Sensei Jeff Burlingame has been a Medina resident practically his entire life. He began training in the martial arts when only thirteen years of age, and in 1969 could be found teaching Okinawan Shorin-Ryu Karate to others at the YMCA, local churches, backyards, party centers, his basement, or anywhere he could find floor space. Martial arts remained both his hobby and a passion throughout his twenty-three year career with the Medina County Sheriff's Office.

Sensei Burlingame was one of the founding members of the International Seibukan Karate-Do Association formed in 1978 and headed up by Sensei Edward Takae of Tampa, Florida. A student of Sensei Takae since 1984, Sensei Burlingame progressed to become the most senior ranked student of Sensei Takae. In 2009 Sensei Burlingame was honored by the World Karate Hall of Fame as Master Instructor of the Year, and in August 2009 he traveled to Washington, DC to receive a Gold Achievement Award in recognition of his 40+ years of service to the martial arts community.

Upon his retirement in 1998, Sensei Burlingame founded Asian Martial Arts, Inc. with a vision to provide the local community with a wide range of traditional martial arts disciplines all housed under one roof. In 2005 Asian Martial Arts, Inc. moved into a newly constructed, state-of-the-art facility at 3267 Pearl Road where the studio has continued to build an envious reputation as Northeast Ohio's premier martial arts studio. We met with Sensei Burlingame recently, and listened as he provided this overview of Asian Martial Arts' offerings;

Asian Martial Arts, Inc. provides training in a vast diversification of Japanese, Okinawan, Chinese, and Philippine martial arts. We offer Okinawan Shorin-Ryu (Seibukan) Karate, Northern Chinese Martial Arts, (Praying Mantis Kung Fu, Shaolin Kung Fu, Baji, Bagua, Tai Chi - both Wu and Chen Style, Qigong, and Chinese weapons), Philippine Martial Arts (Kali, Escrima, Arnis), Aikido, and Iaido, all taught in the traditional form. Each class is taught by a nationally or internationally recognized instructor specifically trained in their respective discipline.

We are the only martial arts studio in Northeast Ohio to offer this many styles and disciplines under one roof. Each of these disciplines is taught by certified and licensed instructors whose training lineage can be traced back to their discipline's country of origin. We feature two independent workout areas, private lessons, age specific classes, and morning, afternoon, and evening classes. Additional benefits to studying at Asian Martial Arts, Inc. is our policy of no contracts, no testing fees, and no hidden costs. Lessons are offered strictly on a month to month basis, and each student's progress is evaluated on an individual basis. No "cookie cutter" approach is used to determine if and when a rank advancement is achieved.

When I was young I had a very hard time focusing and staying on task due to my lifelong struggle with ADD and ADHD. I am not saying that things turned around for me because of martial arts, but it seemed to coincide that when I was in junior high school and started studying martial arts my grades began to improve and things started coming together for me. Working in conjunction with the Medina County Board of Developmental Disabilities (MCBDD), formerly known as MROD, and other special needs agencies, I have developed a therapeutic martial arts program called "Achievement Martial Arts" specifically for those who have special needs. This non-competitive martial arts program employs both aerobic and anaerobic exercise, building muscle strength, flexibility, and cardiovascular endurance. This class has students with varying levels of ADD, ADHD, Autism, and MR. We are currently attempting to be recognized as a sport in The Special Olympics.

Through these classes students build confidence, increase their self esteem and balance, and advance their motor skills. The repetitive nature of practicing the movements in martial arts helps stimulate the connections between brain and muscle to develop increased memory, focus, body awareness, and motor planning. The emphasis on repetition and refined joint movement also encourages physical, subsequent mental impulse control, and induces a calming effect that will carry over into everyday life. Due to the success of this program, we are applying to the Ohio State Board of Education be a provider for the autism scholarship program.

Please feel free to stop in anytime to watch a class or speak with an instructor about training with us.

Your chance to transform your body, your mind, and your entire life is just a decision away! Call or stop by Asian Martial Arts, Inc. today!!!!