Akitsukai Martial Arts Academy

Akitsukai Martial Arts Academy Akitsukai Martial Arts Academy in Amery, Wisconsin offers training in Traditional Karate, Self-Defense, and Kenjutsu. Osu! Sensei James Lewis

Our academy is dedicated to helping develop physical strength, mental discipline, and self-confidence. Head of the Akitsukai Martial Arts academy. I started my martial arts journey over 40 years ago at the age of thirteen studying various Chinese, Korean, Okinawan, and Japanese styles. I am a retired Army Colonel and was first introduced to Toushikan Karate in 1989 under the instruction of Grand M

aster Shigeki Umemoto. I am a very dedicated instructor, paying close attention to the individual needs of every student, while also encouraging a supportive, energetic, and disciplined training environment for the whole group. Students start by learning fundamental techniques such as punches, kicks, blocks, stances, and strikes. Karate also emphasizes practical self-defense techniques designed to defend against common attacks. Students learn how to respond effectively to different types of threats, including grabs, strikes, and holds. Training also includes a strong emphasis on respect, discipline, and humility.

Some pics that just came in from the USMAA Hall of Fame event
07/26/2026

Some pics that just came in from the USMAA Hall of Fame event

Honored to Be Inducted into the United States Martial Artist Association Hall of FameI am deeply honored and humbled to ...
07/19/2026

Honored to Be Inducted into the United States Martial Artist Association Hall of Fame

I am deeply honored and humbled to announce my induction into the United States Martial Artist Association (USMAA) Hall of Fame as the 2026 Outstanding Martial Artist of the Year in Karate-Do.

07/19/2026
At Akitsukai Martial Arts Academy, we believe that every student starts their journey from a different place. Some are y...
06/07/2026

At Akitsukai Martial Arts Academy, we believe that every student starts their journey from a different place. Some are young, some are older. Some are athletic, while others are overcoming physical challenges. What matters most is not where you begin—it’s your willingness to learn, grow, and persevere.

Our philosophy is simple:

“The standard remains the same; the path to reaching it may differ.”

We do not lower our standards for rank, character, or technical proficiency. Every student must earn their achievements through dedication, discipline, and demonstrated skill. However, we recognize that each individual may face different obstacles and may require a different path to reach their goals.

Martial arts is not about comparing yourself to others. It is about becoming the best version of yourself.

Whether your goal is improved fitness, self-defense, personal growth, or mastery of the martial arts, we will challenge you, support you, and help you progress—one step at a time.

Endure. Adapt. Conquer.

06/04/2026
05/19/2026

Miyamoto Musashi was a 17th century Japanese swordsman who is widely regarded as the greatest duelist who ever lived.

By the age of 30, he had fought and won over 60 duels to the death. He was never defeated. But what separated Musashi from every opponent he faced was not speed, or strength, or even natural ability; it was the depth of his commitment to the craft when no reward was in sight.

He spent long stretches of his life as a ronin. A masterless samurai wandering alone through Japan, sleeping in forests, meditating in caves, training in complete obscurity. There were no crowds watching. No titles to be won. No validation waiting at the end of the day. Just a man and his discipline, sharpening one another in silence.

This is what his words carry: the lived weight of someone who built himself from the inside out, long before the world had any reason to pay attention.

Musashi did not train for the duel. He trained so that when the duel arrived, there was nothing left to fear and nothing left to prove. The outcome had already been decided in the quiet.

Most people work hardest when they are being watched. Musashi’s entire life was a rejection of that instinct. He understood that the person you become in private is the only person you ever truly are.

The world will eventually look, and when it does, all it will find is the sum of everything you did when it wasn’t.

Address

608 Harriman Avenue S
Amery, WI
54001

Opening Hours

6:30pm - 9:30pm

Telephone

+14254228319

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