Empire Baptist Temple

Mother style is "The Jehovah-Way Defense Order" (JWDO) "Life Protection Designed by God." Our Life Protection system is wholly Bibliocentric and American. Since our beginning in 1984 we've based our style on American military commands as opposed to Japanese, Korean or Chinese commands, numbers, etc. Originally the name of our style was "Kirisuto Shinsei Ji Ei Budo" and that was changed several years ago to Jehovah Way Defense Order. The Jehovah Way Defense Order is a "life-protection designed by God", or "Jehovah centric life-protection", a protection the original way. JWDO is a protection system drawn from Scripture and traditional life-protection/combat arts. JWDO uses traditional protection/combat techniques as originally intended. The Jehovah Way Defense style believes and teaches that true-life protection systems originated in God's creation when He created such systems within all His natural creation. God put the venom in the viper, the smell in the skunk, etc., and the natural protection strategy of human life protection. We believe this truth was swallowed up during the centuries of human history as civilizations have built systems of denial of the God of the Holy Scripture. Our roots are welded to the eternal truth, our power is the eternal God, and our system is built upon the eternal Scriptures.

History of the FOUNDER

Founder R. Tottingham, PhD began studying martial arts in 1963 under an off-duty marine sergeant. At that time Tottingham was a new US Marine waiting transportation to his first duty with the Third Reconnaissance Battalion in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii. In Hawaii, from late 1963 to February 1965, he studied in a Kung Fu style, spent a short time studying Aikido under a 5° master, and was introduced to Savate. In February 1965 he was transferred to Okinawa, Japan in route to combat action in Vietnam, now an infantry machine gunner with 4th Marines. While at Okinawa he was briefly introduced to Japanese stylists. Upon returning from Vietnam he spent a few months as a Military Policeman at Barstow, California where he further practiced martial arts.

In 1974, now living in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, he became an active student of Taekwondo for a short time. Then, for the next twelve years began merging various technique, which slowly evolved into a personal style, now called the Jehovah Way Defense Order.

The Jehovah Way Defense Order (formerly named "Kirisuto Shinsei Ji Ei Budo") formed in earnest in 1980 when Dr. Tottingham was attending a meeting in the Chicago area. It was there that he met a student of Dr. Clement Riedner, founder of the Christian Black Belt Association and Soke of the Shiho Karano Ju-Jitsu system. After being totally intrigued by the concept of a Christian martial art, he began searching for Soke Riedner but was unable to locate him. After a couple of years Soke Riedner wrote Tottingham, having received his address. This began a relationship between them including attending many of Soke Riedner's clinics as a student.

Another strong influence was Dr. Kent Haralson (now Soke of the Seigi Bushido Ryu) who lived in Rochester, Minnesota, a four-hour drive from Tottingham. The Gospel Karate Team was well known for their clinics and demonstrations. Tottingham and his students attended many of these clinics. Tottingham joined one Gospel Karate Team demonstration, and held other demonstrations in Canada, Mexico and in the Sioux Falls area.

During those years Tottingham's book "Christian Martial Arts" was published, and in 1991 he was inducted into the World Martial Arts Hall of Fame. Then in 1993 he was recommended to the largest and most prestigious Grandmaster group in the world, the World Head of Family Sokeship Council for membership and was accepted.

Only after studying traditional martial arts for 30 years did Jehovah Way Defense come into existence. The Jehovah Way Defense is Order is the expansion of its Founder's philosophy, spirituality and physical skills.

History of the style

The Jehovah Way Defense Order was formed to keep peace and only fight if the other refuses to be at peace with us. Then we believe that, "a strong man armed keepeth his palace in peace." (Luke 11:2) Our best defense is a well-prepared offense. This saying was heard and practiced by our Founder as a U.S. Marine, especially while serving in South Vietnam through 1965. If people are trained thoroughly, then taught ethical values from a Biblical position, they will not become aggressive. Rather, they will be better citizens. A Bibliocentric life protection system is not for starting conflicts, but when another aggressively abuses or molests, demonstrating an evil intent, being prepared and protecting one self is the correct action.

Jehovah Way Defense is not a new self-defense art! It is merely a newly structured life protective system based upon ancient Biblical principles. JWDO is our Founder's interpretation and application from a long study of the Scriptures, and a selected body of martial arts techniques from several styles combined to make this life-protection system. That is what distinguishes it from the traditional existing styles. The Jehovah Way Defense Order is a "defense designed by God".

Concerning the differences between Jehovah Way Defense and traditional martial arts, the most significant is the alteration of "classical" Asian philosophical concepts and the deletion of traditional oriental spiritual objectives. Jehovah Way Defense also draws on an American military command style and weaponless military combat life-protecting techniques.

Bibliocentric philosophy of life protection

Biblical way of life: of a bible soldier - No one will learn war in the spiritual without doing battle (mental, spiritual, emotional, or physical) in the physical "real" world with real people over real issues of God. This does NOT mean brawling, but it does mean the philosophy of standing for right against others if necessary when they choose wrong.

Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully. 2 Timothy 2:3-5

Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. Ephesians 6:11

LORD left, to prove Israel by them, even as many of Israel as had not known all the wars of Canaan; Only that the generations of the children of Israel might know, to teach them war, at the least such as before knew nothing thereof; Judges 3:1-2

Blessed be the LORD my strength which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight: Psalms 144:1

Bibliocentric life protection training is training in:

• The Way of the Lord...salvation, humbleness, holiness, righteousness, and faith, and all the other works God works within of grace.
• Character...honor, respect, meekness, bravery, courage, hard work, endurance, excellence, honesty, and submission to authority.
• Manhood / Womanhood...physical poise, etiquette, and disciplined grace of movement.
• Defense / Fighting Techniques...forms, power, form, focus, and breathing.

Bibliocentric life protection is opposed by Satan (Lucifer, the Devil, that old Dragon)

Satan is aggressively against Christian defense in any area of our life. He is against:

1) clean morals...And when he went forth to land, there met him out of the city a certain man, which had devils long time, and ware no clothes, neither abode in any house, but in the tombs. V:35 Then they went out to see what was done; and came to Jesus, and found the man, out of whom the devils were departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.) Luke 8:27,35

2) a pure mind and thoughts...Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 2 Cor 10:5

3) a sanctified body...But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. 1 Cor 6:17-18

4) steadfast and maturing emotions....For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7

5) a standing spirit... Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Eph 6:11-12

Bibliocentric life protection Arts are a natural part of spiritual training for the whole man.

God's people are commanded to train to stand and battle against all evil. We are to "contend" for the faith, which involves righteousness and integrity in all areas of life. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. V:13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Eph 6:11, 13

Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith, which was once delivered unto the saints. Jude 3

And, behold, one of the children of Israel came and brought unto his brethren a Midianitish woman in the sight of Moses, and in the sight of all the congregation of the children of Israel, who were weeping before the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. And when Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose up from among the congregation, and took a javelin in his hand; And he went after the man of Israel into the tent, and thrust both of them through, the man of Israel, and the woman through her belly. So the plague was stayed from the children of Israel. And those that died in the plague were twenty and four thousand. And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, hath turned my wrath away from the children of Israel, while he was zealous for my sake among them, that I consumed not the children of Israel in my jealousy. Wherefore say, Behold, I give unto him my covenant of peace: And he shall have it, and his seed after him, even the covenant of an everlasting priesthood; because he was zealous for his God, and made an atonement for the children of Israel. Numbers 25:6-13

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:7