Author: TSMA Page 164 of 200

Alecia Danch has faced unusual odds on her path to learning taekwondo.
The 22-year-old South Bend woman was born with mental and physical disabilities, and some things that most people take for granted are challenges for her.
Walking can be a struggle. She communicates with sign language because she can’t speak.
But she’s still managed to earn a black belt in taekwondo.
She can perform the martial art’s poomsae motions. She can even break boards.
“You know, everybody’s into something. She’s into taekwondo,” Alecia’s mother, Janet Danch, said. “She lives and breathes it, watches it all the time.”
Alecia began developing her love of the sport four years ago at Hong’s USA Taekwondo in Mishawaka. Now she works on her skills at Hong’s dojo in Niles.
On Saturday, she participated for the first time in a large public competition with about 200 other people at the USA Taekwondo Indiana State Championship at Century Center.
Although she fell during the competition, she picked herself up each time and finished her routine.
That kind of determination has inspired many other people who have seen her progress at Hong’s, and the audience Saturday responded with a standing ovation.
Alecia is the youngest of Janet and John Danch’s four children.
“She has a birth defect. There’s not really a category for it,” Janet said of Alecia. “Her brain didn’t form right on one side, so she has low motor tone. … She’s had to be taught stuff that comes naturally to a lot of people. You don’t really think about the things that come naturally to people until they don’t.”
Alecia decided four years ago that she wanted to try taekwondo, so Janet found Hong’s in the phone book.
She walked only with crutches when she started going to Hong’s, but that’s not the case anymore.
“She’s very persistent about not using her crutches,” Janet said. “She falls down a lot, but she tries real hard. She doesn’t get frustrated, she just gets right back up and keeps doing it.
“She’s more confident,” she continued. “I would be nervous at this (large event), but she’s not. She’s been looking forward to it.”
Grand Master Soon Pil Hong and Master Ron Harris have worked extensively with Alecia at the Niles dojo.
Hong wants paralympic events to recognize taekwondo because he believes the martial art could help a lot more people as it’s helped Alecia.
How?
“Make them believe in themselves,” he said.

Skyline High School sophomore Damian Banki learned to understand the meaning of special by watching his mother turn the special needs of his older brother diagnosed with autism into strength for his family.

The 16-year-old red belt in taekwondo has applied the same strong spirit to help special-needs students build self-esteem that extends beyond the mats of their martial arts studio.

“Damian is wise beyond his years,” said Mitch Boss, of Bellevue, who enrolled his daughter Megan in the special-needs martial arts class with Banki at True Martial Arts on the Sammamish Plateau. “Martial arts is all about flexibility and strength. But, it’s also about mental discipline. Damian has the unique ability to combine the physical aspects with personal respect.”

At 12, Banki became one of the youngest students ever promoted to full instructor in the 31 years the school has operated near Pine Lake. The young teacher studied alongside his mother, Lynne Banki, who just happens to hold her own first-degree black belt.

Skyler Zoppi, the chief instructor at True Martial Arts, asked Lynne for help when he was forced to deal with an irate parent with a special-needs child who had been asked to leave a class for being too disruptive.

“We want to accommodate all of our students,” Zoppi said. “I turned to Lynne after we received a nasty letter from the unhappy parent. After all, Lynne had raised Damian and his older brother, Caspian. Lynne and Damian jumped right in to design a class that was open to everybody.”

Damian said he learned a great deal about dealing with people from the love and commitment his mother showed to his older brother while they were growing up. Caspian, who is on the autism spectrum, is now living on his own while attending college in Colorado.

Damian modified the requirements for students to progress through the ranks of colored belts associated with martial arts, Zoppi said. The young instructor then adapted the rules of the sport to fit the physical limitations of special-needs students. He initiated modified steps between belts that allowed students in his class to earn stripes on their belt to reward mastering specific kicks or a new stance.

Taekwondo is a Korean martial art famous for its long low stances, high kicks, jump kicks and flying kicks. It is the world’s most popular martial art in terms of the number of practitioners. It combines combat techniques with meditation and philosophy.

Zoppi is a fourth-degree black belt who owns and operates True Martial Arts with his mother Laurel. He said the weekly special-needs martial arts class, commonly called SNAP at the studio, has attracted students beyond the community and from as far away as Seattle and Tacoma. In addition to the unique curriculum of the class, Zoppi said martial arts training offers families with special needs an affordable alternative to expensive activities that are normally associated with such children.

