Welcome to the Integrated Martial Arts website.
The following summarizes who we are and what we do.  

Who are We?

My name is Tim P and I am head instructor of the Integrated Martial Arts system.  I have developed this system over the past 20 years with assistance from sensei Rich Kilbury and sensei Andy Bruce.  Sensei's Robert Stadd and Steven Barnes are also instructors who bring additional skills to the team (see Sensei's button on the left).  We train hard because the martial arts challenge us to develop strength and character.

What is Integrated Martial Arts (IMA)?

This training mixes Judo, Karate, Grappling, Boxing, Muy Thai, and Aikido techniques into a seamless format.  It also includes esoteric training in martial arts philosophy and mushin (no-mind).  The classes go back and forth between fast and slow pace.  This hard-soft approach trains the ability to change state and physiology quickly.  The hard includes focus on free sparing, katas, boxing, grappling and technique repetition.  The soft includes Qi-Gong exercises and recitation of memorized saying such as the Hsin Hsin Ming (the Book of Nothing).

Where/When do we Train?

We currently practice at the Pasadena Japanese Cultural Institute (PJCI) located at 595 Lincoln Ave. Pasadena Ca, 91103. There are many fine classes in martial arts at www.pjci.org.  Our training is from 6 – 7am Wednesday and Friday mornings.  There is a nominal monthly charge to cover basic overhead expenses.

Who can Practice?

The training is open to all.  We have found that it requires dedication (getting up for a 6:00am class) as well as a level of physical fitness.  It helps greatly if a student has had training in one or more martial arts.  Most of the sensei’s (instructors) have black belts in multiple martial arts and many decades worth of practice.  Attitude is most important including a sense of humor.  This is not a commercial endeavor.  We practice to master the arts. 

What is a Matrix?

A matrix is a mixture of techniques from various disciplines.  It is the basis for IMA training.  This website contains all five matrices that we use in our training.  It takes about a year to learn one matrix which covers about 100 techniques and concepts.  As students learn each successive matrix they continue to review earlier material.  Over the years the matrix techniques become seamless.  Martial artists will recognize many of the techniques within the matrix but there are others that will not be familiar.  These have been developed both through experience and from drawing upon a wide body of knowledge.

What is Mushin?

Mushin translated directly means no-mind.  This has many levels of understanding.  After training in techniques for thousands of repetitions they eventually become embedded so they can be performed without thinking.  In mushin, the practitioner is in the “now” reacting to “what is” without thought.  The mind is in an open and flowing state not attached, like being in the center of a cyclone.  Mushin then expands to include parts of Zen, Taoism, and Advaita.  This is when an art form is taken into everyday life producing balance, harmony, and enlightenment. 

"The wisdom is intuitively acquired after a great deal of practical training.  You follow the movement of the opponent leaving your mind free to make its own countermovement without your interfering deliberation.  You move as the opponent moves."
Tukuan - the great fencing master