Bad guys and bullies beware: Lifelong Learning students at Sinclair Community College may be armed (with a cane) and dangerous.
Adults of any age have the opportunity to take a free class that is offered in Sinclair’s Lifelong Learning program called Asian Arts, in which they can practice different martial arts, including a modified version of Hapkido stick-fighting that is known locally as “cane-fu.”
Martial arts expert Debra Stewart has been studying martial arts for about 25 years. She told the Clarion that she is a sixth-degree senior master in Tae Kwon Do at Master Chung’s Academy in Springboro, where she has been a martial arts instructor for the last 20 years.
Stewart worked with the students in Sinclair’s Lifelong Learning program for about five years, but has moved on from that and is now adjunct faculty at Sinclair, teaching classes for the short-term Activity Programming Certificate, among others, for the last five years.
During Stewart’s time with the Lifelong Learning program, five of her students obtained the level of first-degree black belt in martial arts disciplines, including the stick-fighting method known as cane-fu.
Master Chung, who holds a 10th degree black belt in Kyuk Ki Do, opened his martial arts academy in Dayton in 1971 and has taught thousands of students, some of whom are still practicing with him today. According to the academy’s website, Chung has achieved grandmaster status in Judo, Tae Kwon Do and Kyuk Ki Do.
With that in mind, Stewart told the Clarion that since she had previously worked with retirees, she combined her knowledge from that experience with her martial arts expertise to develop a program that incorporated fall-prevention, self-defense and physical exercise. Lo and behold, cane-fu was born.
Stewart said that sometimes it can be difficult to get Lifelong Learning students motivated to exercise, but exercise is especially important for them, particularly to help them maintain good balance, which can help prevent falls and injuries.
Stewart said she wanted to develop a curriculum for the Lifelong Learning students “that was interesting and fun, not just sitting in a chair exercising.” She said that at Master Chung’s Academy, “students learn self defense [and] they learn to move in their environment with confidence.”
The Asian Arts class is free for adults of any age, and is taught at Master Chung’s Academy in Springboro, which specializes in Tae Kwon Do, Judo and Kyuk Ki Do.
“Chung’s Academy of Martial Arts has donated their time and talent to help [Lifelong Learning students] in the community,” Stewart said. “ Master Chung says it is an honor to serve [Lifelong Learning students].”
Stewart also remarked on how Sinclair is active in the local community and how the school provides students with ongoing opportunities for education.
“Lifelong Learning is a wonderful program,” she said.“I thoroughly enjoy working with the Lifelong Learning students. They never give up. They are dedicated to improving their physical ability so they can stay independent.”
Jason Sedy
Copy Editor