


Northern Lights Dojo
Cuong Nhu Martial Arts

About Us
"Open Heart, Open Arms, Open Mind"
Northern Lights Cuong Nhu Dojo is located in Marquette, Michigan, and was started in October, 1983, by Sensei Joe Contarino.
We practice Cuong Nhu, a Vietnamese martial art that has roots in traditional Shotokan Karate. It also incorporates influences from Aikido, Judo, Tai Chi, Wing Chun, Vovinam, and Boxing. We are a traditional style with a primary focus on self-defense. Physical and moral fitness are inherent parts of this self defense training as well.
The "art" aspects of martial arts training involve self-improvement, helping others, leadership, and cultivating a non-defeatist attitude.
We respect all other styles of martial arts and believe that it is essential, as Bruce Lee said, to "absorb what is useful, discard what is useless." We have more things in common with other arts than we do differences, and always seek to learn more from our fellow martial artists.
We currently have four active black belt instructors at the school, so there is plenty of individual attention to our students. The current Co-Heads of our School are Sensei Kevin Cardoni, Sandan (3nd Degree), and Sensei Tim DeMarte, Yondan (4th Degree).
