fightingtigersMA - Kimio Nelson's National Champion Fighting Tigers Martial Arts

Quick announcements

Kimio Nelson was recently inducted into the Martial Arts World Magazine Karate Hall of Fame. Grand Master Y.K Kim awarded Nelson with the Hall of Fame Certificate in Orlando Florida on May 3 for his achievements and contribution to the Art of Shotokan Karate and the community. While in Orlando, Nelson and his wife Cindy, attended the three-day Martial Arts Leaders Summit held at the Orlando Hyatt Regency. The Summit was attended by several Grand Masters and Masters from across the Nation and Korea as well as over seven hundred other martial artists and guests.
Asian World of Martial Arts has voted us the Best School Award for 2007. Congratulations to everyone.
Congratulations to Josiah Olson who recently competed at the Air Gadfly Martial Arts Championship held in Randolph, NY Saturday May 3. The Tournament was hosted by Gaffar Adams of Jamestown, NY and had competitors from the Tri-State area and Canada. Josiah, son of William and Mona Olson Sugar Grove, won two first place trophies in forms and weapons and a second place in fighting. He competed in the 15-17 Advanced Division. Congratulations on a job well done.
Club T-shirt sales until the end of May. Cost of shirts $10. See monthly newsletter for details.
Now is the time to reserve your place for the 2008 Fighting Tigers Summer camp June 16-20 1100 to 1200 daily. Ages 4 and up.
- College Student Special: Bring in your ID and get 4 months for $100 unlimited classes. All styles welcome.
Quick Information Links:

Can My Child or I Get Hurt In Martial Arts Can the Martial Arts Help Children with ADD

Can The Martial Arts Help My Child Cope With Bullies Selecting a School FAQ

Tips on Finding A Good Martial Arts School

Parents Use the Martial Arts for Back-to-School Excellence

Why Would I Want to Put My Child in the Martial Arts

Quick Class Info links:

Class Rates and Hours Monthly Dojo News Katas Rank Requirements

Pre-Karate Classes (age 5) Tiger Cubs (ages 6-9) Juniors Classes (ages 10-14) Adult Classes (ages 15+)

Welcome To My Website

Welcome to the Fighting Tigers Martial Arts Home Page. This page will be updated monthly (sometimes daily) so please come back and visit often. I have included several bits of information about myself, the school, class information and brief paragraph on karate history. I hope you enjoy it. I have also included several informative links at the bottom of the page for your review as well as a listing of current events and notices.

My motto, “Training for Black Belt Excellence,” expresses the school's commitment to bringing out the best in each student stressing personal growth and achievement through positive reinforcement. We believe successful martial arts training brings not only the ability to defend ones self but also improved fitness, self-control, confidence, leadership skills, and a strong spirit of effort and commitment.

Our mission is to provide the Warren Area with high quality instruction using traditional and modern teaching techniques while still keeping learning fun and safe. By doing this, we produce highly qualified Black Belt instructors to pass on the art. My goal is to keep a low drop out rate within my school after they achieve their Black Belts by stressing that the goal is not to achieve rank but to gain knowledge, learn how to teach and pass on the "way". My goal is not to produce many Black Belts but to produce highly qualified instructors in traditional karate.

My school also offers private and group classes in traditional karate, self-defense, police defensive tactics and police ASP baton certification. As a public service, we offer free informative programs and demos to local non-profit groups and organizations. We also offer free self defense seminars and child safety programs to schools and youth groups, women's batters groups and other organizations.

About Nelson Sensei and history of the Fighting Tigers:

I hold a 5th degree Black Belt in Shotokan Karate and ranking in three other martial arts styles. I have been training in the martial arts since 1972 under several nationally and world known Japanese and American instructors. I am a member of the US Ju-Jitsu Federation and have been a past PA State Representative for the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) and USA Karate Federation (USAKF). I am also a three-time USAKF National Champion and All-American and was rated in the top ten nationally from 1990 to 2000 in both the AAU and USAKF. In May 2008 I was inducted into the Martial Arts World Magazine Hall of Fame for my accomplishments and dedication to the Martial Arts.

This year the dojo will be celebrating its twentieth anniversary. I started the Fighting Tigers in the winter of 1988 in the basement of my house teaching some of my son’s friends and moved to the old YWCA when I outgrew my basement. Taiji, my son, Tim Rodgers and Dave Colvin are some of my old students from back then who are still with me. I find myself now teaching the children of former students when they were children (not that I feel old or anything). The school has seen many changes over the years as can be expected. We moved to the Armory, then back to the YWCA, then to Franklin St, then opened in our current spot in August of last year which has over 2600 sq. ft. of matted training area. We train in traditional Shotokan Karate but also incorporate traditional weapons training into our core lesson plans. Weapons include; bo, tonfa, sai, sword, eku, throwing stars, and boken. Our self defense incorporates elements of boxing, ground fighting, jujitsu as well as karate techniques.

Our facility provides changing rooms for our students, a seating area for visitors and a friendly clean safe environment to train in. My instructors and I offer high quality instruction with personal attention to the progress of each student using a combination of modern and traditional training programs to make learning consistent, safe, effective and fun.

