Maplewood Kids Get Their Kicks with Karate

As in many surrounding towns, karate in Maplewood is a pretty big deal. An age-old artform that originated in Japan, China and Korea, karate builds self-esteem, concentration, discipline and restraint.

"We also try to encourage volunteerism among the students," said Louis Toledo, the chief instructor at Maplewood Karate. "So before they go from one belt to another, they have to get a blue stripe." In order to get a blue stripe, students have to volunteer in the community doing something of their choice.

Toledo is a 9th Degree Black Belt and the Founder of Shura Jutsu. In May 2010, Toledo received the who's who in the martial arts international pioneer award. He's also a former full-contact karate competitor, a United Nations Champion, and a two-time I.A.M.A Hall of famer.

Toledo holds classes in the Unity Auditorium at the Maplewood Civic House at 124 Dunnell Road. About a year ago, he approached George Rague, Maplewood Director of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Affairs, and Michelle Wesley, programs supervisor, about starting a martial arts program, and they agreed to help. Toledo, whose background is in computers, used his computer consulting company to provide mats, kick pads and other equipment. For class registration, the cost is $35 for kids under thirteen and $45 for adults. For the fee, participants get a uniform and belt, pads and t-shirt.

Durand Howard, an 8th-degree black belt and founder of Blue Life Karate & Fitness Centers, has a similar philosophy. "The philosophy," explained Howard, "has to be, that when people talk about self esteem and confidence-building, the students get that from the exercise. They get that from the morals the teacher has given them." Kids at Blue Life aren't able to earn a belt unless they are passing every single subject. "If they're not doing what they're supposed to do at home, then they don't get promoted."   

When they first come in, Howard explained, students are taught that they live in two states of mind—in control or out of control. "Parents are constantly talking about what I do," Howard added. "Their kids are applying these things to what they do at home. But I try to make it about fun too."

Howard has a long history with karate. A member of the U.S.A. Martial Arts Hall of Fame, Howard first opened Blue Life in April 1993 at 487 Valley Street, across from Columbia High School. He relocated his school to a larger space at 1809 Springfield Avenue in January of this year.

Howard grew up in East Orange where he started learning karate when he was six years old from his uncle. "What I teach is Ninjitsu and it's always been a mixed martial arts," he said. "It's well over 1,800 years old and is a system of the ninja. They used all different types of art. There's an essence of weaponry, grappling, firearms. There's different disciplines of soft style, hard style."

Sen Tan, of Tan ATA Black Belt Academy at 1843 Springfield Avenue, opened his school in 2008. It is housed in the same building that he's run his computer store out of since the early 1990s. Tan was born in Indonesia and started training in karate when he was five-years-old. His school is part of the ATA franchise, which has more than 1,500 schools.

"I teach the kids here at the school and I have a black belt who teaches the adults," said Tan, who started his teaching career in 1986 in Edison. "The style that we do here is a combination of ground-fighting, wrestling, judo and joint lock." The school's youngest student is four-years-old and the oldest is seventy-four.

Tan also teaches physical defense and trains correction officers. His courses in that area include tactical handcuffing, control principles, weapon retention and disarming, defense counter strike, and others. Similar to Howard, Tan places his students by age and grade level. Both have advanced classes for students with higher skill levels. Upon a visit to one of Toledo's classes, students of various ages were participating in the same session (Toledo also holds age-specific classes as well as Kickboxing and grappling). In addition to classes for youth, Howard has and Xtreme Kickboxing class for women and adult martial arts classes.

"I have a lot of siblings, families that normally might not be able to afford an activity for everybody," says Toledo, who began his martial arts training in 1975. He has several black belt degrees in Okinawan and Japanese karate. "I'm the oldest of six and we all trained. So when I see families coming here it makes me feel good."

To learn more and to obtain class days and times, visit www.Bluelifekarateandfitness.com, www.maplewoodkarate.org, and www.ataonline.com. Other locations in Maplewood that offer karate training include Z Level Fitness and Karate For Youth.