Peter Benjamin
performer / producer / composer for media / educator
Martial Arts Instruction
Coming Soon: Foundations of Martial Arts (FOMA)
Beginning in the winter of 2022, Peter will be offering a brand new course called Foundations of Martial Arts. The class will feature an opportunity to develop and train foundational striking and grappling technique which can be applied to or supplement any MMA (mixed martial arts) or TMA (traditional martial arts) gym or system. Fundamental skills such as movement, footwork, fitness, conditioning, and strength/flexibility, are integrated with solid combat striking and grappling technique all with an emphasis developing high level effectiveness and having fun! Striking concepts are sourced from karate,* boxing, and kickboxing, and combat grappling concepts are derived from and inspired by Brazilian jiu jitsu and submission wrestling.
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FOMA has already begun as a revolving technical exchange between various martial arts practitioners within the local community (greater Tacoma and South King county area) who are interested in a casual, fun, and mutually supportive place to share and practice their skills.
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Check back for updates on when and where this unique class will be offered....
*Peter holds a third-degree black belt (sandan) in Shinpu-ren, a style of karate developed by Okinawan, Japanese, and Korean practitioners originally brought to the US by Yoichi Nakachi.** Peter earned his shodan (1st degree black belt) in 1993 under Hanshi (highest ranking instructor) John Kraemer of Aberdeen, WA. Since that time, he has trained and taught when opportunities arise, all with the goal of continuing his journey as a martial artist through bringing kids and adults the values of self-control, confidence, discipline, and physical mastery that comes with martial arts training.
As a martial arts instructor, Peter seeks a balance between the protocols of traditional martial arts training (TMA), semi-contact sport competition, and the mixed martial arts (MMA) focus that many training facilities are now geared toward. He understands and appreciates the value that this range of approaches can bring to the experience of martial arts training and seeks to integrate many of the most salient combative insights that have been gained by the rise of MMA in our culture. Peter emphasizes movement, distance, and technical mechanics as fundamental principles which maximize the effectiveness of karate-based striking /self-defense and set it apart from many other styles of unarmed combat.
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Peter has recently taught the North Seattle College martial arts program and is a frequent guest teacher at his native dojo, Morningstar Karate in Aberdeen WA. He also currently trains at If/Then Grappling Garage in Renton, WA.
If you live in the Grays Harbor area and are interested in karate training, Morningstar Karate offers a great program for kids and adults alike, emphasizing a balance of physical fitness,and traditional karate striking and self-defense technique, all within a unique character building environment designed to accelerate and solidify the development of individual moral responsibility in it's practitioners.
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** In addition to bringing Shinpu-ren to the US, Nakachi had a reputation for being somewhat aggressive in his approach to prosthelytizing his brand of karate. Perhaps the most famous example of this occurred during his time at University of Washington where he met and challenged fellow student Bruce Lee to a contest of style against style. According to eye witness testimony (including Linda Lee), Bruce handily won the exchange due to superior speed and aggressiveness, overpowering Nakachi with strikes and forcing him to submit. Today, we seek to derive wisdom from Nakachi's error and offer our training insights to others with kindness and encouragement rather than aggression and conceit.
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