Hello! I’m Kevin Putala…

Welcome

My martial arts journey began decades ago, rooted deeply in the traditions of Korean and Japanese disciplines. Through years of dedicated study in Traditional Tang Soo Do, along with training in Aikido, Hapkido, and Shotokan Karate, I have been shaped not only as a martial artist but as a lifelong student of discipline, humility, and personal growth.

These arts were never merely collections of techniques. They became a framework for resilience, respect, self-mastery, and the quiet strength forged through consistent practice. Each system contributed something essential — structure, fluidity, balance, precision, and awareness.

This path did not exist in isolation.

My martial training profoundly complemented my military service as an Army Military Police Investigator. The principles cultivated in the dojang and dojo — discipline, composure under pressure, ethical responsibility, and mental resilience — were carried directly into my professional life. Together, these experiences shaped a lifelong commitment to serving, protecting, and defending my loved ones and others.

Over time, my journey took an unexpected turn.

Surgeries, injuries, and the realities of aging demanded adaptation. Movements once taken for granted had to be relearned. Skills developed over decades required refinement, adjustment, and in many cases, complete remastering. What could have marked an ending instead became a transformation.

Now, at age 60, my training has evolved into something profoundly personal.

I practice what I call “My Karate” — not as a departure from tradition, but as its natural continuation. It is the integration of everything I have studied, tested, rebuilt, and rediscovered—a practice shaped by experience, necessity, and a deeper understanding of longevity.

Today, my focus is clear:

Training for health.
Training for fitness.
Training for longevity.
Training for the cultivation of a warrior mindset.

Being a warrior is not defined by competition or ego. It is defined by resilience, integrity, courage, and the willingness to rise, rebuild, and continue.

This space exists for a greater purpose.

To honor the arts and instructors who shaped my path.
To share lessons forged through decades of training, service, and recovery.
To encourage those navigating martial arts later in life.
And ultimately, to pass on my martial knowledge and the legacy of my instructors to future generations.

Martial arts are not something we outgrow.

They are something we grow into, grow through, and carry forward.

The journey continues.