About Katu Vuur

The Name. The Elements of Heart and Courage.

Katu Vuur (pronounced kah too voor) means “good fire.” Katu is the Tupi word for good. Vuur is the Dutch word for fire, passion, and zeal. This was inspired by the fighting motto of Grand Master Joe Lewis “Cum Animo Et Corde” – with heart and the spirit of courage.

Our Values

The Celtic Dragons on our logo represent the twin values of the Katu Vuur system – wisdom and strength. Wisdom is the capacity for judging a situation and choosing the best means to achieve the ends. It is the use of knowledge. Wisdom is the capacity to have foreknowledge of something, to know the consequences (both positive and negative) of all the available course of actions, and to yield or take the options with the most advantage either for present or future implication. Strength refers to inner strength. It is perseverance and tenacity. It is the strength of mind that allows you to endure adversity with courage. The Katu Vuur system seeks to instill these values in each student.

The Style.

Katu Vuur is not a sport. It is a martial art that incorporates kicking, punching, trapping, stand-up grappling and ground fighting. The study of effective fighting systems, the understanding of the flow of energy, and the physics and mechanics of the human body in a physical altercation produce a system designed for effective self-defense. A fighter must have courage and heart, and the understanding and knowledge of real-world physical and nonphysical altercations in order to prevail. Katu Vuur finds its roots in the concepts of Bruce Lee’s Jeet Kune Do, tactics of the Joe Lewis American Karate Systems, Western Boxing, Northern and Southern styles of Kung Fu, and multiple ground fighting arts.

Footwork, angles, slipping, and mobility on the ground is the bread and butter of this system. The ability to avoid the attack by combining footwork with upper body movement allows the student to move off of a full power attack, or move into position while avoiding an attack or counter attack. On the ground we combine rolls and body rotation combined with two, three or four of your limbs. This allows for attacks and escapes while changing angles and levels.

Although we train to fight on the ground, our objective is to attack vital and vulnerable areas. Ground fighting works well if you are in a one-on-one fight on mats, and your opponent does not have an advantage. An advantage would not only be skill level but would also include a difference in gender, size, strength and age. It would be a disaster for a female to take a large male to the ground without first attacking a vital or vulnerable area. In a realistic altercation you could be faced with multiple attackers and/or you could be trying to protect others such as family members. Going to the ground would make you vulnerable to a second attacker. Also, there are environmental factors to consider. Ground fighting works better on mats and soft surfaces. It is not desirable on gravel, concrete and asphalt. If you have to go to the ground, you must finish quickly.

Our techniques are modified and designed for realistic altercations. This is performed while standing up or on the ground. Ground fighting techniques are not meant to submit the attacker. They are used to damage limbs and attack vital and vulnerable areas using strikes or chokes.

To increase our mobility, and safety when falling and maneuvering on the ground, Katu Vuur integrates several non-combative disciplines. This gives a fighter the ability to fight on hard surfaces; landing and moving around on the ground with minimal damage to the body. Katu Vuur techniques are designed to help reduce injuries on hard surfaces.