THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, October 8, 1995 TAG: 9510060222
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 25 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JAMI FRANKENBERRY, SUN SPORTS EDITOR
LENGTH: Medium: 77 lines
ABOVE THE entrance to Jeff Bateman's School of Karate on Portsmouth Boulevard, a sign reads, ``Family programs that teach: Self Defense, Self Respect, Self Discipline, Self Confidence.''
The sign doesn't say what it takes to earn those. But Jeff Bateman does.
``It's like a marriage,'' said Bateman, a ``sensei,'' or teacher of karate. ``You have to be dedicated and have discipline (to be successful in karate). It takes a lot of loyalty and training, and a lot of people don't have that.''
Two of Bateman's students - 12-year-old Jessie McCullough and 23-year-old Lance Gomer - proved they had what it takes when they earned their black belts recently.
``Gruesome,'' Gomer said of the 13-hour test he and McCullough endured to earn their black belts. ``It's probably the hardest thing I've ever done in my life. You definitely earn it.''
``It was pretty hard,'' agreed McCullough. ``We had to do a lot of kicks and pushups.''
A lot may be an understatement.
``They probably did over 2,000 kicks, 500 sit-ups, 750 push-ups and ran five to 10 miles,'' said Bateman, who became involved in karate in 1981 when a friend offered him a free lesson. ``You take a lot and have to not give up.''
Gomer, who lives in Suffolk, is one black belt who didn't give up.
He has suffered a broken wrist and sprained countless tendons since starting karate in 1986.
``I started mainly because I was interested in the sparring,'' Gomer said. ``I never knew it was so in-depth. I really liked it and started to strive for (my black belt).''
Gomer trained while working full time as a maintenance mechanic at Nestle, which left him little time for anything else.
``I try to train when I'm out of class,'' said Gomer, who attends karate classes each Tuesday and Thursday.
McCullough, a Hampton resident, also said karate keeps him occupied. The Syms Middle School student attends classes at Bateman's Hampton school on Monday and Wednesday and travels to Suffolk on Tuesday and Thursday.
``I get home from school, do my homework and then go to karate,'' McCullough said. ``After I get home from karate I go to bed.''
Normally, it takes about three to four years of constant training to achieve black-belt status, said Bateman. McCullough did it in three years because of his dedication.
``He's only missed one or two classes in the past few years,'' Bateman said of McCullough. ``He comes every day and spends 10 hours a week.''
McCullough said he was interested in a karate long before he started taking lessons.
``Ever since I was a little kid, I always wanted to join karate,'' he said. ``Finally, one day when I was at school and I found a flier on karate and I went, and it was (Bateman).''
That karate class also reunited McCullough's parents with Bateman, an old friend.
``I didn't even recognize them because I hadn't seen them in probably 10 or 15 years,'' Bateman said. ``After that, the rest is history. They come every day.''
Earning a black belt doesn't mean Gomer and McCullough are finished with karate, though. They are first-degree black belts.
``There are 10 degrees total,'' Bateman said. ``There's still a lot of learning advanced material left.''
Gomer said he isn't discouraged.
``It's like starting all over,'' he said. ``As long as I'm physically able, I want to go as far as I can get. This is only a steppingstone.'' MEMO: Jeff Bateman's School of Karate offers free introductory classes to
beginners. For more information, call 934-6133. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MICHAEL KESTNER
Lance Gomer, left, and Jessie McCullough earned black belts in
karate at Jeff Bateman's School of Karate.
by CNB