We believe martial arts training shapes more than the body – it shapes the mind and the spirit as well.
The founders of The Elysium Organization believe that martial arts offers its students more than just kicking, punching and grappling techniques – they offer an opportunity to learn valuable life skills, such as discipline, dedication and respect.
What does Elysium Mean?
Taken from the Greek word Ἠλύσιον πεδίον, The Elysium fields were reserved for mortals chosen by the gods. Only the righteous and heroic were allowed entrance to this paradise. We chose the name Elysium because we believe that the virtues which the ancient Greeks espoused are the same taught in a quality martial arts school: Temperance, Prudence, Courage and Justice. We have seen time and time again how introducing these virtues can radically re-shape people’s lives in a more positive direction.
The Key to Many Doors
We find that the common thread among the four Greek virtues (Temperance, Prudence, Courage and Justice) is the concept of Self-Discipline. In almost any scholarly journal you will see a repeated pattern extolling the benefits of Self-Discipline, what psychologists call the ability to delay gratification. Self-Discipline is the key to success at school, success in business, success in relationships – in short, to success in life. We believe that there is no better publicly available means of instilling self-discipline better than the martial arts. We believe we can assist school owners and parents instill the virtues of self-discipline to a generation of children who are struggling, and habituate the virtue of Self-Discipline in young adults, who have yet to learn the tremendous value of a disciplined resolve.
Helping those in need
The Elysium Organization was founded in response to the growing realization that those who most need quality martial arts training – the at-risk children, youth and adults who cannot afford professional martial arts classes. Long-time martial artists Eric Turner and Joseph Zonar realized that the best way to help the most people was through a non-profit organization dedicated to helping ensure people who need the benefits of the martial arts can afford the classes which can change their lives.
Partnerships that work
Our aim is to couple quality martial arts instruction with civic minded individuals and companies. We are looking for people who think that the world can be a better place for everyone, people who believe that doing nothing is tantamount to defeat, and people who are brave enough to fight for a better world.