LICENSES, LINEAGE, HISTORY AND PROFESSIONAL'S TESTIMONIALS

The following Legal Notices and Documents pertain to Chuntian Academy International:

Chuntian Academy International

Operated by Matthew W. Plewes

Japan Ministry of Justice: Registration No. MOJ 417038623

Chuntian Academy International Clubs is an educational, non-profit, public benefit organization. We are totally independent of any government, political ideology, economic interest or organized religion. We are the controlling and organizing body of all of Chuntian Academy programs, seminars, lectures, certifications etc.

a.k.a :

C.A.I.
Chuntian Academy International
Chuntian Academy International Defense Systems
Chuntian Academy International Advanced Defense Systems
Chuntian Academy of Martial Arts and Oriental Studies
Chuntian Academy Martial Arts Federation
Chuntian Academy International Interfaith Services and Chapel

Chuntian Academy is a public benefit organization.

At Chuntian Academy, we have always had a board of quality and standards.
Matt Plewes is the founder and director but by no means authoritarian.
The board of certified professionals have equal power and input, to assure quality of professional services and shared skills.

Nearly ALL Martial Art Schools are not governmentally accredited, and most Martial Arts Associations, Organizations and Federations (especially in America) are not as well. Japan and China and a very few other places, yes or some what.

We at C.A.I. teach Martial arts, Humanities, Languages and more.

To be truly accredited, in most countries, the government has agencies control accreditation. In America, education accreditation is done through several Government approved organizations, keyword "approved". Many are not recognized by the United States Department of Education (D.O.E.), and those that are non-religious that are not recognized through the D.O.E. should be avoided. Especially if they are medical or health based. These internet or distance learning "degrees", especially Phds and Doctorates are time bombs in your Resume or CV, and an illusion to you and your students that will most likely bite you eventually.

At Chuntian Academy, we are aware and strongly dislike the fact that some schools offer black belt fast tract programs, certificates, children black belts as well Diploma and even Accreditation mills. Degrees of various levels are available on the internet for a "fee" with little training, no training or so-called "life-experience" recognition.
C.A.I. strongly disapproves of these practices. These practices are a deadly illusion and should be outlawed, as it is a public safety concern.
REAL Training and experience is 9/10th of education, not price, belt colors, trophies or fancy certificates, remember that.

Importantly, we at Chuntian Academy are not a Black Belt or Certification Mill. Our certificates are meant to be complimentary to real world professions or life skills, and only awarded for demonstration of actual defense ability and skills and not for time, fees or anything else. All certificates are signed and approved by our professional accredited board members. Professional instructorship students must also have the necessary Criminal Justice certifications as well.
Only our higher honorary teacher ranks are based upon years of teaching experience. This is for student reference and only valid within the Chuntian Academy community of international clubs and or directly affiliated organizations.

It has been brought to our attention than some of our organizations we are/were members of, are questionable. We did not know at the time of membership. We joined only to network on an international scale. Because of our association with these "questionable" associations, it shed a negative spot light and questioned our credibility at C.A.I. We have since reviewed and "cleaned house" of such associations as well have clarified our website information, before some was vague and misunderstood.
We don't want to be part of something that is not in the best interest of the community and the safety and well being of people.

Matthew W. Plewes,
Founder of C.A.I.

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Our management members and Standards Board with Government or International Accreditation.

Title.......Name.......Governmental Accepted Accreditations (only)
Other certificates exist, this is the main and historical documents that pertain to our operations.

President, Matthew Plewes, Teacher

Han Japan Karate Do Association,
Virginia Emergency Medical Services - EMT
Virginia Criminal Justice Services - Private Investigator

Vice President, Karl Emerson, Teacher

Japan Karate Association. Black Belt instructor ( England - Japan)

Board Member, Juli Kristanti, Teacher

Indonesian Tiga Penchat Silat Association
Graduate Surabaya University,
Nihon University.

Board Member, Sheik Azmir Ally, Teacher

Veteran Singapore Military
(General Military and Jungle Warfare).

