Welcome to OKI CHI TAW! Canada's Indigenous Martial Arts System

Since 1997, Native Canadian Centre of Toronto Martial Arts has been providing instruction in the martial arts in the Toronto, Ontario area.

We hope you enjoy our website and will stop by and visit us if you are in the area. This site is designed to give you information about our facility, our style of martial arts, our staff and provide you with information on how to contact us as well.

OKI CHI TAW Indigenous Martial Arts - Native Combat

A Martial Art can be defined as a system of techniques - physical and mental exercises developed as a successful means for self-defense, both armed and unarmed.

Techniques, skills and abilities that are martial in nature but do not benefit the practitioner and their community are generally not considered martial arts. Mutual benefit must be a component. Martial arts utilize a variety of combat methods. Some fighting styles emphasize weaponless techniques while others teach the use of weapons. Some styles focus on grappling while others put their emphasis on striking. Weaponless systems use hand, arm, foot, shin, and knee striking and blocking techniques. Some weapons that may be used are the staff, sword, knife, dagger and nunchaku.

Not all forms of self-defense are actually considered to be martial arts. Some argue that unless warriors were using a fighting system in actual combat, it was not truly a martial art. Additionally, there is a difference between martial art and martial sport; the sport application of a combat system is not a martial art. Not all activities designated as martial arts are martial or artistic. While some developed from warrior combat, other martial arts developed as a means for spiritual and physical development. Strictly defined, martial arts are combat arts, methods for killing an opponent in battle. Martial ways, or, those arts that have a spiritual component, go beyond combat effectiveness.

Today, the martial arts are practiced for health and fitness, sport, law enforcement, spiritual benefits as well as for self-defense.

Oki Chi Taw Weaponry - Techniques

Oki Chi Taw also focuses on specific Plains-Cree Aboriginal weaponry, techniques and their respective movements. Indigenous weaponry such as the Tomahawk, Lance, Gunstock War club and Knife are applied throughout the system. Hand-to-Hand techniques are utilized, but the adoption of impact weapons into this defensive system is always present. Oki Chi Taw employs a variety of hand techniques although it should be noted that most hand attacks in Oki Chi Taw are a derivative of weapon applications. Therefore, the hand positions and movements are very similar, if not identical to that of a student holding their weapons (tomahawk, knife, etc.) in both hands.

Teaching the Traditions of our Past, making our Nation Strong for the Future

It is very important that our Indigenous History is never lost. We strive on ensuring that our teachings are embraced and practiced throughout Okichitaw. - Learn a Culture - Learn your Strength - Learn Okichitaw

Check Out Wikipedia

For more information on Okichitaw, check out Wikipedia, the World's Free Encyclopedia at:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Okichitaw