I formed the school’s Competition Team in 1990. From 1990 to 2000, the Fighting Tigers Karate Team earned a total of 11 National titles, 19 Eastern US Regional and 24 Pennsylvania State Titles in fighting, weapons and forms competition as well as several hundred trophies at local tournaments in the tri-state area. I am currently starting a new competition team for the 2008 season. With the interest shown this year, I decided to start the team back up since some of my students last year won several trophies at local tournaments.

We’ve celebrated many successes over the years and I’ve seen many of my students develop into fine adults. I hope some of what they learned in class as far as respect, dedication, perseverance, self-control and leadership has carried into their daily lives. I would like to thank everyone, including my present students and parents, who have helped make the school a success over our twenty years. I hope to carry on the success of the Fighting Tigers for twenty more.

March 2008 Group Photos

Why Choose us:

We set ourselves apart from the rest of the local martial arts community for several reasons:

One is by offering a variety of subjects and classes not offered by the others. View the monthly Dojo News link for the class schedule to see some of the subjects taught at our school and also the events and notices link for upcoming specialized classes.

We offer national champion level instruction at reasonable rates without the hidden costs that other schools have. We have no testing fees, no high start up costs, no high cost equipment to buy.

We offer a flexible schedule Monday through Thursday to fit your needs.

We offer reasonable rates for quality instruction. I don't intend to turn anyone away because they can't afford classes

We use modern and traditional training methods to ensure progress while maintaining a fun safe atmosphere in which to learn.

There are no high equipment fees. We are a traditional dojo and do not require the high cost equipment that others schools do. Average cost for all equipment required is $67 and there is no need to buy any equipment until after the first trial month.

We have no belt testing fees. Belt testing is included in the monthly fee and is based on the students ability, effort and commitment. This includes Black Belt ranks where other schools charge hundreds of dollars for each rank.

We have 3 specialized children's classes for various ages from our pre-karate class for 5 year olds, our Tiger Cub Program for 6-9 year olds, to our Juniors division for students 10 to 14 years.

We have no high start up costs, hidden fees or membership fees. Everything is included in the low monthly class fees.

My instructors attend regular on-going Instructor Training and Certification to ensure consistency though out the programs. Each Instructor is certified by me to teach the level they are assigned.

We offer two free classes without any commitment to join. Come on in, try it out and if you like it, join for a month. Try all the different things we have to offer or just come in and watch.

View this link for factors when choosing a school: Selecting a School

Karate and Children

With the popularity of martial art movies, comics and toys, martial arts have seen a tremendous increase in enrollment. Karate has a lot to offer children. Self-confidence, leadership, fitness, coordination and discipline. The mental concentration involved in karate can help students succeed in school. It provides a physical outlet for children who may have aggressive tendencies. The rules and attitude of the dojo and instructor will carry on into their lives out of the dojo. While other sports concentrate on winning, karate emphasizes the building of character and self-confidence. Parents who wish to enroll their child in a karate school face a difficult task in choosing a good instructor. When selecting a school, first observe a class with your child. Watch how the instructor relates to the children. Will the teaching style be compatible with your child? Look for the overall level of proficiency of the students. Do the children of one rank look about the same or is there a disparity of skills within the same rank. Is the goal of the instructor to make money? Is there hidden costs not mentioned in the interview? Is the head instructor present during your child's class? Many factors are involved in

choosing the right school and making it a positive experience for your child. Children who study karate seriously will gain skills that will benefit them in all aspects of their lives. More importantly from the child's viewpoint, Karate should be fun!

Please view the following links for info on the various children's classes. Pre-Karate: 5 year olds, Tiger Cubs: 6-9 years, Juniors: 10-14 years.

See: Pre-Karate Classes Tiger Cubs Juniors Classes

Early karate beginnings

Karate is an ancient martial art whose origins date back over 1000 years. The art known as karate (empty hand) was once known as Okinawan-te (Okinawan hand). Its roots can be traced back to China when a monk named Dharma developed a system of exercise at the Shao Lin monastery. The Shao Lin style was developed to build strength and endurance. Many of the monks were sickly and weak from their lifestyle.

The Shao Lin style migrated to Okinawa, an Island located between China and Japan. Around 200 years ago, Japan invaded Okinawa and forbade the use of weapons to prevent an armed uprising. The local inhabitants combined the Shao Lin style with their own fighting methods. They called the new style karate in recognition of its Chinese origins. "Kara" means Chinese and "te" meant hand in Chinese calligraphy. Karate originally meant Chinese hand but was later changed to empty hand because of Japanese calligraphy and Gichin Funakoshi the founder of Shotokan Karate. See link for expanded history of Shotokan Karate.

Karate History

Free Karate Demo Team and Training programs

available for your event or organization:

Do you or your group or organization want a special Seminar, demonstration and informative program? We are available for Blue and Gold Dinners, PTO events, Pack Meetings, etc. No cost to schools and profit-free organizations. We offer free self-defense and anti-abduction training programs to schools and students as a public service. For more information or free brochure, contact Kimio Nelson at 723-BELT (2358) or at kimionelson@verizon.net. See the below link for pictures of our 2007 demo at Beaty playground. Karate Demo Pics