HEALTHY LIVING

Martial arts: An old and a new tradition

Local schools and academies offer a variety of classes in self-defense and strength disciplines

Terry Hankins Dan Cuthbertson makes it fun for his young students at the Petaluma Academy of Martial Arts. From foreground to background are Cameron Tuttle, Tyler Cunha, Brady Coons and Ali Larsen. Zoom Photo

Martial Arts in Petaluma Petaluma Academy of Martial Arts 620 Petaluma Blvd. North 778-1069 www.pamakarate.com Offers hard and soft styles of Kenpo karate, Escrima, Tai chi and yoga. Martial Arts USA 260B Petaluma Blvd. North 769-4745 www.martialartsusapetaluma.com Offers hard styles of Taekwando, fitness kickboxing and Personal Defense Readiness (PDR). Sonoma County Martial Arts Center 149 Kentucky St. 765-2763 www.advantagemma.com Offers hard styles of Kenpo karate, Muay Thai kickboxing and women's kickboxing. Aikido of Petaluma Classes held at the Petaluma School of Ballet 110 Howard St. 374-6568 www.aikidoofpetaluma.com Offers soft styles of aikido, energy work, and Tai chi.

Martial arts come from all corners of the world, from the street dance fighting of capoeira in Brazil to modern European fencing, all share the same common thread of learning to defend oneself from a physical threat. And right here in Petaluma are several martial arts schools that draw heavily on the traditions of Asiatic cultures, and integrate them with modern American styles.

At the Petaluma Academy of Martial Arts, owner Dan Cuthbertson has been instructing both in the hard and soft martial arts for 27 years. Cuthbertson found his way into martial arts after being bullied for his multiracial heritage in an all-white neighborhood. “I had an intellectual fascination with martial arts — and a desperate need as a kid to defend myself,” he joked.

Cuthbertson teaches Kenpo karate, a combination of kung fu from China and karate from Japan, as well as Escrima, a martial art that uses weapons and comes from the Philippines. These hard arts are oriented around self-defense and physical strength, and are complimented by the softer arts taught at his school, such as tai chi and yoga, which focus on flexibility. “You start off with good physical strength and flexibility, then the mental discipline comes in,” explained Cuthbertson. “It eventually becomes spiritual, a way of life that has values.”

Kenpo karate differs from other organized sports such as soccer or baseball in that it is primarily an individualized activity, and does not focus on competition, two aspects that have attracted an older adult population to Cuthbertson’s school. Another benefit of the classes offered at the school is that they make use of the entire body, rather than just concentrating energy in a few muscle groups.

“The nice thing about martial arts is that you can train through injuries,” said Cuthbertson. “For people who have back injuries, the slow movements of tai chi helps you to get stronger while that part of the body heals.”

Another style that has been imported into Sonoma County is Taekwando, a martial art that uses lineal and striking movements and is often referred to as the “foot-fist way.” Owner Scott Sinan of Martial Arts USA has been teaching for 11 years, and stresses the importance of both the physical and mental strength taught in martial arts.

“From a mental standpoint, we teach people to understand fear and overcome it,” said Sinan regarding the self-defense element of the classes. “We teach students to use common sense before self-defense.” The majority of Sinan’s students are in grade school, so classes are aimed to teach students discipline and respect, with the ultimate goal of instilling inner confidence and learning to persevere.

“It takes so much for a kid to stick with something for four years,” said Sinan of his students who earn the level of black belt. But Sinan says that success depends on more than just the child’s commitment to the sport. “It really all comes down to whether a student and their parents can connect with the instructor.”

Martial arts also has an advantage over other forms of fitness in its applicability to the real world. Raff Cousens, owner and instructor of the Petaluma school of the Sonoma County Martial Arts Center, has been teaching for 15 years at the center and specializes in Kenpo karate and Muay Thai kickboxing.

“The foundation of these arts is defending yourself against attacks you might face in real life,” said Cousens. He teaches everyone from law enforcement officers who need strategies to subdue perpetrators with reasonable force, to high school students looking to protect themselves from an attack in a darkened parking lot. The center offers a women’s kickboxing class, but most of the classes are co-ed, a unique practice when most organized sports are divided based on gender.

“Kenpo offers mental and physical benefits irrespective of sex, strength, size or age,” said Cousens of the art. This philosophy helps students develop character and confidence, because they learn that they can depend on themselves, without resorting to violence first. “We’re very kind,” he said about their methods, “but don’t mistake our kindness for weakness.”

(Contact Heather Sevrens at argus@arguscourier.com)