'We’re not just teaching them to be martial artists’

AINSWORTH — Twice a week, in the gymnasium of a former elementary school now-turned municipal building, a students of all ages gather at Ainsworth TaeKwonDo for class.

Despite the small-town location, lessons are conducted as professionally as at any reputable institution for the martial art. Students follow International Taekwon-Do Federation (ITF) rules for belt orders and promotional tests, as well as the organization’s techniques for every kick, block and form.

The classes are led by Troy McCarthy, a fourth dan black belt who is also the city’s mayor. He said students of the program were more well-rounded because of it.

“It’s physical-related, it’s discipline for the kids, it’s healthy and it’s a good, safe atmosphere for people to learn and grow,” he said.

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Tae kwon do follows a formal rank structure, in which utmost respect is asked of lower belts toward higher belts. Belt promotion tests require mastery of a student’s current rank, but they’re expected to maintain the knowledge of every belt they’ve already moved past as well.

That hierarchy represents more than just a chain of command. Its founding principal of respect for experience carries over into other aspects of life, and is one reason child-parent duos tend to enroll at Ainsworth.

“The respect that we teach them in here, we expect them to give to their parents, their grandparents, their teachers,” McCarthy said. “We’re not just teaching them to be martial artists, we’re teaching them to be good people in society that are respectful.”

The belt system lends itself especially well to teaching. More experienced higher-belt students can be delegated to teach theoretically any lower-belt student whatever they need to know. By breaking out into groups, the class ensures that athletes both give and receive individualized instruction, tailored to the needs of their age and experience level.

McCarthy said those opportunities — alongside other lessons from the sport — gave students the tenacity to succeed.

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“It develops leadership in them,” he said. “We do a lot building confidence, also. Whether it’s forms or whether it’s board breaking, or whatever we do … you really have to have that before you can be a leader.”

That impact is tangible. McCarthy shared an anecdote about one former student who was so nervous about public speaking, she struggled with ordering for herself at restaurants. That anxiety gradually wore away, however, as she helped train incrementally larger groups at the classes in Ainsworth.

Russell Shield is, at time of writing, 68 years old and mere days away from testing for his black belt. He said he was tremendously happy with tae kwon do’s effect on his life, after beginning classes with his granddaughter six years ago. He first tried the sport as a much younger man, but stepped away for work.

“You don’t see a lot of people my age doing this,” he said. “If I let up very long, things start to stiffen up on me! … (and) it’s a great thing for young people to learn, get healthy, protect yourself.”

Comments: Kalen.McCain@southeastiowaunion.com