A Brief History of Savior Martial Arts ®

Sept 1995 - Aug 1996

C. Scott Gilbert, 3rd Dan, begins "Kicks for Christ" Christian Martial Arts program, Ashburn Presbyterian Church – Ashburn VA

February 3, 1997

"Kicks for Christ" Christian Martial Arts program opens; Avalon Hills Baptist Church, Virginia Beach, VA

July 1997 to Present

Kicks for Christ / Karate For Christ ® program expands to churches around Hampton Roads.

Virginia Beach:

Avalon Church of Christ
London Bridge Baptist
Great Neck Baptist
Beach Fellowship
First Colonial Baptist

Chesapeake:

Deep Creek Baptist
Point Harbor Community Church

Norfolk :

First Baptist
Park Place Child Life Center
Virginia Heights Baptist

Portsmouth:

Pinecrest Baptist .
Monumental United Methodist

October 1997

Chutoku Ryu Budo/Bujutsu Kai – World Martial Arts System is first established.

Combines aspects of traditional Tae Kwon Do, Okinawan Kenpo, various soft-style Chinese Boxing systems, Filipino Escrima, and a variety of traditional weapons upon a Christian foundation to give glory to Jesus Christ, and to counter paganism and personal glorification in the martial arts community.

January 1998

Kicks For Christ affiliates with the Gospel Martial Arts Union (GMAU).

The GMAU exists to provide accountability and support for instructors of martial arts, as well as spiritual resources and materials authored by noted Christian martial artists from around the world. It is one of the only officially recognized organizations for Christian martial arts practitioners.

May 1999

Kicks For Christ corporate name changes to Karate For Christ ®.

Shihan C. Scott Gilbert begins leading Karate For Christ ® as full-time ministry.

April 2000

Karate For Christ ® conducts its first kick-a-thon for St. Jude's Children Cancer Research Hospital.

In just over one hour, 59 Karate For Christ ® students executed 113,760 kicks to raise money for pediatric cancer patients. At day’s end, Karate For Christ ® students raised $8,340 for St. Jude's. This amount was the largest total donation in America raised by a martial arts school during Spring 2000 funds drive.

December 2001

The permanent headquarters location in Virginia Beach opens.

New styles begin:

Lil’ Dragons Faithful Warriors program for students ages 4 to 6
Seigi Bushido Ryu Aikido/Aikijutsu
Zhong De Shi Tai Chi
Chutoku Ryu Submission Grappling

April 2003

Chutoku Ryu Iaijutsu/Kenjutsu is added to the curriculum offerings.

May 2004

Student Suzanne Nobles, age 14, sets the new Guinness World Record for most full contact kicks in one hour, breaking the previous record of 1995 kicks with her total of 2180.

December 2005

Karate For Christ ® affiliates with Joichi Hanamoto, Soke of Kokusai Soh Goh Karate-do Renmei Sei Ku Kai, Japan.

October 2006

Senseis Aaron White and Scott Nobles begin teaching XMA, Xtreme Martial Arts.

May 2007

Chutoku Ryu Kobudo becomes a separate art for ranking in six traditional Japanese and Okinawan weapons styles.

July 2007

Hanshi Allen and Sensei Karen Sapp become the Division Heads of Karate For Christ ® Judo Division.

September 2007

Chinese WuShu classes begin.

September 2008

Western Branch Dojo opens in Chesapeake.

January 2009

Karate For Christ ® International changes its name to Savior Martial Arts®. The corporation retains the name and trademarking of Karate For Christ ® International.