By Max Kyburz
If it’s your first night at the CCSU Karate Club, you don’t necessarily have to fight.
You’ve seen the flyers around. They’re hard to miss, and you all know why. They all feature that magic word that flutters in the ear of every self-respecting college student: “FREE.” With all of our book purchases, car payments and basic daily expenses, we heed that word. Sometimes it is used to advertise stuff that doesn’t end up too good in the end. Your introductory semester with the Karate Club, however, is a grand exception.
The CCSU Karate Club, started in 1968, is a true university institution. According to master Harry Needham, the club’s instructor, the organization has produced exceptional results. A kind and congenial man, Needham doesn’t strike as the kind of person one expects to teach such an aggressive-sounding club, but that just goes to show what martial arts are all about: being in touch with the mind and the soul rather than merely learning how to snap a kick.
The martial art of choice is Tang Soo Do, a Korean practice that places emphasis on the ways of the foot and those of the fist. Of all the art forms, Needham says, “There is no better style,” meaning that the greatness of a style depends on who is teaching it. A seventh-degree black belt, Needham has been instructing at CCSU for 36 years, and he claims that the groups are better now than ever before.
“This is the best time to teach them,” Needham states at one point, “in the best potential of their life, especially in terms of their body strength.”
He truly loves every minute of his time with students, and is very proud of the fact that the club has spawned 200 black belts, 21 of them reaching the rank of seventh degree. If this doesn’t sound like a serious and dedicated organization, I don’t know what does.
As somebody who hadn’t touched a karate mat in nearly ten years, the concept of rejoining martial arts thrilled me, irked me and worried me all at once. I was excited to see how I would turn out, my skills being rusty and all. But when I finally did think about how I would turn out, I became a little concerned, especially since I haven’t officially exercised in several years.
These feelings aside, I went to the class, not knowing what to expect. I had no clue whether the group would be minuscule or crowded, or whether the training would be rigorous or slipshod. Before I even entered the plastic dojo known as the Kaiser Bubble, I was sincerely surprised by the amount of people waiting to enter who were donned in a uniform. It started to become very clear just how truly genuine this club would turn out to be. Additionally, it would not take long for me to learn exactly why this club is so strong in the first place.
As more people joined, the space began to be inhabited by novice and experienced members alike. Once we were lined up in an orderly fashion, we were then taken on a wide range of exercises, starting with 100 jumping jacks and ending in a challenging combination of several moves (to me, at least, this being my first class). While difficult for my flimsy, slightly out of shame physique, I felt a great sense of relaxation as the tension melted from my body. Focusing on the maneuvers allowed me to stay present, which is very difficult for me. All in all, I felt enlightened and resolute from the experience, despite the fact that the slight pain in my shoulder blades has yet to mend.
In my experience, the best martial arts lessons you can get are from non-commercial minded programs, for the masters see martial arts as rituals that transcend the couple hours a week you may spend practicing. The principles of patience, sincerity, self-control and routine are constantly emphasized in these arts, and the Karate Club embraces them. For college students who are constantly bombarded with deadlines, disappointments and other anxieties, try to attend Thursday’s lesson. It’s the last time anyone can join before the club swings into full gear (yes, they are that serious). You shan’t regret it.
