The name of the Association, Tsu Shin Gen, when literally translated means, “To see with the body-eye”. The entire body must see what cannot be seen with the eyes, and hear what cannot be heard with the ears – in other words, intuition or a sixth sense. When applied to fighting it means that one learns to be able to instinctively “read” one’s opponent. When you are fighting, if you see a punch or kick coming, it is almost too late to do anything about it. You have to sense it almost before your opponent starts his move and just react - no thinking involved."

The Tsu Shin Gen - Senshin Fighting Karate is a modern and realistic system which has been developed by Soke David C. Cook 9th Dan who has nearly 40 years experience of teaching Budo.

The TSG – Senshin Fighting Karate system is built around 10 newly developed Kata which contain realistic and effective fighting combinations. These combinations are suitable for various forms of fighting and also self-defence. The Kata are always practised with a Uke (training partner).

The system is designed to be suitable for a large range of students; children and adults, male or female, people training for fitness and as a hobby, and serious students of Budo.

The Tsu Shin Gen – Kickboxing training is once again built around realistic and effective fighting combinations. The combinations are suitable for various forms of Competition, for example K-1. Tsu Shin Gen - Kickboxing is taught with the help of TSG Fighting Combinations. Apart from the competative Kickboxing training it can also be trained as a fitness activity with music suitable for gyms etc.

The Tsu Shin Gen - Mixed Martial Art is a system that Soke Cook started developing in 1995. The Basics, Fighting Drills, Grappling Drills and Fighting Combinations contain most aspects of “allround fighting”. This system is built on a ratio of approximately 70% standing fighting, similar to Kickboxing or K-1, and 30% grappling. The system includes punching and kicking to the head and body, throws, takedowns and grappling. Such tournaments as Extreme Fighting, Pancrase, Pride, the UFC and Vale Tudo etc. have proved how effective a mixed martial art can be.

The throws (Nagewaza) and grappling (Newaza) have been chosen for students who prefer standing fighting. The students learn to punch and kick first and if necessary take their opponent down to the floor and “finish the fight” with some suitable technique.

Just as with the kicks and punches, a couple of new throws are taught for each grade and the same applies to the joint-locks (Kansetsuwaza) and strangles & chokes (Shimewaza). The basic hold-downs (Osaekomiwaza) are spread out through the first couple of grades.

Most people in Europe train Martial Arts primarily as a hobby or a way of keeping fit, so even though the system is an effective fighting art, it is still a suitable training form for both males and females of all ages.

In the opinion of Soke Cook, it is important to offer the students something new and stimulating in order to keep them training, without swamping them with too much information. It is also very important to have a feeling of realism in the training, so unlike such traditional Karate systems almost all training is performed with a training partner.

Soke Cook has also a great deal of experience with both these systems and although they are both more traditional systems, modern training methods are applied to these systems. Soke Cook has produced two instruction books about Kyokushin Karate.

There has been a lot improvement in the way some systems teach Martial Arts in the past few years. These systems have adapted a more scientifically correct training methodology than that of the traditional systems and Tsu Shin Gen is among the leaders and in the forefront of this type of development.

Mixed Martial Arts have also made tremendous progress in their development during the past few years and the Tsu Shin Gen - MMA has kept up with this development.

The Tsu Shin Gen grading Syllabuses have been designed to develop the students step by step into good fighters with a large repertoire of techniques at their disposal. If the students only master the techniques in the first couple of grades they will have enough knowledge and ability to cope with most physical conflict situations.

The number of new techniques slowly decreases as the student’s progress to the higher grades. By the time the students reach the Brown Belt level there are no new techniques. At this stage the students are expected to develop a deeper understanding and knowledge of the techniques and their performance of the techniques must improve.

Students are also tested on their ability to perform all punches, strikes and kicks with power. This test is performed on suitable Bags, Air Shields, Striking Pads or Focus Mitts.

The Tsu Shin Gen Junior Syllabus is designed for children and youths between the ages of 6 and 14 and has been adapted to their physical and mental capabilities and characteristics. Certain techniques and combinations that are unsuitable for younger students have been removed. Children are not fully developed in their joints and muscles and therefore there is a risk of injury with certain techniques.

Allowances must even be made within this age category because there is obviously a great deal of difference between a 6 year old and a 14 year old. For the younger students the emphasis is on fun and games, which help to develop their Budo ability. As the age and grade of the students increases so to does the seriousness of the training, so that when they go over to the senior groups they are prepared for the increased tempo and discipline. Traditional Budo values such as discipline, respect for each other and for elders are also an important part of the training.

The Junior groups are a lot more demanding on the Instructors because not only does the age of the student play a major role in the content of their training but also the various grades within the group. This is another motivation for reducing the requirements.