I’d like to post regarding a Shorin Ryu karate practitioner who I feel not only teaches solid traditional karate but also displays great devotion to martial arts and to the students that have passed through the doors of his dojo.

Mark Day, owns and operates the Academy of Traditional Martial Arts, located at 118 West Main St. South Amherst, Ohio. Mr. Day is highly skilled in both Okinawan karate and Chinese Kung fu. Whether it’s Sensei Mark or Sifu Mark – either title denotes his stature as a highly skilled teacher of Japanese and Chinese martial arts.

Mark has devoted himself to martial arts since his early teen years and has never stopped training with top-notch Instructors in the “greater Cleveland Ohio” area. If you enter his website which is linked above, you can find his lineage, which outlines his journey in the pursuit of martial arts expertise and diversity.

We share the honor of being students of Master William C. Duncan, who currently resides in North Carolina. Master Duncan is an 8th Degree Black Belt in Shorin Ryu Karate and is a 5th Generation Master Instructor of Yang Ch’eng-fu T’ai Chi Ch’uan, Sun Lu Tang Hsing-I and Pa Kua Ch’uan.

It’s been my pleasure, on many occasions to “hang out” with Mark at various tournament competitions, ceremonies, promotion boards, and recognition festivities. I’ve also been a guest at his dojos for scheduled classes, personal training sessions and various karate related functions. Mark Day is the “real deal” and it’s always been a lot of fun to spend time with him training, or just talking about martial arts.

Mark Day’s students always perform very well in competitions including forms (Kung Fu and Karate), weaponry and free-fighting. Students range from youngsters to adults older than Mr. Day, and they all show great progress as well as a recognizable fondness for their teacher. This is, no doubt prompted by the great care that he takes in nurturing each student regardless of their age or skill level.

Mr. Day actively competes when he’s so inclined and never fails to place highly in the top levels of martial arts competitions. He has won many competitions more recently, but a very notable showing was at the “Arnold Classic Martial Arts Festival” in Columbus, Ohio, held on March 2nd, 3rd & 4th, 2007.  This annual event draws thousands of competitors and spectators from the body building, athletic and martial arts communities and is hosted by the Governor of California himself.
 
Having received his 5th Dan in Shorin Ryu karate in November 2006, Mark entered the Masters’ Divisions (ages 36-50) in breaking and forms.  In very rigorous contention with Nationally and Internationally recognized masters, Mark placed third in breaking and won silver medals in Southern Chinese empty hands forms and weapons forms, demonstrating Toy Gar technique.

There are many people that I’ve encountered in 36+ years of formal, martial arts training and teaching. Mark is one of the few, that are at the top of my short list of martial arts pals. His dedication to perfecting his arts, the quality of his performance, and the ability to instruct others, are all top notch.

There’s lots of good reasons to recommend a karateka like Shihan Mark. After putting all of his qualifications aside, he’s a down to earth, easy to know person, who never puts on “airs” and is always open-minded. He’s a lot of fun in training sessions and a guy you can just sit down and shoot the breeze with.

If you’re looking for a martial arts training center in the Cleveland OH. area that offers a wide variety of traditional martial arts with a great atmosphere and instruction – then by all means stop and visit Mark Day at the Academy of Traditional Martial Arts!