Hi! I’m Kevin Putala, welcome to my online home.
I’m an Army veteran, traditional martial artist, former personal trainer, husband, father, proud grandpa, and a coffee and pizza lover.
My martial arts journey began in 1985 in South Korea, where I earned my black belt in Tang Soo Do Moo Duk Kwan (Dan#26283) under the late Master Yun Tak Bong.
Over the next thirty-five years, I studied various other arts and learned there are many more similarities than differences between arts and especially between styles. I was told by Master Yun that Tang Soo Do and martial arts are for “life and defense”.
From that day I have trained and taught in the same old-school manner and have worked to have my students be warriors in life, not the ring, not the cage, not to do fancy tricks, but to be able to face life’s daily battles head on and overcome them.
Here on my blog, I share this journey, the lessons I’ve learned, and the great instructors and masters I have learned from along the way. I no longer adhere to any style, but practice the art of Karate as a whole, adapting and modifying as I get older, which is how it is supposed to be.
I invite you to join me on my journey, and if you would like to receive updates and get sneak peeks of upcoming books and courses, be sure to join my personal mailing list below.
Is Hand Conditioning Necessary? I think so.
I have always trained very traditionally, and have focused on traditional martial arts. Conditioning the hand to withstand the impact of punching and to harden the knuckles to make a more formidable weapon has always been a part of that training. From the very start in South Korea, Master Yun had me strike the wooden…
Continue Reading Is Hand Conditioning Necessary? I think so.
True Strength Isn’t About Muscles
I arrived in South Korea in January 1985 after completing Army basic training and MP School (Military Police) and was ready to begin my career. I weighed 165 pounds at 5 foot 11 inches and was in great shape. Five months later I was at 170 pounds, with a little more muscle and had been…
Martial Arts are For Life and Defense
When I first became interested in martial arts, I was only eleven years old. That was 1977! I’ll save you the math, it was over forty-five years ago. There was no internet, no computers, and the only Google we had was the Encyclopedia Britannica located at the public library. Books on martial arts were few,…
Courses
Always want to learn a martial art but never started?
train when you were younger and want to start again?
live in a remote area or want to train at home?
If you answered “Yes” to any of those questions, we’ve got you!
Check out these highly rated Traditional Tang Soo Do courses by Kevin Putala on the Udemy learning platform. You will have lifetime access to these courses as you learn the history, tenets, techniques, and forms in the art of Traditional Tang Soo Do from white belt to black belt.
In-depth videos will take you through each belt step by step as you learn in your own home and at your own pace, developing a solid foundation in “The Way of the China Hand”. Don’t worry, if you have any questions on anything or if you need help along the way, you can contact Kevin directly through the course.
You will NOT find this level of instruction for the price ANYWHERE!
Start your journey today!
What students are saying…
“I Enjoyed this course a lot. I am a stay-at-home dad and rarely have time to actually train but was able to watch the videos in my spare time. I especially enjoyed the historical connections of the arts that are made throughout the course and find Mr. Putala’s style of teaching both refreshing and insightful.”
Frankie S.
Student“Great course for someone of my age it had good advice on how to adapt the training for your own abilities and not encourage you to be a world-class gymnast!”
Martin P.
Student“I found this course to be nothing short of inspiring. I have been an armchair martial artist for many years after having kids. My soul has been yearning to find a quality program to continue what I started as a child. This program is such a great mix of history, principles, values, and techniques. I can’t thank you enough for your effort in creating a quality program!”
Brian A.
StudentYouTube
As I share my martial and fitness journey on my channel, you will find tips, techniques, tutorials, and more to help you reach your training goals as well. Don’t forget to subscribe while you’re there!
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