Photograph by Jacqueliine Ramseyer

Elbow Stand: Juan Musashi Martinez, 16, demonstrates some of the martial arts skills that he's acquired during the past four years attending the IMC Academy, now located on Lincoln Avenue.




Modern Martial Arts

WG Panjo academy opens, combines old martial art forms

By Amy Jenkins

Breaking bricks in a karate class is passé when compared to learning how to bite, claw, kick, punch and stab in the martial art class called Panjo. The only rule in Panjo is to survive, and it is a complete and comprehensible system of combat, says its creator, Sensei Arash Dibazar, 25.

Having taken many martial arts classes in his life, Dibazar opened a martial arts academy three years ago. Translated into English, Panjo means "The Way of Five." In the Middle East, "panj" means "five" and in Japanese the word "do" means "the way."

Panjo borrows from other martial arts, Dibazar says. Students learn to use techniques from Tae Kwon Do, Jujitsu, Judo and Aikido, to name a few. If a student comes to the academy from another martial arts school with a "great technique, we use it," Dibazar says.

"The idea behind Panjo is a person should free himself from limitations that tell him [or her] not to do certain things so that they can spontaneously respond to their environment and help their family, group and [humankind]," Dibazar says. "The goal is to survive. If someone's life or family is in danger, they shouldn't freeze because they were told not to throw a brick at a person's head."

IMC Academy opened three years ago in Campbell but was next to a bar, which was "a bad location," Dibazar says. Drunken people would harass his students, many who were children, he says. That is why he is "thrilled" to have moved to Willow Glen last January.

"Everything I had heard about Willow Glen made me realize I wanted the academy to move there," says Dibazar, who has practiced martial arts for 15 years and has a black belt. "I think it is a great community. I love the area, the atmosphere; it is cleaner and the vibe is better here. I want Willow Glen to be a little better because we're here."

The academy offers five or six classes a day, six days a week. About 50 students are adults and 50 are children. Since Panjo has its roots deep in Zen Buddhism, students and instructors at the academy are encouraged to study the religion.

"In real martial arts, you can't just do it for yourself, you have to help others," Dibazar says.

The academy has nine instructors, one sensei and four instructors in training. Todd Takuraba Santo, 16, has taken Panjo for six years, teaches classes at the academy and says, "This is a million times better than the other places I have taken martial arts. I love it here."

Once the academy is established Dibazar plans to implement several programs to help the community. He wants to offer free self-defense and rape prevention classes for women and encourages his students to clean up the neighborhood.

Originally from Iran, Dibazar moved to the United States 15 years ago. He studied martial arts extensively in Los Angles and realized many martial arts schools were driven by making money, he says.

"I wanted a different atmosphere and philosophy than just focusing on business," he says. "I just want to help others."

Panjo has helped many students, according to personal testimonies written by students after taking a class and compiled in a book called Big Victories. A student named Wendy says she quit smoking because of the class. Scotty Peters took the basic flexibility course and says he greatly improved his flexibility. Julio Garcia took the boxing and cardio course and says it taught him "a lot more than offensive skills, such as throwing a jab, a punch or a block. It also teaches me defensive skills such as deflecting a punch or slipping a jab."

Classes help teach children self-respect, communication and social skills, Dibazar says. Adults learn to feel at ease with their environment, he says.

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IMC Academy is located at 2229 Lincoln Ave. For more information about IMC Academy, call 408.269.0999.

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