In Mayan mythology, Gukumatz (Who-koo-Matz) was the name given for a deity in the highlands of Guatemala, my homeland. The Gukumatz took on the form of a feathered serpent that taught mankind civilization and agriculture. Gukumatz is also the name I have given to a bo staff form I created for my 1^st Dan Black Belt test.

While I am a very proud American citizen, I carry a great deal of pride in my Mayan and Hispanic heritage.  It is for that reason and what the Gukumatz represents that I have chosen this name for our training center.

Our logo was developed with and by Commercial Artist Darren Thomas.  It depicts the marriage of three cultures; Mayan, Hispanic, and Korean.  The colors are also found within the Guatemalan flag.  Note how the Gukumatz is wrapped around the Mayan Temple of Wisdom and the Um Yang.  Mr. Thomas painstakingly worked to bond the symbolism to create our logo.

Philosophy

Gukumatz Martial Arts is a family of martial artists aligned to further the philosophies of martial arts based in ancient philosophies and traditions.  Through our teachings, students are taught respect of self as well as others and provided with the knowledge of how to avoid physical confrontation yet possess the ability of self defense.  This family of martial artists have invested thousands of hours and many dollars to further their knowledge.