Author: TSMA Page 177 of 200

The next time when your kids refrain from going to school, all you need to remember is the keyword ‘Akshay Kumar’. No, Akshay has not got into teaching, but he has aggressively started approaching schools in Mumbai and other metros to incorporate martial arts in curriculum. So aggressive is he about this ‘mission’, that he has even declared that he wants every child to have access to schools and private classes teaching martial arts and until that happens; he won’t call it a day.

Readers maybe aware that last year, he was busy with his incessant efforts of talking with many government bodies of various states to include karate, judo, kung fu and other such fighting styles in school and college curriculum. This resulted in Gujarat’s Chief Minister Narendra Modi agreeing to make martial arts a mandatory subject in state’s schools. A hopeful Akshay said he is aware that it’s a long struggle because it’s a challenge to make changes in the existing education system, but he is confident that by next year, he will have more schools in Gujarat and a couple of institutions in Mumbai involved.

On the home front, Akki says that he doesn’t plan to push his nine year old son Aarav (who is training professionally in martial arts) to pursue a career in martial arts. He added that his son is training to be fit and healthy, and defend himself whenever he needs to.

Akshay is also busy with the next edition of ‘The Akshay Kumar Karate Championship’, which is most likely to take place this October. Talking about it, Akki said that, with it becoming a mega event by now, he has now planned to have knee-high fighters from other countries participating too. He also added that from this year, they are planning to extend the number of days for the contest and incorporate more categories, so more kids can take part.

With so much on his platter, there seems to be no stopping this ‘Khiladi’ Kumar!

MOUNT KISCO, N.Y.—One might think it would be hard to scare former mixed martial arts fighter Larry Byrnes, but he is very forthcoming about his biggest and most frightening fear.

“Six years ago I had my first child, and your life changes quickly,” Byrnes said. “My worst nightmare in life is that something is going to happen to my son, and I know every parent is the same way.”

Because of this fear, Byrnes, who grew up in Yorktown and now lives in Yonkers, created the CHILDSAFE program for kids and parents in his Tiger Schulman’s Karate and Mixed Martial Arts studio in Mount Kisco. On Saturday, the program was attended by local parents and children, the room filled with curious and intent listeners.

“The thing about kidnapping is that kidnappers figure out ways to get kids to come with them that aren’t obvious, that will trick them,” says local parent Madeline Finesmith. “Things that a parent won’t think of. What this program will help is it will make kids aware that it’s not always the obvious signs, and any adult can take them some place.”

Byrnes agreed with his program’s instructions theme of collaboration between parent and child. “[We’re talking about] basic awareness things: don’t talk to strangers, don’t walk away from your parents in a crowded place,” he said. “If you’re home by yourself…don’t answer the door. If you have to answer the phone, don’t let it known that you are alone in the house.”

While the kids were willing to pay attention to their teacher for the afternoon, parents’ ears were stung with some frightening statistics that Byrnes gave them.

“46 percent of kids who are abducted are sexually abused…31 percent are physically abused…40 percent of kids kidnapped are killed. Four percent are never found,” he said, with others that followed. “And most abductions happen within a quarter-mile of the house.”

One of the basic tactics Byrnes advised parents and kids to use is the use of a code word. If the child says it to a stranger and does not get a response back, they should know not to follow them and stay put until the parent returns. Hailing from northern Westchester, Byrnes knows the stigma that can be placed on the environment, which he hopes to dispel.

“The further you go up from the city, people continue to think they’re safer, because we’re in a nice area,” Byrnes said. “But in the world we live in, you’re kids aren’t safe just because they’re upstate.”

In an out-of-the-way corner upstairs at the YMCA, Greg Noble stands quiet and composed. Before him, there are a dozen young students, dressed as he is, in white martial arts attire.

Noble is teaching the art of Aikido, a traditional Japanese martial art that redirects the force/energy of one’s attacker. He’s the chief teacher, or sensei, of the Zenshinkai Aikido Association with 11 affiliated schools in West Virginia, New York, Connecticut, Puerto Rico, Pennsylvania, Arkansas and Ohio. He follows the teaching methodology of the late Fumio Toyoda Shihan and Aikido founder Morihei Ueshiba.

“I have been training for about 26 years,” Noble said. His army-strong physique (he’s been active in the National Guard for 23 years) has helped him earn the rank of Godan (fifth degree black belt) Aikikai. He’s the former chairman for both the Aikido World Alliance technical committee and the national testing committee and his credentials also include long-term formal training in Zen and black belts in Iaido and Jodo. Iaido is a modern Japanese sword martial art, and Jodo is classical Japanese martial art for stick and sword.

“Aikido is a perfect fit for the YMCA,” Noble said. “It goes well with the philosophy of the Y. There is no hitting or striking. It’s a defensive martial art, using evasive body movements to get out of an attack.”

Aikido is relatively young in West Virginia, but worldwide, Noble said, it is very popular.

Noble has taught classes in Bulgaria and, most recently, in Poland.

The strength of character and confidence of this sensei is not lost on the young students. Their rapt attention is focused on Noble, as he stands in front of a small shrine-like feature in the blue-padded room. Noble said it wasn’t a shrine, but a “shomen,” or front of the room. It contains a picture of the founder of Aikido, a scroll with Japanese lettering spelling Aikido and other artifacts. Noble likened it to a mantle in a home with photographs of grandparents.

“At the beginning and end of class, we bow to the shomen,” Noble said. It’s all about respect, and tradition.

The students range in age from 3 1/2 to young teens, and they go through the paces of their class with quiet enthusiasm. When Noble asks them to move to a different exercise, they hop up quickly and line up efficiently.

Robert Clay Shriver, 12, acts as Noble’s assistant with confidence and authority. His father, Robert, said the young man enjoys the class and has learned many life skills from Noble.

Another father, Robin Huffman, said his two children love the class. Nicholas, 8, and Phota, 11, both go to Kanawha City Elementary. They worked on a defensive move together in a recent class. Their father said Noble made it clear in the beginning of the class that they are to take the lessons seriously or they will be dismissed.

Noble laughed when he said the youngsters might fight at home, but in class, they only defend.

On his trip to Gdynia, Poland, in October, Noble saw that children and adults train together.

“They don’t differentiate between kids and adults,” Noble said, noting that the concentration during class is unparalleled.

“They would be on the mat all day, without a break, even for a drink of water,” he said. Because many in Poland are impoverished, getting a uniform is a very big thing.

“They are very disciplined, and they take the role of teaching very seriously.”

The opportunity to work with students in Poland came through a relationship formed at the YMCA.

“We hosted an Aikido session here, and a gentleman from Poland came. He was a captain in the Polish navy, so we had the military connection,” Noble said. Through that association, Noble went to teach in Poland.

Noble is married with three children. The 10- and 7-year-old daughters are students in his class. He’s taught at the YMCA for more than 10 years.