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Martial Arts Feature Story
I wrote this for my feature story for my JTC211 class when I was preparing to be admitted into the journalism major. While this feature story was written for a class, the sources and information were throughly researched and interviewed.
“There are a log of stigmas in the community when they think of martial arts. Often-times, movies give people the wrong ideas of what martial arts is,” says Charles Orchard, a local Fort Collins self defense instructor.
It is very true that the movies can give its audience the wrong impression of martial arts. Movies featuring Jacki Chan’s flashy kung fu moves or Jet Li’s unwavering superhuman strength can oftentimes convince an audience that martial arts is a deadly and violent sport.
However, many martial arts instructors and students of various disciplines agree that it is an excellent way to cultivate the mind and body.
Adam Campfield, an undergraduate student at Colorado State University, has been a vic-tim of cancer and lost his vision before his father enrolled him in martial arts. Campfield was seven years old when he began Jeet Kune Do, the martial art discipline that was fostered by the late martial artist, Bruce Lee.
Campfield said that training was very difficult in the beginning, however martial arts has hones his other senses and now he is able to track movement by sound. Campfield says when he is especially focused, he has an ability to block flying kicks and punches.
“When I first began sparring, my classmates didn’t want to fight me – they thought I was made of glass” Campfield said. “I was able to beat them more easily because of that, and I showed them how strong of a person I am.”
Campfield said that martial arts started out to be a fun hobby that he would be actively involved in once a week. Now, Campfield says his experience in martial arts has developed into a passion and a way of life.
Campfield said he would “unreservedly” recommend martial arts to anyone.
“It’s the best thing that people can do for themselves,” Campfield said. “Not only for the good exercise, but also for the mental discipline.”
Campfield said that his black belt test was one of the most difficult experiences that he had to endure. The three hour long test consisted of forms (martial art techniques in distinct and subsequent patterns), sparring, weapons and endurance tests. Despite this, Campfield says he felt overjoyed after he received the promotion because it was solely his abilities that enabled him to be successful.
“My experience in martial arts has built character and spirit, which carries over to every-thing in my life,” Campfield said.
Campfield says he wants to test for his second degree black belt or begin learning a new martial art, possibly aikido.
While there are numerous benefits for students of martial arts, there are also many re-warding benefits to be had with martial arts instructors.
Bruce Hogan, a Tae Kwon Do martial arts instructor, says that self confidence is one of the most important things that an individual can benefit from martial arts.
Hogan says he enjoys teaching martial arts because he can watch his students progress and develop.
“It is very rewarding to see a student’s eyes light up when they break a board for the first time, or when they learn that they can beat an opponent who is bigger than themselves,” Hogan said.
Hogan says he wants to give his students an advantage by teaching his students self defense.
“I want to teach my students to have confidence and know that they can defend them-selves in a dangerous or unknown situation,” Hogan said.
Hogan described his first black belt test as a test of mental boundaries. For his test, Ho-gan was tired from several hours of performing forms and endurance tests in front of a panel of judges. Hogan said he forced himself to push through several mental barriers to glory.
“I knew I always wanted my black belt,” said Hogan. “It took over 45 years of practicing various martial arts to get it, but this experience has taught me that if I work hard, I can achieve anything.”
Charles Orchard says he benefits from teaching students because everyone is different.
“Not everyone learns the same way, but everyone is capable,” Orchard said.
Orchard says he would recommend martial arts to everyone because it sharpens coordina-tion, exercises the brain by sparking synapses and helps improve memory and cognitive thinking.
“It’s exercise, but with some additional usefulness,” Orchard said. “There is something for everyone and every age.”
© Blair Greenwood, 2010