THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, May 19, 1996 TAG: 9605180091
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 28 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LEE TOLLIVER, BEACON SPORTS EDITOR
LENGTH: Medium: 69 lines
JOANNE HAMILTON says an abusive marriage led her to a karate dojo.
From there, she took herself all the way to a world title.
Hamilton, 24, spent 3 1/2 years in a marriage she said often was filled with violence. The marriage eventually cost Hamilton her confidence and self-respect.
``We got married when I was 19,'' said Hamilton, who recently won the women's intermediate world championship at the North American Sport Karate Association's 27th annual Battle of Atlanta World Championships. ``He was the perfect boyfriend.
``But that changed about two weeks into the marriage.''
I loved him, but the abuse eventually killed all the love in six or eight months,'' said the Bayside High graduate who ran the 800 and mile and performed the long jump for the track team. ``But I still cared about him and wanted to get him help. We tried several times.''
At the time of her last separation, Hamilton took up working out at Gold's Gym to stay in shape. That's where she met karate instructor Craig Smith, who was planning to open his own studio and told her of the benefits of martial arts.
Frustrated by her situation, she signed on. The rest is history.
Since joining the competitive side of her newly found art form, Hamilton is undefeated in several competitions and is also an NASKA and AAU state champion.
She wants to get into kickboxing, but promoters can't find her an opponent.
Hamilton currently instructs under-belts in fighting techniques and is two belts away from getting her black belt.
``In 15 years in karate, Joanne's work habits are among the best I've ever seen,'' said Smith, a 33-year-old Richmond native and member of the Virginia Karate Club taught by Joe Lewis. ``The only thing keeping her from making an Olympic team is her black belt and she'll have that the next time it rolls around.
``She's got some of the fastest kicks I've ever seen.''
She's also got her self-respect and confidence back a few months ago and used it when her husband showed up for a another confrontation.
``He always tried to control me,'' she said. ``He'd get me to leave with him to talk and he'd start abusing me.
``Not this time, I stood up to him and he couldn't believe it. I told him `No, I'm not going with you' and told him to leave me alone.
``That was a very important day for me. It was such an incredible feeling when I finally said no to him.''
Hamilton, who makes glass figurines at The Glass Baron, is now left to go on and try to rebuild her life while pursuing more rewards in martial arts.
And she can use the platform to tell her story in hopes that it doesn't happen to others.
``The most important thing to remember if you're going through this, is not to separate yourself from those who care. Don't keep it from them,'' Hamilton said. ``It's tough at first, but they'll help. You need those people.''
And a little bit of self-defense training doesn't seem to hurt. ILLUSTRATION: After 3 1/2 years in a violent relationship, Joanne Hamilton
said karate training enabled her to regain her confidence and,
eventually, to stand up to her ex-husband.
by CNB