"No matter how you may excel in the art of te and in your scholastic endeavors,
nothing is more important than your behavior and your
humanity as observed in daily life."

Tejunsoku, Okinawan Scholar, 1663-1734. 
As quoted in The Essence of Okinawan Karate-Do by Nagamine Shoshin

"Prepare the child for the path, not the path for the child"

The Shin Gi Tai Dojo, under the direction of Sensei Brad Wells, offers instruction in traditional Karate-Do, Kobudo, self defense, and Tai Chi.  The term Shin Gi Tai refers to the harmony of spirit, mind, and body through technique.

Sensei Wells holds the rank of Rokyu Dan, Renshi, which translates to "sixth degree, polished expert."   He has been practicing martial arts formally for 40 years, and began teaching in 1979 at Murray State University.   His informal training began in the early 1960s, literally as soon as he could walk--under the expert instruction of his grandfather Ken Corcoran.  Corcoran was a Golden Gloves boxer who fought the great Joe Louis in competition and later sparred the World Champion in exhibition.  At the time, Corcoran was the nationally respected head football coach (1935-42) for his mentor Father Flanagan at Boys Town, Nebraska, where the exhibition match with Louis took place.
  

Sensei Wells holds Dan (black belt) rank in Shotokan, Shorin Ryu, Tae Kwon Do, Wado Ryu, and Shin Nagare Karate.  He also teaches the Kuan Ping style of Tai Chi.  His teaching is an ecclectic blend of eastern and western influences.  The latter includes the field of positive psychology and the concept of Optimal Experience (Mihaly Cziksentmihaly, Martin Seligman, and others). The  cornerstone of his instruction is the concept embodied by Father Flanagan and Ken Cororcoran at Boys Town--that "sport" can build one's character and qualities of citizenship.  That concept is echoed in the tenets of traditional martial arts, as evident in the definition of the terms Shin Gi Tai. 

Though Sensei Wells has had the privilege of studying with many fine martial artists, for nearly twenty years, he has enjoyed an instructional relationship with Master Larry Williams of Independence, MO.   Sensei Williams was a student of Grandmaster Shoshin Nagamine, who awarded him the rank of Eighth Dan.  Sensei Williams is a director in Midori Yama Budokai, where he holds the rank of Hanshi.