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                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, February 28, 1993                   TAG: 9302260066
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-3   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: CHERYL HAAS
DATELINE: RADFORD                                LENGTH: Short

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MARTIAL-ARTS NOVICE HAD A YELL OF A TIME

I expected to be kicked and punched. I was mentally prepared for it.

I knew I could take it and I knew I could give it back.

But I was definitely in for a shock.

I had never had any experience with karate or any other martial art until I took a class at Kay McGraw's Women's Karate Union.

I consider myself to be a woman of the '90's. I am educated, career-oriented, able to take care of myself, and I demand respect.

What I didn't expect was to have a difficult time with the primal groan karate requires.

My first instincts were right: I was successfully hitting and kicking, but to my surprise I was very self-conscious and reserved when it came to yelling. I just couldn't do it at first.

As the 1 1/2-hour class neared its end, I had become more self-confident.

I was able to yell, although not quite as loud or deep as some of the other women.

I think I was finally able to overcome my dilemma because the room was full of other yelling women.

It was as if we had all decided the rules society had put on us were absurd.

I started yelling loud and it felt good.

But I still made sure the others were yelling first.

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