Board Member, Tetsuyuki Terada, Legal Liaison

Board Member, Atsushi Kawaguchi, SBS Bureau Chief

Other Business and Compliance members listed soon

Certificates and Diplomas

I am very hesitant to post certificates for security and fraudulent use.
I will place a security bar, or a zoomed portion only, so the whole world doesn't have clear access to use as a template.

Matt's 1st to 5th Rank promotions were strictly for skill, expert defense and teaching abilities. Matt's rank of 6th, 7th and currently, 8th Rank is based on years of experience and service as set up in the 1988 founding charter.
This style of ranking was and is still done in some Korean and Chinese schools for teacher experience as in ours. We have always used it and don't see a problem as long it you can document the "time" and have students or letters proving consistent students during that time.
Matt doesn't have "paper" certificates for 1st to 5th Rank. Instead, his teacher gave him colored silks or sashes. The teacher level sash was his teacher's very own. Matt wishes to also give that sash away when and if he has a student sucessfully achieve 5th Rank and starts the personal journey of the Honorary Master Levels.
Silks ( not sashes ) written on with brushes and using blood for ink by the fighting monks, was and may still be used at the REAL Shaolin Temple by real disciples.
Now-a-days for most schools it's paper. Chuntian Academy started issuing paper certificates and silk sashes since 1988 - present, for qualified progressing students and / or teachers.

"There are many ways to learn, but experience is the best teacher"
We are attempting to locate old photos to establish a timeline. Also, we are still in contact with many students that go all the way back to the beginning of Chuntian Academy that have or wil give testement of time and skills taught at Chuntian Academy. ( See Testimonials at bottom of page )

The belt color levels is a Japanese invention that is also adopted by other schools, styles and organizations. At the end of the day, your level, belt or rank is only valid within the club, association or school you use. It is not valid in other styles or outside your schools circle. And it means absolutely nothing on the street.

In Matt's case and only for a basic reference for a starting timeline for his over 3 decades of martial arts and defense study, we will temporarily post an early certificate with old pictures to help document a timeline.

From the beginning: Seikukan Karate; 1976-1981

1980- License
Seikukan Karate Do License: with Security Bar

Video Memory Lane

( Pictures and Lineage below)

These videos show a time line from 1985-86 ( Student) to 2009 teacher. These clips are by no means a technical demonstration. It's Matt as a student, an instructor in the first Chuntian Academy Commercial School and in Japan on TV and showing very basic escapes and reaction drills to new students. We are searching old 8mm film home movies for the 1976-81 Karate period.
A brief look at the karate certificates and formal student acceptance paper certificate are in the following clips.

THIS VIDEO CLIP IS FOR SHOWING A 25 YEAR TIME LINE ONLY.
NOT A DEMO OR ANY KIND.

VIDEO OF A VIDEO ( Poor Quality ) We are looking for more footage.

Memory Lane

We are searching for more and (clearer) pictures that trace our roots.
April 15th 2010 will be Chuntian Academy's 22nd Anniversary.
Sorry for the graining photos, they survived a house fire and water damage and are also a picture of a picture. Soon we will scan them and enlarge as well, to hopefully make them clearer.

Below are some old pictures of a younger Matt in the formative years of Chuntian Academy, and the first commercial school in Suffolk, Virginia.
Also Matt training with his teacher in 1988.
And Matt' teacher Master Cheeks with his teacher Master Banks 40 years ago.

Before Chuntian Academy, there was Cheeks-Plewes Martial Arts Club, Before that it was Man -O- War- Karate and Chinese Boxing

Master Holee - 1960 -
V
Man - o - War School - 1968 -
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Cheeks - Plewes Martial Arts Club 1984 - 1988
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Chuntian Academy Martial Arts Club- 1988 - 1998
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Chuntian Academy of Martial Arts and Oriental Studies - 1998 - 2003
Suffolk, Virginia
V
Chuntian Academy International Clubs - 2001 - present
H.Q. Shizuoka, Japan

Man-O-War ( Wu Su / Wu Xing Quan) circa 1970: Master Nicholas Banks and Assistant Samuel Cheeks
Man - O - War Class circa 1970: Wu Su ( Wu Xing Quan )

