Learning Life Lessons Through Karate

Dave Gardner's love of Bruce Lee movies may have ignited his interest in karate, but the veteran karate instructor says martial arts has little in common with the flashy moves you see on TV.

"A lot of the kids, when they first come in, have a movie idea of karate and the martial arts, and I try to get to them right away and help them realize that’s really not what it’s about," said Gardner, who teaches classes for beginners and more experienced students every Monday and Tuesday at Veterans Memorial Community Center.

Gardner became a formal instructor in 1985, after picking up karate five years earlier at Inver Hills Community College. For the last 15 years, Gardner, a seventh-degree black belt, has taught students an Okinawan version of karate called Shorin-Ryu during his classes through the city's Parks and Recreation Department.

On Tuesday, Gardner's students practiced their kicks, punches and blocks during a series of sparring matches with other kids. But the class, Gardner said, teaches more than just agility and physical fitness.

Gardner said he tries to instill a sense of self-control and respect for others into his teachings. Students also learn self-discipline—a skill that can be applied to many facets of life outside of the martial arts, Gardner said.

"We hope that they get the respect out of it, so that if they're not respectful of people, they become respectful of people," said Gardner, who trained under Grandmaster Richard Smith.

Patricia Nin, a parent of participant Erika Rosario, said Gardner strikes the right balance between fun and strict lessons in his class. Thanks to the class, Rosario has learned how to be more responsible and outgoing, Nin said.

"She's very shy, and this is perfect for her," Nin said. "When she started karate, she got more courage."

Gardner also hopes his students learn the basics of self-defense through the courses he teaches.

"I do lots of stuff: Kicks, karate chops, punches, blocks, too," said student Kiera Wisti, who attends a beginning class for students ages 5-7.

When asked what she has learned through the course, Wisti said: "How to fight and beat up bad people."