Art of Karate is Purpose of Hess's School

Zenshotokia Karate Movements More Detailed Than Kicking, Chopping With Feet And Hands

By NINA J. NIDIFFER Staff Writer

Mike Hess, an instructor in zenshotokia karate, follows a strict code in the teaching of his students.

Zenshotokia karate employs the hands and feet as weapons in self defense, Hess said.

Karate is an art.

An instructor is an artist who teaches the art of karate. The instructor teaches in a school and ranks just below an assistant professional.

A true instructor teaches the art of karate for love of the art, not for the money, Hess said. When an instructor teaches for the money, then it is not an art anymore. It is a living.

“There are 13 karate schools in Aiken,” Hess said. “Half of them only care about the money. Someone who spends more money to learn karate is not necessarily in a better class.”

An instructor cares for the students he teaches, Hess said. When a student earns a belt or rank, the honor is truly deserved through hard work and caring.

Hess, who said he began teaching karate primarily to get young people off the streets and into something worthwhile, seems to fit this code rather well.

He has taught karate in three states for seven years. This September he will mark his 19th anniversary of practicing the art.

Hess’ karate studio is shared with the Burns Dance Studio on the Southside of Aiken. The practice room is equipped with a smooth wooden floor and a pile of matts that are used when a student is taught how to fall. A mirrored wall allows students to observe their movements and to correct their own mistakes.

Before a class begins, several students often gather in the center of the room to spar. They use a technique called point fighting, in which the first to score three points is declared the winner. ‘Each rank is tested. Nothing is given here. I won’t allow it. Every time we go to a tournament we wipe it out. We take first and second place all day long.’ — Mike Hess

“It’s like a game of tag,” Hess explained, “You have to get in and out of there quickly.”

“If we fought full contact no one could go to work or school the next morning,” he added.

Hess’ classes begin with a half hour warmup. Students stretch and exercise to prepare their bodies for the fluid but strenuous motions of karate.

At this point white belt beginners work side by side with students who have earned higher rankings. Hess is confident that each student who displays a rank belt has earned the privilege.

“Each rank is tested,” Hess said. “Nothing is given here. I won’t allow it.”

The testing gives students from Hess’ class an advantage. The students understand each promotion is earned, and so have confidence in their skills at their individual levels.

“Every time we go to a tournament we wipe it out,” Hess said seriously. “We take first and second place all day long.”

As the class began, more advanced members instructed those less experienced. Then students gathered in a circle to watch demonstrations of punches, blocks and kicks they would practice later.

Hess said he is proud of his students. Every one of them, he said, is a champion.

“None of my students have ever been in trouble,” Hess said. “They are all very dedicated.”

No one has ever been seriously hurt in one of his classes either, Hess said. Safety equipment, such as padding on hands and feet, is used.

“We’ve had black eyes and things like that, but nothing like a broken jaw,” he said.

Hess said the karate schools his teaching code offends are the ones he wrote it for. He said schools do not really train a student, but basically toss them into a class to fight.

“That’s not teaching a kid karate,” Hess said, “That’s beating up on somebody.” Hess’ karate classes are held Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7-9 p.m.