Five High School Students Show How US Martial Arts Emphasizes Building Character

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By Gail Wood

dkb restorationAs she learned how to jump kick and box in her martial arts class, Brianna Asman surprisingly found the courage to pursue her real passion – theater.

“If it wasn’t for this,” Asman said as she looked around at students practicing martial arts, “I’d be home reading a book. I like drama a lot. And this gave me the confidence to do it.”

Asman, a sophomore at Timberline High School, began to overcome her shyness when she got started in martial arts six years at the US Martial Arts Center (USMAC) in Olympia.

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US Martial Arts junior instructors Aaron Kioshi and Brianna Asman (in white) work with their class.

“I was really, really shy when I was little,” Asman said. “This brought out a lot of confidence in me in a fun way.”

Her story is a common one.

Legrand Jones, a sophomore at Capital High School, began taking classes at USMAC six years ago when he was in fifth grade. Like Asman, he had something he wanted to overcome.

“For me, what they helped me with a lot was the idea of self-control and discipline,” Jones said. “I used to have a lot of anger management issues.”

Not anymore.

“It’s helped me a lot,” Jones said. “I’ve enjoyed it.”

The emphasis at USMAC isn’t learning how to slap kick or punch. That’s the lure, the attraction. The emphasis is teaching respect and learning discipline. Each week, students bring a report card from their parents, not their teachers. Students are graded on things like how they behaved, how they clean they kept their rooms and information about their performance in school.

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Aaron Field demonstrates a leg kick.

“The biggest thing I get out of it is what they teach you,” said Aaron Field, a junior at Capital.

There are five tenants that USMAC teaches.

“There’s indomitable spirit, integrity, confidence and self-control,” Field said. “That confidence carries over to school. I’m very confident when it comes to presentations or public speaking. I don’t think I would have had that if I hadn’t taken taekwondo.”

Three years ago, Aaron Kioshi, now a junior at North Thurston High School, got involved with martial arts at USMAC when his mom got a coupon to the center for a free lesson. He went once and got “hooked.”

“That first day, there was all this energy,” Kioshi said. “Everyone was really happy and ready to go. It was fun. Everyone was wanting to do it.”

His martial arts experience has helped Kioshi develop his coordination and confidence as an athlete. Now, he’s turning out for football at North Thurston and he plans to turn out for wrestling for the first time this winter.  He will also run track again in the spring. Right now, he comes to USMAC on Wednesdays after football practice.

“The first rule is to never use your martial arts to hurt anyone,” Kioshi said. “It’s all to defend yourself. It’s all about respecting others. It’s never about going out and causing trouble.”

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Legrand Jones talks with his class.

For kids who are shy, it teaches them confidence. For kids who are more aggressive, it teaches them restraint, how to hold back and respect others. And that is the emphasis. It’s not just learning how to kick box and combat, it’s about learning respect.

Saehee Kwak, a junior at Capital, has been going to USMAC for three years. Her experience as a junior instructor and in her own workouts is a stress reliever.

“I get a lot of stress from school,” Kwak said. “I come here and go home happy.”

Kwak moved to Olympia from Korea in 2011 and she said she didn’t know any English. Her experience at USMAC has helped in her transition.

“I’ve learned how to be confident, to speak up, to answer with confidence, showing who I am,” she said.

The ultimate goal of USMAC is building tomorrow’s leaders today. The focus is more on building character than building punch power.

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Aaron Kioshi demonstrates technique with his class.

“The things we teach all lead someone to be a strong leader in the community,” said Debbie Winters, project manager with USMAC. “We have ten home rules for children. The first one is to show respect to your parents and family members. Our focus is more on character.”

On Saturday, about 700 students from across the Northwest with similar stories will compete in the annual Governor’s Cup at Saint Martin’s University. Black belt sparring begins at 9:00 a.m. and in the afternoon board breaking and sparring continues.

Kioshi won’t be able to judge at Saturday’s Governor’s Cup competition. He’ll be in Tacoma at a conference for deaf students. He knows sign language and works with deaf children.

“That’s fun, too,” Kioshi said.

To learn more about US Martial Arts, click here.  Governor’s Cup information can be found at this link.

 

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