Chris Kinney of Myrtle Point breaks his first board during a recent testing cycle.

Several students recently tested at Coquille Martial Arts earned their new belts and the ability to learn new material and move up in rank. Part of this testing includes breaking a 1 inch thick pine board with a technique, usually a kick. Many jokes have been made both in the general media and within the martial arts community about how breaking a board doesn’t help one learn to defend oneself, except against rogue pine shelving.

 However, the martial arts are about far more than self defense. They are about improving oneself. The first break is generally the most important break. Students learn that they have power within themselves to overcome what looks like on the surface an impossible task. They learn that they need not be fearful in face of adversity, and that, in fact, fear will prevent them from achieving the task at hand. It is only when they relax and quit trying so hard, that the break becomes easy.

 Given that we have been taught to try hard all of our lives, and suddenly we learn that for this, we must let go, they also learn the lesson that they really don’t know anything at all. Humbleness and humility are very important aspects of the martial arts, especially in a day and age when so many people think that achievement is all. One cannot learn, without first having failed. But back to self defense. Recently a student in Bandon defended himself and another against a group of bullies who had sneaked behind him and tossed him to the ground. It seemed like the odds were against him, but he got back up anyway and defended both himself and their next victim. It pretty much boils down to the idea that if someone can break a one inch pine board, they can likely break anything, if the need is great enough. And once again, it is all about learning that anything is possible, and it is within ourselves to achieve.¤

Misty Huffman chases back her much taller opponant with a hook kick

by Karen Saxton

On October 17th, Coquille Martial Arts traveled to Medford for Chip Wright’s Championship Karate Tournament, held at Chip Wright’s school on Main Street. With an early start time, and 3-4 rings running, the tournament ran smoothly. Mr. Wright is the stunt double for Chuck Norris, although he is largely retired from his television work and focuses himself on furthering the martial arts. Coquille Martial Arts felt very honored when Mr. Wright, upon discovering that mother and daughter, Misty and Tianna Huffman, were to compete at the same time in different rings, rearranged the competition schedule, saying this was a conflict. The Coquille school hopes they can return the favor in some way when Wright’s team competes at their November 14th tournament at the Coquille Community Center.

 Everyone who competed did a great job of representing their school, and made victories that went beyond earning medals. 5year-old Milana Fortune found herself the youngest and least experienced competitor by two years in age and about a year in training, but still managed to come back with a third in forms, after practicing by herself for nearly 40 minutes before competition actually started. Misty Huffman, the only woman in the adult beginner sparring class, earned third place against men who were both much taller and much heavier than she was. Richard Esteves walked away with 1st place in that division, and he said he hadn’t expected to place in competition, but rather to give his best effort.

 Chris Kinney overcame his stage fright and competed well in both forms and sparring. He is looking forward to getting his rematch in November, as is Tianna Huffman, who has her eyes on further closing the gap between herself and a rival from Chip Wrights. Milana’s mother, Amy Fortune, summed it up with these words, “We always tell Milana it isn’t important whether she wins or loses, but rather that she does her best every time and more importantly, that she is respectful to the judges and her fellow competitors.” If there is one thing that can be said about the Coquille team, they never fail to show respect. The team made several new friends at this tournament. Blessed with great fall weather, the team arrived home in time to catch the end of the festivities at the Coquille Community Celebration downtown.

Much has been written on  kids and sports and how  they help build character,  prevent childhood obesity,  help kids maintain focus in  educational events and most  importantly, get rid of  excess energy that prevents  them from focusing. As  adults we need, at the minimum  for health, 30 minutes  of exercise three times a  week. Children need more.  And at a time when school  funding has fallen, recess  time, physical education and  sports are among the first to  go. With both parents working,  children who are unsupervised  after school are  expected to sit at home  watching television and  playing video games. Is it  any wonder that “attention  deficit” is diagnosed more  now than ever before?  Fortunately, most parents  recognize the value of physical  activity and as a result  more children than ever are  enrolled in organized sports.

There is a downside to  this trend. Studies show, that  by age 13, 70% of girls (and  a nearly equal number of  boys) will have given up  their sports entirely and  many kids experience burn  out as early as age 9 or 10.  The reason? Burn out. Too  many practices, too much  emphasis on winning rather  than playing, and not  enough fun contributes to  students leaving their sport.  A lucky few will find haven  in a sport with an understanding  coach who doesn’t  demand 2 hours a day or  more for the duration of the  season. It is a rare child who  has the drive to maintain  that type of routine. Many  of the students who do stick  with their sports gravitate  toward solo sports, like tennis,  golf, and martial arts,  where they are not expected  to be there for the team, but  to be there for themselves.  Others will participate in  both a team sport and a solo  sport which gives them the  opportunity reduce the focus  on one or the other as a kind  of mini vacation, while at  the same time keeping up  their fitness level.  How much is too much?  That varies by the individual.

Not surprisingly, it also  depends on the coaching  method and the parent’s attitude  toward sports. Is the  game more important than  the win? Is there time set  aside for fun? Many coaches  use games that help build  skills, and still let the student  feel they are getting a  break from practice. It is  important to find a balance  between organized sports  and free play.  As a rule of thumb the  pre-schoolers should participate  no more than one or  two hours per week, while  school children can go up to  4 hours, as long as there is  flexibility in the teaching  schedule, either in terms of  the coach allowing them to  choose days off, or by doubling  up and having the  child take two dissimilar  sports for a shorter period of  time each week for each  sport. It is a rare child who  can handle more than an  hour a day of organized  sports especially if the focus  is on winning, without experiencing  burn out.

Is is easy to confuse burn  out with transition issues  and this is where you as the  parent comes in. Does your  child who used to live for  their sport gradually want to  go less and less? If so, a discreet  word with the coach,  who might be able to infuse  a different approach to training  and make the learning  more fun. Does your child  feel bullied by the coach or  a team member or possibly  another parent? Again, this  can be solved with a frank  discussion with the child  and the coach or sports  association. This kind of  bullying happens quite a bit,  unfortunately, and generally  ends when it is made known  to the coach or sports association.

If your child complains  about not wanting to go, but  once at practice obviously  has fun for the entire session,  figure out what the  child was doing prior to  time to go to class. Young  children lack a sense of permanency  and feel that their  television, video game, or  even their friend will be  unavailable later if they  leave for practice. Instead,  assure them they can play  their video game later, tape  the program they wanted to  see, arrange a later play date  or even take the friend to  practice with you. Older  children simply want to be  connected to their friends or  activities, so again, encourage  them to take their  friends with them and  remind them that there is  plenty of time later for other  activities.  Other children have transition  issues. As a parent  you can help these children  by announcing the amount  of time until you leave and  explain what they need to  do to get ready.

“We have  20 minutes, find a saving  place in your game,” was a  common one in our household  for years. Then after  the child has accomplished  that, “get your equipment  ready, we have ten minutes  until we leave.” Finally,  everything has been completed  and you’re out the  door with a minimum of  fuss. Don’t make this  optional, and don’t fight.  Simply state the obvious  and the child will in time  learn to go with the flow  because he won’t feel threatened  the sudden change in  activity.  In order to make your  child’s sports a lifetime  activity, be aware of how  they are training, and for  how long at each session.  While there are a few children  who have the drive to  become active on the  regional or even national  circuit, even those children  need to be monitored and  their activity limited at  times to keep their interest.  It is important to find a  coach that does not employ  a one size fits all training  method, who is receptive to  treating each member of the  team as individuals. A good  coach recognizes the individuality  of the team members  and works with each  one on that basis. This will  allow the child to begin a  lifetime of healthy activity.

On April 28th, Franklin  Smith received his 1st Poom  from Coquille Martial Arts,  a rank that in Tae Kwon Do  is also known as a junior  black belt. Although eligible  by age to test for his adult  rank, Franklin chose to test  for his Poom belt instead, to  allow himself more time to  mature, both physically and  mentally. Far from being the  end of his martial arts experience,  however, black belt  is actually the beginning.  It’s a beginning that Smith,  age 16, has been putting off  for several months. “Finally,

I just told Franklin he was  testing,” said Jim Saxton,  head instructor at Coquille  Martial Arts. As part of his  testing, the teen led punches  kicks and blocks through the  white belt level and found  himself teaching a new student  under the watchful eyes  of Jim and Karen Saxton.  Before he earns his adult  belt, he will experience  more supervised teaching,  and he will show that he  knows the entire curriculum  up to black belt level. In the  meantime, this new rank  allows him to learn new  material while reviewing the  old.  Franklin, a home schooled  high school student from  Coquille, started classes  with the Saxton’s instructors,  the Wolfes. He took a  break from martial arts for  awhile and then returned  when he was in middle  school. Recently, asked  what he likes most about the  martial arts, Franklin  answered in a very mature  and thought out manner,  “the ability to learn more  about who one is, and how  we react in different situations,  and that everyone  reacts differently, while  attempting to achieve the  same goal.

Also to learn personal  security and how to  protect oneself and others,  while being able to inflict as  little damage to one’s  attacker/opponent, or in  other words to resolve conflict  without becoming part  it.”  For the instructors,  watching students grow and  gain confidence, as well as  martial skill is one of the  most rewarding parts of  teaching martial arts.  Although there is a baseline  curriculum to be followed,  there is no one size fits all  in teaching martial arts.  Each student will need to  concentrate on different  aspects of the art. For some,  the tough part will be the  technical aspects. For others  it will be increasing their  confidence. For others the  conditioning. And for still  others, it will be showing  self discipline and controlling  their actions.

Saturday April 25th is  International Tai Chi and Qi  Gung day which will be celebrated  all around the world  at 10am local time.

The  words Tai Chi translate into  “the ultimate.” In many  ways, Tai Chi is the ultimate  martial art. At the height of  its development in the  1600’s it was a fast martial  art, much like kung fu is  today. The slow movements  we know today were merely  part of the training, and  when the Manchurian  emperor demanded that the  Tai Chi masters share their  art with him for its strength  and vitality, they taught him  only the slow forms. Tai Chi  is considered a soft style art  using internal rather external  power.

Today many people  practice Tai Chi for its  health benefits alone, gaining  better balance, better  flexibility, stronger joints,  decreased pain and for its  gentle aerobic benefits. Still  others compete in forms and  push hands competitions,  and still others learn Tai Chi  as a form of defense. Tai  Chi also teaches traditional  Chinese weapons, including  broad sword, long sword  and spear.

Qi Gung or Chi Gung, is a  set of breathing and movement  exercises that benefit  the body in much the same  way Tai Chi does. The  Shaolin monks use aspects  of Qi Gung to strengthen  theirs bodies against both  weapons and hand to hand  attacks.  On Saturday, April 25th,  Coquille Martial Arts will  join with Tai Chi practitioners(  known as players) all  over the world by devoting  an hour to Tai Chi and Qi  Gung. The public is invited  to join them for a celebration  of these two arts. There  is no charge for participating  or watching, and for anyone  who would like to try a free  class before Saturday, a  basic primer will be offered  Friday April 24th at 5:30 at  the studio at 44 W 1st St.

We will meet at the studio at  10 am Saturday morning  and if the weather is warm  enough to be enjoyable, we  will walk down to the park  behind the community  building for an hour of tai  chi and qi gung. Coquille  Martial Arts does the Yang  long form. In China the  form is learned by simply  following along with those  who already know the form,  so if you are interested in  giving it a try, feel free. If  you find you’d rather learn  the form step by step, then  try one of the beginner tai  chi classes offered by  Coquille Martial Arts.  Following the Tai Chi celebration  will be a class in  arnise style stick defense for  the regular students of  Coquille Martial Arts. This  is a great time to come  watch and ask questions  about the benefits of martial  arts for children, adults and  seniors.

With Spring here, the  weather in Coquille will  soon invite more of us to  spend more time outdoors.  And in few short weeks it  will be Summer break, and  our children will be out on  the streets of Coquille as  they head to the pool and  the art center and other summer  activities. Our children  are our most precious  resource and it is up to all of  us to work together to keep  them safe.

Even though we  live in a small town, there  are safety precautions that  we should follow. I wish I  could say it wasn’t so. But  we still live in a better place  than most.  In our kids’ programs at  Coquille Martial Arts, we  teach children how to be  safe from both strangers and  familiar people. This is a  sample of the lessons we  teach to the kids through the  use of role play and discussion.

