Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, August 17, 1995 TAG: 9508180079
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: CHAD WILLIS STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RADFORD LENGTH: Medium
No one realizes the truth of that adage any more than Radford karate instructor James Houston.
Houston's Genesis Martial Arts School, conducted under the auspices of the Radford Recreation Department, is quickly becoming known as one of the best in the state despite its relatively small size.
``We have between 15 and 20 students in the school,`` Houston said. ``That's very small compared to the larger schools like Chuck Norris' in Norfolk. They have a lot more students but we're still very competitive against them.``
In fact, Houston's students are more than competitive with the larger schools. Genesis' competition team has eight members who placed in the top 10 nationally at the Amateur Athletic Union karate tournament held in June in Greenville, S.C.
``We expect our school to grow once people find out about the competitions that we've entered and how we've done,`` Houston said. ``We're the only school in the New River Valley that competes at AAU tournaments.``
The AAU is the governing body for karate in the United States. The AAU stages the top-tier karate tournaments, including the national championships.
Erin Rainey, a 13-year-old Dublin resident and Genesis student, is the national champion in sparring and placed second in kata, an exercise designed to demonstrate the participant can execute the fundamentals of self defense in a noncontact setting.
``After getting over being scared in the beginning, the national championships were a lot of fun,`` Erin said. ``We got there and we didn't know where to go or anything, but once we got started it was great.``
Erin said that she became aware of Houston's school when a friend persuaded her to come to a practice.
``And I've been coming ever since,`` Erin said. ``My life revolves around karate now."
Erin added that she participates in numerous sports, including cheerleading, tennis, swimming and softball, but karate still remains her favorite.
Houston believes the popularity of karate with his students derives from the life lessons they take with them from practice.
``The kids get a chance to participate on a team and have fun at the same time,`` Houston said. ``We demand discipline but we still manage to have a good time.
``Karate is the only sport that I know of that has its purpose in making better kids. In other sports the purpose is to win. Winning is just a by-product of what we teach here.``
All of Houston's students are required to abide by three guidelines that he believes will make them not only better karate students but better people as well.
The first of these, according to Houston, is the importance of being focused. The second is to be respectful of their parents. The last is for students to carry a grade of C or higher in each of their classes.
``The way we look at it is if a student doesn't have the discipline to do well in school, they don't have the discipline to do well in karate,`` Houston said.
Justin Vest, an 11-year-old from Floyd, said that karate is rigorous but worth it in the end.
``It can get really hard sometimes,`` Justin said. ``You spend years and years preparing for tournaments. You have to practice all the time and then you have to do your homework.``
Justin, one of Houston's original students from his old dojo (school) in Floyd County, has seen his dedication pay off, placing eighth in kata at the national championships. Justin hopes to participate in the Junior Olympics in Des Moines, Iowa.
Justin's father, Darrell Vest, said that the effect karate has had on Justin's life is evident.
``Justin seems like he is a year or two ahead of his age,`` Vest said. ``Karate has caused him to mature quickly.``
Parent Patsy Wright said that she has been able to see the changes in her children as well. Wright has three children, Janna, Jared and Ryan Reeves, enrolled at Genesis Martial Arts.
``They are all very supportive of one another,`` Wright said, ``and the discipline involved in karate has bled over into the discipline involved with their school work.``
Nothing sounds better to Houston than hearing parents praise their children's development as people.
``It's rewarding to see the students progress, not only with their karate, but as human beings,`` Houston said. ``It's pretty amazing.
``I'd like to take the credit for it, but I really only gave them the instruction and the direction. Karate is the tool that will carry them from now on.``
by CNB