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"Karate chopping" now a sport for many Knox youths ——————————————- By Spc. JOSEPH ZAUNER Inside the Turret sports editor ——————————————-
"He was karate-chopping his brother.... karate-chopping the entire neighborhood," said his mother, Sheila. "It wasn’t exactly a good thing." In hopes of over-exposing her son to martial arts, and thus quelling his penchant for delivering karate chops, Sheila enrolled James in Harris Martial Arts— a competitive club on post that recently won several medals at the AAU Nationals in Chicago. That was two years ago Today, James still delivers karate chops, but with the kind of focused energy that John Harris, the founder and primary teacher for Harris Martial Arts, said might land James among the sport’s elite. "I expect him to be a gold medalist (at nationals) some day," Harris said "He has good zanshin (aware-ness of the body) and kime (focus)." But that two-year advancement from cartoon buffoonery to karate precision wasn’t easy. For James, and the four Harris karate competitors who medaled in Chicago, honing the skills that can be used to do harm takes desire, discipline, talent, and control. "We don’t (tell) them that, You’re going to do well whether you like it or not,’" Harris said. "It’s got to. come from within. It’s got to be on desire." The reason "it’s got to come from within" is because much of the work involved with reaching the top of the karate world isn’t done in the classroom. According to Harris, the classroom is for instruction. Practice, he said, is done at home. Sara Halliday is the perfect example of how the con cept works. She is the 10-year-old national champion in kata an event similar to a dance routine with an imaginary partner. But instead of dipping and spin ning, participants kick and chop their partner, or rather, opponent. "Sometimes I practice alone more than 10 times a day," she said, adding that, although the work is rigorous, it’s fun. "I like it,".she said. Sara and James said they had little trouble memorizing the kata routine. According to Harris and Sheila Comeford, some kids just have the talent to memorize the 90 seconds of intricate Steps and body movements. "It’s in his nature," Sheila saId of her sn, James. "Some kids can just imitate things real well" Although James, along with all the club members, now imi tates with the intent to battle an imaginary opponent, Harris worries that his instruction might be used by his students on the playground. To safeguard against this, club members sign a sort of contract before starting iflatruction. Harris calls it his Martial Arts Principles. The last four of the seven principles address the use of martial arts outside the club: No.3- As my strength increases, I will seek to vats a gentle beait No.4- I shall not use my, skills outside the Dojo (club) except in extreme cir cumstances. No.5- At all times Iwill try to avoid inflicting injury upon another person. No.6- I will not brag about my skill, nor use it maliciously. No 7- I shall tram with the spirit of humility. In the two-year history of the club, these principles have been broken only once, said Harris, when two club mein hers fought at school. "The school handled the situation, but, not to my sat isfaction, so we had a trial," he said, adding that the jury consisted of club mem bers. "(The offenders) were allowed no sparring privileges, and could learn nothing new. In essence, all they were allowed to do was be disciples of karate." Fourteen-year-old Denise and 13-year-old Karen Gauvey are club members who fight nearly every day. At Devers Youth Center, where the club meets Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, the sisters’ battles are renowned. During a sparring session Monday, they tangled so fierce ly that words were exchanged. "Wait ‘till we get home," Denise shouted at Karen after losing a sparring session. Although the dispute isn’t forgotten at home, karate is. "I know if I use it (karate), I’ll hurt her," Denise said. Vo just push and grab at each other when we fight." For more information about Harris Karate, contact the Devers Youth Center at 624-6442. |
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Nine-year-old
James Comeford was so inspired by the Saturday morning cartoon show Teenage
Mutant Ninja Turtles that he karate-chopped most anything in his path.