Classical Martial Arts Center ~ Oku Damashi Dojo ~ Is located in the town of Langdon, AB Canada. Our Style is Goju Ryu Karate, a traditional Japanese Martial Art instructed by Sensei Tammy Thankachen. Come on out and try a class! Energize your life!

Causes We Support

Oku Damashi Martial Arts is a proud supporter of keeping our Earth clean and protecting endangered wildlife. Below are some projects (with links to their web-pages) that Oku Damashi Martial Arts is involved in supporting. Click on the links below to be taken to their sites!
“Today, more than ever before, life must be characterized by a sense of Universal responsibility, not only nation to nation and human to human, but also human to other forms of life.
~Dalai Lama~

Sierra Club of Canada
Take Action Grizzly
Take Action Grizzly is a project created by the Sierra Club of Canada to protect Alberta grizzlies from losing their habitat. There are fewer than 730 grizzlies in Alberta to date, and are now listed as “Threatened” on the Endangered Species list. This decline in Grizzly numbers is a huge indicator of other drastic, negative changes in our environment. Our Dojo has supported this project by getting over 1,000 signatures for the Take Action Grizzly campaign! To learn more about the important role grizzlies play in our ecosystem, the B.E.A.R Essentials and the Grizzly Umbrella visit:
Get educated on eco-issues in our back yard!

Sea Shepherd Conservation Society
            The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society is an international, non-profit organization that is dedicated to the protection of marine wildlife. They take action into their own hands by patrolling well known whale/marine hunting sites to prevent the illegal poaching of whales and dolphins. Their organization holds no prejudice against any race, religion, sex or ethnicity; only towards the illegal actions of individuals. Their many campaigns include:
·       Operation No Compromise: 2010-2011 Antarctic Whale Defense Campaign against illegal Japanese whaling fleets in the Southern Ocean.

·       Defending Sharks: Driven towards educating the masses about shark slaughter.  Did you know that humans kill 100 million sharks PER YEAR? Get Educated!

·       Taiji Cove Guardians: This issue was made famous by the 2009 Academy Award winning Documentary:  “The Cove.” If you haven’t watched it yet, Sensei highly recommends you do!
http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/cove/ (About the doc, and link to watch)  

·       Canadian Seal Hunt: A topic constantly debated at our nation’s dinner table. Find out what Sea Shepherd is defending for:

·       Check the Sea Shepherd website for more information, or to learn about additional campaigns not listed here!


World Wildlife Fund (Canada)

            The World Wildlife Fund is dedicated to the protection of animals, the prevention of species endangerment and the pursuit of a healthy ecosystem. Their mission is to create a world where nature and humans can peacefully co-exist.  To do this the WWF is:
·       Science-based
·       Solution-orientated
·       Focused on lasting results  
·       Local to global, and global to local
·       Collaborative
The World Wildlife Fund Canada raises awareness of the threat of extinction of animals indigenous to Canada. By doing this their efforts impact areas in our own communities, parks and provinces! The WWF is the first non-governmental organization to receive the Progressive Aboriginal Relations certification. There are many way to support the WWF:
·       Take Action! For a list of fun and interesting ways you can help the environment:   http://wwf.ca/takeaction/
·       Donate! http://wwf.ca/donate/
·       Symbolic Adoption! Make a difference in the lives of an animal of your choice. Sensei Tammy Thankachen has a Grizzly Bear!

Visit the World Wildlife Fund of Canada for More Information! http://wwf.ca/


Earth Island Institute
Save Japan Dolphins

          Earth Island Institute is another organization who is working to end the slaughter of Dolphins in Taiji, Japan. They stress the importance of education regarding dolphin slaughter and captivity. Some of their other ideals include: not visiting zoos or Sea-World like places where dolphins are held in captivity and not supporting companies who endorse dolphin slaughter.  Check out their website to learn more: