A.I.O.K.M.A. DO

Aiokma Do: The Evolution of a Modern Mixed Traditional Martial Art

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Introduction

AIOKMA DO is a modern mixed traditional martial art founded by Dr. Grand Master Rev. Dr. Samuel T. Robertson IV, Ph.D., affectionately known as Master Sam. This martial art represents the culmination of decades of study, mastery, and real-world application across multiple martial arts disciplines. Master Sam’s vision was to create a cohesive system that integrates the strengths of traditional martial arts, practical self-defense, spiritual development, and holistic wellness, providing students with a comprehensive path to personal growth, self-protection, and enlightenment.

AIOKMA DO is more than just a physical practice—it is a philosophy, a lifestyle, and a community. Rooted in Judeo-Christian faith, the system emphasizes that true strength comes from YAHWEH, and that the human being is composed of spirit, mind, and body, all of which must be developed harmoniously to reach peak potential. AIOKMA is also one of the few martial arts schools that provides in-depth training on the legal aspects of self-defense. Students learn exactly what to say to authorities after an incident, understand the boundaries of lawful action, and are guided in how to navigate legal consequences responsibly. This focus ensures that practitioners are not only effective in defending themselves but also knowledgeable about their rights, responsibilities, and the legal framework surrounding self-defense situations

Founder’s Journey and Martial Arts Background

Master Sam embarked on an extraordinary journey in martial arts, earning black belts and equivalent rankings in nine different styles, including Tae Kwon Do, Tang Soo Do, Hapkido, Kung Fu, and Tai Chi. He also incorporated training in boxing, Muay Thai, Aikido, and Jeet Kune Do, drawing on each style’s unique techniques, philosophies, and traditions.

Through years of study, practice, and teaching, he recognized the commonalities among martial arts and sought to integrate them into a unified system. Taekwondo serves as the foundational framework, providing structure, patterns, and discipline, while Hapkido contributes unique throws, locks, footwork, and circular motion techniques. Other martial arts enrich the system with striking, grappling, and weapon skills, creating a hybrid system that is both traditional and modern.

Master Sam’s military experience as a Marine added a practical, real-world component to the art, including handgun and rifle defense, tactical positioning, and battlefield-tested strategies. These elements were incorporated into AIOKMA DO to prepare students for realistic self-defense scenarios beyond the dojo.

Programs and Age-Specific Training

AIOKMA DO is a non-profit organization that provides martial arts training for children, teens, and adults. Programs are carefully designed to suit the age, gender, and developmental stage of each participant:

• Tiny Dragons Program – Focused on young children, teaching fundamentals, coordination, and confidence.

• Women’s and Teen Girls’ Self-Defense – Practical techniques for defending against chokes, grabs, locks, strikes, and modern weapons.

• Men’s and Boys’ Self-Defense (Defend Yourself) – Covers personal safety, situational awareness, and practical combat strategies.

• Teen and Adult Programs – Advanced training in traditional martial arts techniques, sparring, weapons, and holistic development.

All programs cover advanced techniques, including defense against chokes, holds, grabs, locks, falls, trips, strikes, and kicks, as well as training in traditional and modern weapons. Despite the intensity of training, AIOKMA DO maintains a very low injury rate, emphasizing safety alongside skill development.

Integration of Martial Arts Styles

AIOKMA DO is unique because it does not teach only sport Taekwondo or strictly traditional Taekwondo. Instead, it creates a cohesive hybrid system that allows students to experience martial arts as a whole. Core elements include:

• Moo Duk Kwan-based Taekwondo

• Olympic Taekwondo (WTF, ITA)

• Hapkido

• Tang Soo Do

• Traditional weapons (bo staff, nunchucks, swords)

Additionally, elements of boxing, Muay Thai, Aikido, and Jeet Kune Do enrich the system, ensuring students are well-rounded and prepared for diverse combat situations. Master Sam emphasizes technique over brute strength, teaching students to leverage their body mechanics efficiently. For example, a defender is taught to limit themselves to three backward steps after being attacked, after which they must circle out, encouraging proactive defense and strategic positioning.

Combat Tae Kwon Do

One of the distinguishing features of AIOKMA DO is Combat Tae Kwon Do, a military-grade field fighting system that combines Taekwondo strikes, knees, and elbows with Hapkido techniques and modern weapons defense. This system prepares students to handle real-life self-defense scenarios, including encounters with armed assailants. The effectiveness of this training was demonstrated when Dr. Sam successfully defended himself against two armed gangs, applying the principles and techniques of AIOKMA DO to subdue the attackers safely.

Philosophy: Spirit, Mind, and Body

AIOKMA DO emphasizes the integration of spirit, mind, and body. The system teaches that the human body cannot function at its peak unless these three elements are harmonized. Once this bond is established, students can tap into their superhuman potential, performing physical, mental, and spiritual tasks seamlessly.

Without spiritual development, martial arts risk becoming mere athleticism. AIOKMA DO ensures that discipline, respect, enlightenment, and purposeful spiritual growth accompany all physical training, allowing students to cultivate character, resilience, and wisdom.

The String of Pearls Philosophy

AIOKMA DO is guided by the philosophy of the “string of pearls.” In this concept:

• Each martial art is a pearl, representing its unique wisdom, strengths, and traditions. Every style brings something valuable, but each also has inherent weaknesses or limitations.

• AIOKMA is the string that binds the pearls together, creating a unified, harmonious system. By combining different martial arts, the strengths of one style can cover the weaknesses of another, resulting in a complete, versatile, and adaptable system.

• Without the string, the pearls would scatter, but together they form a strong and cohesive martial art capable of addressing a wide range of combat and self-defense situations.

This philosophy reflects the belief that every martial art has intrinsic value, and by uniting them strategically, AIOKMA DO creates a system stronger than the sum of its parts. Moreover, the system welcomes other schools, instructors, and martial artists to join, adding their pearls to the necklace, enriching the art for all participants, and fostering a global community of shared knowledge, mutual growth, and continuous learning.

Holistic Training and Wellness

Beyond martial arts techniques, AIOKMA DO integrates whole-person wellness into its programs. Students receive training in:

• Thai Yoga – Enhancing flexibility, balance, and healing.

• Pastoral Counseling – Providing emotional and spiritual guidance.

• Herbal Healing Practices – Supporting physical health and recovery.

This approach ensures that students develop not just physically, but also mentally, emotionally, and spiritually, reinforcing the principle that martial arts is a path to balance, healing, and alignment in every aspect of life.

Academic Integration and Degree Programs

AIOKMA DO is unique in providing a clear path from martial arts training to academic achievement. Students can pursue:

• Accredited college degrees in Martial Arts Science

• Doctorates in martial arts philosophy

This integration ensures that martial arts is not only a physical discipline but also a scholarly pursuit, combining intellectual rigor with practical skills and spiritual growth.

Community Engagement and Service

AIOKMA DO emphasizes community service and engagement. Practitioners are encouraged to live by principles of loyalty, compassion, stewardship, and civic responsibility. Through outreach, teaching, and mentorship, students learn that martial arts mastery includes serving others, protecting families, and uplifting communities.

Core Principles of AIOKMA DO

1. Continuous Learning & Adaptation – Never stop learning and evolving.

2. Integration of Martial Arts – Cross-training enhances versatility and understanding.

3. Practicality in Combat – Techniques are designed for real-world effectiveness.

4. Spiritual Growth & Faith – Physical training is paired with moral and spiritual development.

5. Community & Service – Martial arts as a tool for positive impact.

6. The String of Pearls – Each martial art is a pearl, and AIOKMA is the string uniting them into a harmonious, complete

7. system.

Science and Ergonomics in AIOKMA DO Science, Kinesiology, and Ergonomics in AIOKMA DO

AIOKMA DO is built not only on tradition and practical self-defense but also on scientific principles, kinesiology, and ergonomic design. Every technique—strikes, throws, locks, and stances—is carefully structured to align with the human body’s natural mechanics, minimizing risk of injury while maximizing power, speed, and efficiency. By applying kinesiology, students learn how muscles, joints, and movement patterns work together, enabling them to use leverage, balance, and proper body alignment to defend themselves effectively, even against larger opponents.

Research in exercise science and biomechanics shows that optimized movement patterns reduce fatigue, improve endurance, and increase reaction speed—all central to AIOKMA DO training. Ergonomic principles ensure that stances, strikes, and grappling techniques flow naturally with the body’s structure, allowing practitioners to perform at peak capability without unnecessary strain.

Additionally, practices like Thai Yoga, flexibility training, and strength conditioning reinforce ergonomic efficiency, joint health, posture, and overall body mechanics. By combining ancient martial arts wisdom with modern scientific understanding and kinesiology, AIOKMA DO creates a system that is effective, safe, and sustainable over a lifetime.

Conclusion

AIOKMA DO is a living, evolving martial art that harmoniously blends tradition, practicality, spirituality, and modern scientific understanding. It integrates diverse martial arts, military-grade combat strategies, holistic wellness, and academic rigor with the principles of kinesiology and ergonomic movement, ensuring that every strike, lock, and stance aligns with the body’s natural mechanics. This approach maximizes efficiency, power, and safety, allowing practitioners to defend themselves effectively while maintaining long-term physical health.

Through the string of pearls philosophy, AIOKMA DO unites multiple martial arts into a cohesive, adaptable system that values every style’s unique wisdom. Students grow not only as martial artists but also as disciplined, spiritually grounded, and intellectually enriched individuals. Programs that incorporate Thai Yoga, pastoral counseling, and herbal healing further reinforce whole-person development, addressing body, mind, and spirit.

By combining scientific principles, ergonomic efficiency, and practical self-defense with spiritual growth and community engagement, AIOKMA DO equips students to achieve peak potential, resilience, and balance. Master Sam’s vision ensures that martial arts training is more than physical mastery—it is a path to lifelong personal growth, holistic wellness, and purposeful living.

Master Sam invites all martial artists, schools, and communities to join the AIOKMA DO family, adding their pearls to the necklace and sharing in a tradition of strength, wisdom, and holistic growth.