strength increases with consistent repetition of exercises and techniques. Martial artists develop strong biceps, forearms, thighs, calves and abdominal muscles.

Quick Reflexes

Quite a few of us have caught something just before it hits the ground and thanked our quick reflexes. Classes present many opportunities to improve reflexes as you react to your partner’s move or to the commands of the instructor.

Flexibility

Martial Arts classes include simple stretches and warm-ups which help keep us limber, and over a period of time, can recreate early flexibility in children, adding to their enjoyment of everyday life.

Coordination

We learn at different rates of speed and have different learning styles. Learning to perform one punch correctly is quite an accomplishment in the early stages. With practice, we become quicker and more adept at moving our bodies naturally in a variety of ways.

Information from: Parents Guide to Martial Arts.

Author: Debra M. Fritsch and Ruth S. Hunter

Good reading for those who teach or thinking about becoming a Sensei.