Matt Plewes 1986 Age 23: Second Year Wu Xing Student- First Assistant, sometimes wore his prized Karate-gi / " Uniforms and Belts aren't important, street ability is. " Master Cheeks ( Yes the kick is staged for the picture)

Matt Plewes with Master Cheeks 1988 : About 2 months before 1st Rank Test

First Commercial School - Club: 911Washington, Suffolk, Va, circa. 1998

Training Area of Suffolk School 1998
School's Private Sushi Bar
Promotion Ceremony 1999
Teacher 5th Rank Matt Plewes with First Assistant John Pevahouse 2000

In Japan 2001 to Present

Japan Seminar 2003

C.A.I. on Japan T.V. Show - 2005

Karl Emerson - Second Assistant Promotion with Director Plewes - 2006Sheik Ally - First Assistant Promotion with Director Plewes - 2006

Chuntian Academy - Japan 2007

C.A.I. Cherry Blossom Party 2008

Newspaper Advertisement by SBS-TV - 2009: "C.A.I's. Practical Self Defense From America"

New SBS- TV / Gakuen Self Defense Club - Japan 2010

First Japan Office and Classroom

Destroyed by house fire and water damage in 2008

First CAI-Japan Office

Our New Location in Shizuoka, Japan

New C.A.I. Offices - 2008- Present: Reception

New C.A.I. Community Room: 2008 - Present

New C.A.I. Classroom - 2008 to Present: Languages / Security Programs Class Portion

C.A.I. Online Language Learning : 2008 to Present

C.A.I. Interfaith Chapel: 2008 - Present

C.A.I. Defensive Tactics Practice Room : 2008 - present

The Main School is primarily for Classroom - Academic study, Administrative duties, Chapel, Community Club and meetings. Most Defense classes are done off location at various venues. Mainly, Shizuoka Broadcasting System SBS - Gakuen locations in Shizuoka Perfecture and AICEL 21.

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TESTIMONIALS

We can provide many testimonials over a long period of time. However we will post some recent tesimonials from students from the past that have actually used my teachings in the REAL WORLD several times.

( These gentlemen can be found on Facebook if you need direct confirmation).

From John Ravis

Addressed to Matt Plewes,

" I am PROUD to have been a student of yours and I am proud to say so! I learned alot of techniques from you and I know that you are a truly HONORABLE teacher, who instructs practical real world techniques that work in real world situations . I used some of these techniques on the street as a police office and I can attest that your teaching methods are both pratical and usable. One occasion comes to mind. In 1997, I was instructing a young rookie police officer. I was assigned as his field training officer. we ran into a bad situation with a violent drug user who had assaulted several people. As we arrived on the scene, my rookie assisted several other officers that were attempting (fighting with) to take this violent offender into custody. All of their attempts were failing. As all parties rolled around on the ground, the officers were not able to handcuff this drugged up suspect. Pain comliance was not working. I waded into the crowd and managed to use a CHI NA technique that you had taught us and that we had practiced in your classroom many times, on the susupect. Using this method, we managed to place the suspect (finally) under arrest. The police officers with me were amazed at how well this technique worked. They all joked afterward and told the Duty SGT. that I was using "NINJA MOVES" as they put it. Bottom line up front: Your teachings and the techniques are real martial arts tools that I keep in my bag when I face a bad guy. I am no hero, just a normal guy trying to make my community safe. Thank you Sir for caring and giving your students the ability to protect themselves and others ".

John Ravis
February 2010

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From Doyle Gillis, Jr.

"I have known Matt Plewes since I was a teenager so here goes. In 1985, i believe it was, Matt started teaching me as a part of his studies of Kung Fu. While i have not studied, formally, in years i have used a good many things Matt taught me. Actually i'm not sure he even realizes that... At any rate, after training with Matt i joined the Army, eventually becoming a member of the National Guard currently in my third combat tour. Ok, that's nothing special but in my full time job I beacme a police officer. I did that job fro 25 years, 17 as a member of the SWAT team. Trust me when I say...i've been in fights. The things taught to me by Matt were reinforced by police training and my Army training and the best part...they work. I found Matt's instruction to be firmly grounded in reality and completely sound from an operational perspective."

Doyle Gillis Jr.
Feb. 2010