Patch Spring Tour: Victory Martial Arts Aims for Lasting Impact

It's hard to imagine a place in Oak Creek where "Yes sir!" is said more than in Victory Martial Arts.

We've written about the  before. But I had to get a look for myself, and the new business was just too good to pass up for the .

After talking with head trainer Leonard Henderson, it's pretty clear that instilling the "Yes sir!" response in his students is only one small component of his instruction.

Henderson says all of the classes taught at Victory are structured to emphasize these core values: discipline, communication, self-esteem, honesty, discipline, belief and respect.

Much is written, and rightfully so, about the physical aspect of martial arts. But Henderson said his main goal is for those values to carry over to all parts of a student's life.

"What's wonderful about martial arts is that it's a 'you' activity," he said. "I don't want to call it a sport, because it is a lifestyle."

For all the problems facing kids today, Henderson argues this kind of instruction is needed now more than ever.

That's part of the reason why he made martial-arts training his career. He was interested in physical therapy when he started college, but eventually changed his mind because he wanted to have a greater impact on kids' lives.

"I can train the kid that never would have thought they could be creative, or never had the confidence to read a book, or 'step out of the box'," he said. "And I know the feeling is mutual for all of our instructors. We really believe we can change the way people are."

Victory, which has locations across the country, opened in Oak Creek in January, replacing the former Duke Roufus Kickboxing and Martial Arts.

It is owned by brothers Rey and Anthony "Showtime" Pettis. Anthony Pettis is a professional mixed-martial artist, and one of his moves became a YouTube sensation.

The business has grown fast. Sixty new students have been added in the last few months, Henderson said. Classes include adult kickboxing, adult jiujitsu, kids' martial arts and family martial arts.

Henderson said Victory offers many of the same types of activities as Duke Roufus, but much more is available for kids. Children as young as 2 years old can enroll in a class.

When the Patch Spring Tour bus rolled in on Thursday, a class for kids age 4 through 6 was under way - see the video and photos above to get a taste for what goes on inside the gym.

For more information on Victory, call (414) 762-4161.