News & Press Releases
Local Taekwondo Expert Shares Wisdom with ICS After Care Students
Jay Martin recently spent three weeks with ICS After Care students, teaching them the basics of the martial art taekwondo. Mr. Martin is a 5th degree black belt, has competed in taekwondo world championship events, has been a taekwondo instructor for the past 18 years, and has owned his own taekwondo studio since 1992. Originally, Mr. Martin began his martial arts career path in 1973, studying jukado – a blend of judo and karate.
“My younger brother got me started in taekwondo,” Mr. Martin recalls. Its discipline helped him to control his temper as a young man, one of the many benefits of learning this Korean martial art form. Mr. Martin has instructed more than 1,000 students in taekwondo and has a number of ICS families as clients.
Throughout April, Mr. Martin met with interested ICS students in 2nd through 8th grades, introducing them to basic self-defense techniques, history (taekwondo is one of the more contemporary martial arts, developed in the 1950s, although it incorporates many ancient martial arts concepts and techniques), and “board breaking” – the students’ favorite demonstration. Mr. Martin adds, “I don’t teach bullies in my classes,” which he was quick to reinforce with ICS students.
Mrs. Alford, the ICS After Care director, was grateful to Mr. Martin for volunteering his time to the After Care’s enrichment programming. “Mr. Martin enthusiastically shared his expertise and passion for taekwondo with the children. He was also very patient and willing to work with all the student age groups. We were lucky to have him,” she says.
Were there any challenging questions about taekwondo from the ICS students? “Not really,” Mr. Martin says. “I kept them so busy they didn’t have much of a chance to ask questions.”
Mr. Martin’s outlook on teaching shows what he gets out of working with children. “Kids teach us. And they teach us a heck of a lot if we’re paying attention. They have a lot to offer. They can show us things from their viewpoint, (a perspective) most adults have lost.”
The ICS deeply appreciates Mr. Martin’s generous time in providing such an exciting enrichment program to our students.
For those interested in learning more about taekwondo, feel free to contact Mr. Martin at 357-5056. Martin’s Family Taekwondo Center is located at Christian Park, 4200 English Avenue. The center teaches ages 4 – senior adult.