Welcome to GMAU International

Since 1986, the Gospel Martial Arts Union has grown to include membership in 48 states and 19 foreign countries and is the largest conservative Christian martial arts organization in the world. We have seen thousands of people come to Christ and rejoiced as more and more churches are establishing Christ-centered martial arts ministries. In addition to our main faciThe Gospel Martial Arts Union International Headquarters, one of the largest fulltime martial arts training centers in the world, is located at the Christian Martial Arts Ministry Center in Indianapolis, Indiana. We have been blessed with approximately 20,000 square feet of training and educational space that includes 3 full-sized training halls/dojos, a library, a commercial kitchen, an academic/lecture classroom, a black belt lounge, administrative offices, a regulation boxing ring, and a 9,000 square foot main training/banquet hall.

I just returned from our 2007 Meeting of the Masters National Conference. The Indianapolis Honbu team outdid themselves in hosting yet another very successful event. Master instructors at the conference included John Venson, Eddie Bethea, George Brich, Johnny Russell, Paul Tarrant, Eddie Sellers, Jeff Fabini, Mark Flaugher, David Shipley, Miguel Jurna and myself. Other sessions were taught by Michael Worrell, Kathy Rhine, John Eidsmoe, Marc England, Val Legacy, Ysabel Merhout and the GMAU HQ Staff. Special seminars were offered in Women's Situational Awareness and Self Defense, and European Fencing.

This year marked out first "Triple Crown" Friday night competition. Coordinated by Sensei Doug Haralson, schools were invited to enter a contestant into the kata, grappling and full-contact events. First, second and third place winners in each event received medals at the closing banquet. Points were awarded for the top four places in each event and then a beautiful six-foot traveling trophy was presented to the school that placed the highest in the overall competition. This year the trophy was presented to Ethan Harrison who is the sensei of the Taylor University GMAU Academy. Ethan has been a student of the martial arts for close to ten years and is a sophomore at Taylor University.

There were over fifty black belts present at the conference and at the closing awards ceremony, Dr. John Eidsmoe was presented with his fifth degree black belt. The closing banquet was held in the Medieval Hall of the Honbu where the conference staff served an elegant and sumptuous meal. Participants were attired in period costumes making it a very festive experience.

Attendees were challenged three times from the Scriptures. Chaplain Doug Hedrick shared his personal testimony and then the burden that the Lord had placed on his heart to minister to those in battle-torn areas. More information can be found at his website: http://www.livealifeworthliving.com/ At the closing banquet, an offering was taken for this ministry and we raised $514. Friday night, Dr. Johnny Russell challenged us to consider "making history, rather than making a living," by considering the life of the Apostle Paul. At the closing banquet, I spoke on "If I should wake before I die." I challenged everyone to regain that child-like faith to re-energize their Christian walk and ministry. As mentioned earlier, at the conference, we saw at least four people receive Christ during an invitation.

Special guest master instructors this year were eighth-dan Kyoshi John Venson and Eddie Bethea. Both men brought extensive experience and Christian testimonies to the conference. They along with all the other first time instructors continuously remarked about the excellence of the facilities and the "atmosphere" of the conference. Due to our distinctively Christian focus, this is one place where "egos" are checked at the door, and everyone becomes a student. Both Mr. Venson and Mr. Bethea complimented the conference leaders at the closing banquet.

Conference host and organizer, Dr. Johnny Russell presented each conference instructor with a beautifully engraved GMAU crystal with an imbedded Aslan (lion) and a unique GMAU watch as a token of his appreciation for the time, talent and testimony that they shared during the conference.

Conferences come and conferences go ... but this is a conference that should be on your calendar every year. The fellowship and the learning opportunities to be gained at the GMAU National Conference are unsurpassed. Mark the second weekend in 2008 on your calendar today.