The expense associated with individuals with special needs is a sensitive topic for Lynne Banki. She established Autism Day WA in 2001 to bring together caregivers and service providers with families across the Eastside who have been touched by autism. The annual event at Jubilee Farms in Carnation is free for participants and vendors. Lynne teaches the SNAP class developed by her son to students from the Tavon Center in Issaquah and at the APL School in Seattle during the week, while Damian is in class at Skyline.

The teenage instructor admitted he must pay special attention to the language he uses in class each week to be certain each student understands the techniques and can progress at his or her own pace. In addition to students on the autistic spectrum, Damian said his refined curriculum has also been successful with students who have trouble with focus, including his pupils afflicted with ADHD.

Lynne described her youngest son’s teaching style as “creative and patient.”

“Damian is very awesome,” said Megan Boss, a 22-year-old student who has thrived under the tutelage of Banki. “He teaches me about sparring and using weapons. But, he does everything with respect.”

Megan has excelled in a variety of individual sports at the Special Olympics. Mitch Boss said taekwondo has provided Megan with the mental discipline to “shine at team sports as well.”

“Damian gave Megan the ability to be feisty,” her father said with a smile. “And feisty can be a very good thing.”

Master Mayo has used Gongfu for real life survival including the interests of bodyguard clients. With 22 years experience as a bodyguard, Mayo has protected Patti Labelle, Earth Wind and Fire, Steve Harvey, Jamie Foxx, and was Usher’s first bodyguard.

Gongfu (Kung-fu/Gungfu) instructors are scarce. Credible Gongfu instructors are rare. Fortunately for Cleveland, Ohio, there is Master Greg Mayo of Royal Liu Siong Gongfu, one of the world’s most credible Gongfu instructors.

Master Mayo’s martial lineage stems from Chinese Royalty through Grandmaster Liu Siong. Mayo’s instruction comes through Moorish American, Grandmaster Arthur Sikes, whose awarding of the 4^th degree master’s red sash was witnessed by Grandmaster Willem Reeders, Tam Kim Sjong, Paul Tjan, and Grandmaster Sam Wong, representing Gongfu interests in Indonesia, China, USA, Hong Kong, and Canada.

Master Mayo has used Gongfu for real life survival including the interests of bodyguard clients. With 22 years experience as a bodyguard, Mayo has protected Patti Labelle, Earth Wind and Fire, Steve Harvey, Jamie Foxx, and was Usher’s first bodyguard.

Mayo has been training for 46 years and has had a school in Cleveland since 1971.

Mayo began in martial arts with Karate, Tae kwon do and Judo. He became involved with Gongfu when Grandmaster Sikes convinced him that he had much to learn.

Mayo’s Gongfu teaches the physics of combat. For example, an opponent’s motion or body positioning may be seen as circular, triangular, or square and one shape or motion may be utilized to defeat another. To the uninitiated, the intentions of Mayo’s movements, though deadly, are not simple to grasp, as they are not large movements or easy to see. His movements conceal deadly threats at every changing turn or shift of an elbow, wrist, or even a finger. Such an approach to combat involves not being the aggressor, but the aggressed. Mayo’s Gongfu teaches that it is the energy, the force, of the opponent, that causes the opponent’s own destruction.

Master Mayo stresses the importance of believing in a higher power. “Gongfu training is physical, mental, spiritual, and a blessing that prepares one for life. My Gongfu deals with meditation and prayer,” says Master Mayo, who prays for guidance as a teacher and encourages others to “Have an open mind and heart and to venture out and find things.” Master Mayo is practical, his training stresses the importance of top physical discipline and fitness not just in order to face danger with violence, but also in order to run away, if need be, because, as he says, “A battle can be decided with common sense, as opposed to hands and feet.”

“I can see the martial arts in African statues. The true art form comes from Africa and developed in China and India,” says Mayo. Depictions of some of the same martial techniques still utilized today may be seen on walls of Egyptian pyramids. China’s first Emperor, Tai Zu, of the Xi Dynasty was a Gongfu master and a man with very dark skin, a wide nose, thick lips, and kinky hair, as was Da Moor, the founder of what became known as Shaolin Gongfu.

Mayo has students nationwide and a body of Master and expert instructors, such as Grandmaster Reginald McKissick, Masters Abe Sullivan, Don Wallace, and Adrian Watson. Third degree instructors Paul Styles, Marty Wade, Tyrone Riddly, Ron Foster, Joe Golden, Mike B., and Ted Archibold, who support the art’s growth and development.

Offering also reflexology, Tai Chi, and acupuncture, Master Mayo’s school, Northern Wind, located at 8311 Superior, is well equipped, has the atmosphere of authenticity and feels welcoming. “We train anyone who comes through the door,” says Master Mayo.