Welcome to my website, my name is Shidoshi (TJ) Gjertson.  My career in martial arts started at the age of 10.

I was taught by Sifu Wood who taught a Northern Shaolin Kung Fu system during which time I wrestled for the State of Alaska.  I have been involved in the Martial Arts community for over 34 years, I have studied forms such as weapons, traditional exercising, calligraphy, Taoism, Philosophy, Chi Gung breathing exercises and herbology. In 1984 I was offered to try out for the Olympic boxing team, by Mr. Wolf.  I come from a long generation of boxers, my father was known as "Smokey-o-day".  I crossed trained in taekwondo and American Goju-ryu along with tai-fighting.

At the Red Dragon Martial Arts Academy I have designed a program from my past experiences to form a clean, straight forward approach to self-defense and a way of life. Using both my real life experiences, my system works directly with real-life situations, that you may come across in today's fast paced society.  Some of the specific areas of interest are self-defense techniques, kung fu, boxing, meditation, and weapons training.

Most recently I have worked with the Alaska Police Department SERT
(Special Emergency Response Team).

From the beginning of my training, I have always believed that Martial Arts is a way of Life, not only to be practiced a few days a week, but a code to live by.  My belief in both training and mediation has kept me on the right path, both physically and mentally.