1. Always let mom and  dad know where you are.  Always. Even if you are just  going next door. And call  home (or a parent’s cell  phone)each time you change  locations. From the pool, to  chess club to art class.  Someone will have a  phone you can use. If you  are going to be late, or  change your plans, call  home. Better safe than making  mom and dad worry.

2. A stranger can be an  otherwise familiar person.  Your neighbor who you see  weeding his (her) yard  everyday as you walk to  school is still a stranger. So  is your teacher when they’re  not in the classroom. The  cashier at the store, when  they’re not at the cash register  is also still a stranger.  Never go into a stranger’s  house or car, take candy or  gifts, until you have asked  your parents, first. And  always be polite: say to the  stranger, “I have to go ask  my mom,” as you move  yourself safely out of reach.  Mom or sister’s  boyfriend(or Dad’s or brother’s  girlfriend) and all ex  boyfriends and girlfriends  are all strangers too, unless  Mom or Dad is there with  them.

3. If a stranger follows  you, go quickly, (never  panic and start running) to  the nearest crowded place:  the pool, the library, a store.  If they seem to be waiting  outside for you, ask to use  the phone to call for help.  Never try to hide. If the  stranger is following in a  car, turn and go the other  direction, immediately, so  they cannot easily follow  you. Always travel with a  buddy or buddies. If there  isn’t a crowd close by, go to  a trusted friend’s house, or a  business that is open.  Do not give store personnel  your address or phone  number. Keep those numbers  secret. Give them out  only if the police or emergency  personnel need to  contact your parents.

4. Learn how to use 911.  Understand it is not a toy,  but a special tool for those  times you need help from  the police or when someone  is hurt or there is a fire.

5. Using the internet is  fun. But be safe. Never give  out your address, phone  number or full name. For  safety purposes it is all right  to make up a special internet  nickname and use only the  screen name. In fact, everyone,  kids and adults alike,  should use a screen name.  The same with the city you  live in. Also don’t tell anyone  your parents’ names or  anything else that might  identify you to a stranger.

6. Don’t pretend you are  older than you are when you  are in public. Save the make  up and fancy clothes for  when you are home playing  with friends, or for very special  parties when your mom  says its ok. There are people  out there who might hurt  you if they think you’re a  teen-ager or an adult when  you’re not.

7. Do not accept medicine  or drugs from anyone.  Accept food and drink only  from people you trust. See  number 2 above.

8. If a stranger grabs you,  yell out “you aren’t my  mom, you aren’t my dad.  Let me go.” Keep it up until  someone notices, or you  escape. Hit, kick, bite and  struggle in anyway you can.  Never ever do this when  your parent is holding your  hand. It is not a game. If  you do not know how to  defend yourself, learn.

9. Be aware of your surroundings.  Notice who is  around you. If there are kids  around who have bullied  you, make sure you keep  some distance between you  and them. If you use headphones  and an Mp3 player,  make sure you can also hear  everything that is going on  around you.  Cars can’t always see you.  Make sure they are fully  stopped before you cross the  street.  These are recommendations  for parents:

10. Make sure your children  know how to contact  you. They should also know  their address and phone  number(s) and that they  should never give them out,  except to emergency personnel,  or with your permission  to trusted friends. Let your  child know it is okay to contact  you if they are frightened,  or have had something  suspicious happen while  they are away from home.  Let them know who they  may accept rides from. All  others should have your permission  to pick up your  child from any function, and  you and your child should  keep a special password that  you pass to someone who is  not on the “approved pick  up list.” Remember that the  majority of kidnappings and  other crimes against children  happen because the  children trusted the wrong  person.

11. Remember Jon Benet  Ramsey. Let your kids be  kids and let them look like  kids. Childhood is short  enough already. A pedophile  doesn’t really need an  excuse to target to a child.  Don’t give him(or her) a  reason to target yours.

12. Help build your  child’s self confidence in a  healthy manner. Work with  them to set and reach for  goals that are attainable. Set  limits and rules for them to  follow. Teach them the consequences  of their actions so  they learn to make good  choices. This will help them  make good choices in all  areas of their lives.

13. Read through numbers  1-9 above with your children  and answer any questions  they might have with  age appropriate information.  Informed is forearmed.