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Virginia Beach 757-685-5425

Chesapeake (Western Branch)  757-753-6137

About Savior Martial Arts
Monday, May 20, 2013
About / About Us / Our History

Our History

The following is a list of some of the more significant events in the 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 in Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Norfolk, and Portsmouth.
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.

May 1999

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

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

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.
May 2007
Chutoku Ryu Kobudo becomes a separate art for ranking in six traditional Japanese and Okinawan weapons styles.
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.
August 2011

Savior Martial Arts® offers transported after school martial arts programs in Virginia Beach and Chesapeake

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What do our students say

Our once introverts…wanted to try out for their elementary school variety show.  K. stepped up to the microphone…said loud and clear to the entire cafeteria of folks trying out and to the judges “I am K. P. and I am going to do Savior ...

Mary, mother of 3

Through one kid attending, an ever widening pool of influence developed:  not just one kid is affected, but his sister, their dad, now a stepfather and his kids, and all the grandparents families.  Now that is community impact–and a un...

Karin, mother of 2 and step mother of 2

We have been richly blessed by being involved in SMA. I can't tell you how gratified and blessed I am to see how J. has grown and matured during his study under your teaching. M. loves it too and comes home clearly feeling empowered ...

Don, father of 4 and student