– In His Grip,
Dr. Kent (Doc) Haralson
Chairman - GMAU


	Click here to preview the newly designed GMAU website and see upcoming events. We will be slowly transitioning over to the new format as time allows. to preview the newly designed GMAU website and see upcoming events. We will be slowly transitioning over to the new format as time allows. Since 1986, the Gospel Martial Arts Union has grown to include membership in 48 states and 19 foreign countries and is the largest conservative Christian martial arts organization in the world. We have seen thousands of people come to Christ and rejoiced as more and more churches are establishing Christ-centered martial arts ministries. In addition to our main faciThe Gospel Martial Arts Union International Headquarters, one of the largest fulltime martial arts training centers in the world, is located at the Christian Martial Arts Ministry Center in Indianapolis, Indiana. We have been blessed with approximately 20,000 square feet of training and educational space that includes 3 full-sized training halls/dojos, a library, a commercial kitchen, an academic/lecture classroom, a black belt lounge, administrative offices, a regulation boxing ring, and a 9,000 square foot main training/banquet hall. The Gospel Martial Arts Union (GMAU) exists as an organization to encourage and aid Christian martial arts. To that extent, the GMAU has developed a distinct Christian philosophy of martial arts that is Bible Centric in its origin and purpose publishes, propagates, and sets a national (international) standard for true Christian martial arts philosophy; is a national (international) clearinghouse of the philosophy and standard each genuine bible-centered Christian should practice and propagate in their personal experience and in their schools; The Gospel martial Arts Union is a Christian martial arts organization, not an organization simply for Christians who teach the martial arts. US Open Judo Champion Click here to show The US Open is the oldest and most prestigious international Judo championship sponsored by USA JUDO annually. This year the tournament was held in Norcross, GA on October 19 - 21. There were over 200 competitors from around the world at this event. The GMAU was represented by Paul Tarrant, 5th Dan Kodokan Judo, both as an international referee and as a competitor in the Masters Division. As a referee Paul was rated satisfactory and was able to renew his Pan American Referee License. Paul competed on Sunday afternoon and went 3-0 to win his division. In the finals Paul faced Najun Kim of Korea. 17 seconds into the match Paul caught Master Kim with a left side Harai-goshi (Sweeping Hip Throw) to score Ippon winning both the match and the tournament. Remembering the 2007 National Conference Click here to show I just returned from our 2007 Meeting of the Masters National Conference. The Indianapolis Honbu team outdid themselves in hosting yet another very successful event. Master instructors at the conference included John Venson, Eddie Bethea, George Brich, Johnny Russell, Paul Tarrant, Eddie Sellers, Jeff Fabini, Mark Flaugher, David Shipley, Miguel Jurna and myself. Other sessions were taught by Michael Worrell, Kathy Rhine, John Eidsmoe, Marc England, Val Legacy, Ysabel Merhout and the GMAU HQ Staff. Special seminars were offered in Women's Situational Awareness and Self Defense, and European Fencing. This year marked out first "Triple Crown" Friday night competition. Coordinated by Sensei Doug Haralson, schools were invited to enter a contestant into the kata, grappling and full-contact events. First, second and third place winners in each event received medals at the closing banquet. Points were awarded for the top four places in each event and then a beautiful six-foot traveling trophy was presented to the school that placed the highest in the overall competition. This year the trophy was presented to Ethan Harrison who is the sensei of the Taylor University GMAU Academy. Ethan has been a student of the martial arts for close to ten years and is a sophomore at Taylor University. There were over fifty black belts present at the conference and at the closing awards ceremony, Dr. John Eidsmoe was presented with his fifth degree black belt. The closing banquet was held in the Medieval Hall of the Honbu where the conference staff served an elegant and sumptuous meal. Participants were attired in period costumes making it a very festive experience. Attendees were challenged three times from the Scriptures. Chaplain Doug Hedrick shared his personal testimony and then the burden that the Lord had placed on his heart to minister to those in battle-torn areas. More information can be found at his website: http://www.livealifeworthliving.com/ At the closing banquet, an offering was taken for this ministry and we raised $514. Friday night, Dr. Johnny Russell challenged us to consider "making history, rather than making a living," by considering the life of the Apostle Paul. At the closing banquet, I spoke on "If I should wake before I die." I challenged everyone to regain that child-like faith to re-energize their Christian walk and ministry. As mentioned earlier, at the conference, we saw at least four people receive Christ during an invitation. Special guest master instructors this year were eighth-dan Kyoshi John Venson and Eddie Bethea. Both men brought extensive experience and Christian testimonies to the conference. They along with all the other first time instructors continuously remarked about the excellence of the facilities and the "atmosphere" of the conference. Due to our distinctively Christian focus, this is one place where "egos" are checked at the door, and everyone becomes a student. Both Mr. Venson and Mr. Bethea complimented the conference leaders at the closing banquet. Conference host and organizer, Dr. Johnny Russell presented each conference instructor with a beautifully engraved GMAU crystal with an imbedded Aslan (lion) and a unique GMAU watch as a token of his appreciation for the time, talent and testimony that they shared during the conference. Conferences come and conferences go ... but this is a conference that should be on your calendar every year. The fellowship and the learning opportunities to be gained at the GMAU National Conference are unsurpassed. Mark the second weekend in 2008 on your calendar today. – In His Grip, Dr. Kent (Doc) Haralson Chairman - GMAU	Click Here for the Events Calendar
©2006 Gospel Martial Arts Union
©2006 Gospel Martial Arts Union