Our History

The Art of Tien Tae Jitsu

Tae Jitsu was founded by Sijou Eric Johnson in 1990, and since then has been offering instruction and training in martial arts at various locations through out the Portland Metro area. In April 2003, Master Johnson consolidated locations and opened his own studio and ran it successfully until May 2020.

Tien Tae Jitsu focuses not just on the physical, but also the mental and emotional aspects of the student - our goal is a healthy mind, body, and spirit. We place great importance on the principles of discipline, honor, and respect. These principles are discussed and enforced as a part of the daily curriculum. The art has produced champions in life as well as in the martial arts.

The Meaning of Tien Tae Jitsu

Tien Tae Jitsu is a combination of several different martial arts.

“Tien”is taken from Tien Shan P’ai Kung Fu. Tien Shan P’ai (which means Celestial Mountain School) is itself a combination of several styles of Kung Fu that can be traced back hundreds of years to a Shaolin temple near the Russian / Chinese border deep in the Tien Shan mountain range.

“Tae” is taken from Tae Kwon Do, a form of Korean Karate. Tae Kwon Do is best known for its powerful punches and explosive kicks. Tae Kwon Do is the national sport in Korea and made its debut in the 1988 Summer Olympics.

“Jitsu” (meaning art) comes from Ninjitsu, the art of the invisible warrior. Ninjitsu (much like Tien Shan P’ai) is a martial arts form made up of several different styles. Although Ninjitsu is a Japanese art, its roots can be traced all the way back to the Tibetan monasteries of China, where the martial arts began.

Tien Tae Jitsu also uses techniques from Kenpo (a Chinese/Okinawan form of Karate), Hapkido (a form of Korean Karate), Kodakan Judo, Jui Jitsu (a Japanese form of martial arts similar to Judo) and Savate (a little known form of martial arts developed in France).