Fighting Tigers Martial Arts Academy

TOMORROW IS SHISA DAY!

April 3 is the “Day of Shisa” in Okinawa as four (April) is “shi” and three is “san” in Japanese. The day was established in 2002 to promote Shisa made in the Tsuboya district of Naha, the home of Okinawa’s pottery industry.

Shisa are considered to be guardian lions of Okinawa. These stone lions are usually made in pairs, one male (mouth open) and one female (mouth closed), and are placed outside of home or buildings or up on the roof or other high points.

LEGEND OF THE SHISA (One Version)

There was a village in Okinawa that was constantly being terrorized by an angry Sea Dragon. The King of Okinawa lent the village a small stone statue of a Shisa (lion) and told the villagers to place the Shisa between the sea and the village.

When the Sea Dragon approached the village, the small statue transformed into a large Shisa Lion that fiercely charged at the Sea Dragon, scaring it off!

The villagers were ecstatic but worried about what to do the following year when the dragon would return. The small stone statue was needed to guard the castle of the King. The villagers created a costume in the image of the Shisa that had successfully protected their village.

When the Sea Dragon returned, two of the strongest martial artists put on the costume (called Shishi) and fiercely charged at the Sea Dragon. They danced and shook its mane and scared the monster away.

Every year, the Sea Dragon tried to terrorize the village but every year the village Shisa danced and drove the monster away. Other villages made their own protector lions and the Shisa came to be known as the guardian of Okinawa.

Thus, the Shishimai or Okinawan Lion Dance, is performed every year to drive away evil spirits and misfortune!

**This is a shortened version of the Legend of the Shisa performed by storyteller Alton Takiyama-Chung. Folktales often reflect culture and explain ceremonies and meanings. I love how this version explains how Shisa became the guardians of Okinawa. It is also a lovely tale of how of the Shisa costume (Shishi) and the Okinawan Lion Dance (Shishimai) came to be.

Come train with us on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 5 to 7pm at the Marsha Barber community center in De'lisle, MS.

Very proud of our Students!!

Due to the freezing and unsafe travel conditions practice has been canceled for Tuesday, January 16th. Enjoy your evening with your families and stay warm!!

Do people get it now 🤔??? Watch and answer for yourself.

Jane Elliott “Blue Eyes - Brown Eyes” Experiment Anti-Racism Jane Elliott first gave this lesson on April 5, 1968, the day after Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated. It’s called the “Blue Eyes - Brown Eyes” exercis...

“True success is reaching our potential without compromising our values.” - Muhammad Ali

Why we teach and why they come.

Because it’s so Much More than JUST an After School Activity… 🥋

Good Afternoon parents and all the Kung fu pandas 🐼

We will have class this evening. Same panda place, Marsha Barbour Center, same panda time 5:30-7

See you all there and don't forget your water

Good morning everybody! Happy Thursday, we are almost to the end of another work week 🥴

Class is in session tonight!! 5:30 -7 at the Marsha Barbour Center. See you all there and don't forget your water

Good morning everybody...

There will not be class tonight, class will resume Thursday at 5:30 at the Marsha Barbour Center in Delisle. See you all then and everybody have a great day