High School martial arts - positive outlet for kids

[kuri]

I came across a High School Club for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in Utah that seems to be attracting an interesting range of students, from quiet timid types to problem kids. Let me tell you that anyone walking into a BJJ class with a chip on their shoulder will have it knocked off in about half a second.

A few such kids (and adults) with inflated egos and Bush-like swaggers have come through clubs I've belonged to and its great to watch the transformation to kinder individuals as they progress.

The following is an article from an Ogden UT newspaper on this HS club.

Matt Rothey (top) and Kelley Judd practice during their Brazilian jiujitsu class Wednesday at Ogden High School. English teacher Mark Johnson set up a $500 scholarship for students involved in the after-school jiujitsu class.

The making of a master

Ogden students learn discipline from martial arts

By JESUS LOPEZ JR.
Standard-Examiner staff
jlopez@standard.n

OGDEN -- For many, the words martial arts conjure images of men in pajamas chopping at one another, Jackie Chan performing crazy stunts or Chow Yun Fat flying through the air.

For serious practitioners, however, martial arts provide serious exercise, training and focus.

After seeing some of his students get into brawls or misbehaving in school, English teacher Mark Johnson decided to create an after-school martial arts program at Ogden High School to positively direct students' energy.

"I knew that I needed to start something," Johnson said.

Every Tuesday and Thursday from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. students gather in Gymnasium 2 to practice Brazilian jiujitsu.

Senior Kelley Judd, 18, said, "It's given me a lot more

confidence to be able to show my aggressive side."

Judd has done Brazilian jiujitsu for about 18 months and placed fourth in a grappling competition in Las Vegas.

The roots of the Brazilian jiujutsu go back to Rio de Janeiro, where the Gracie family, knowledgeable in martial arts fighting, created it based on lessons by a Japanese instructor. It rose to prominence in the 1990s in America because of "Ultimate Fighting Championship," a series of pay-per-view specials.

There are various styles of jiujitsu, derived from the Japanese jujitsu, a system of wrestling in which the strength and weight of an opponent are used against him or her. It's basically a self-defense technique without weapons using strikes, throws.

Brazilian jiujitsu is a grappling martial art, which, unlike striking arts such as karate, tae kwon do and boxing, relies on holds and submission techniques. It is akin to wrestling or judo.

Johnson, who has trained with the martial art for almost seven years, decided to start a white belt, or beginner, class at Ogden High School in December 2002.

"The kids who I thought would join the class are athletes and wrestlers," Johnson said, "but I started to get kids that are shy, quiet and studious, and those are the ones that benefit the most."

In the class, he teaches students to slowly obtain control over their opponent and take their opponent to the ground using mostly wrestling techniques. He eventually teaches some arm locks, leg locks and chokes.

"It is a lot of self-control," Judd said. "It is a lot of breathing and taking your time."

After at least a year of instruction, some of the students qualify to advance in rank and can seek professional study.

Johnson sends them to test for the next rank with certified Brazilian jiujitsu instructor Pedro Sauer in Salt Lake City. Sauer is ranked one of the top instructors in the world.

Some of Johnson's students return to help him with the class after they graduate.

Besides technique, the class teaches good sportsmanship and positive adult behavior.

"Some of these kids don't have that male role model," Johnson said.

Many of the students need guidance to achieve positive behavior. That is why Ogden's Observation and Assessment enrolls some of its youth in the program. Observation and Assessment is a residential program that provides care for youth in custody of the Division of Youth Corrections.

Counselor Mark Davis takes some of his youth to the class every Tuesday. Many of the students have anger issues, and the class helps channel their emotions constructively by teaching discipline and respect.

Many put on a phony persona of being tough, Davis said, because they do not have positive outlets in their lives.

"This is one way we think to get them engaged to find some activity that they find enjoyable," Davis said. "If you are more respectful and less insecure, you are less likely to act out."

Because it is at a school, Davis said, the program gives the students a tie to the community in a safe training environment.

"It will probably be very favorable, just like the football team, track team and baseball team help involve kids," Davis said.

Ben Lomond High School is the only other school in the area with a martial arts program. One of its instructors has a karate class. Weber and Davis school districts do not have such programs.

As a student, Judd has found rewards from the program that will benefit her after she graduates. She will receive a $500 scholarship for college.

Johnson created the scholarship this year. Judd is its first recipient.

"This will help out so much with books and stuff," Judd said. "I'm very grateful."

Since the cost of the Brazilian jiujitsu class is $50 a month, Johnson has five fee waivers for the students, depending on need.

Through the fee waiver, Johnson helps pay for uniforms, tournament fees and lodging, if necessary. Johnson plans to continue the scholarship every year, along with the fee waivers.

"I've never heard of any jiujitsu scholarship ever," Johnson said. "I think it benefits the kids tremendously."

As the school year comes to a close, Johnson said, he will keep having jiujitsu classes.

"It doesn't end," Johnson said. "We don't stop. We go through the summer and everything."