Steinkes open martial arts studio in Worland

WORLAND – Ten Sleep residents Kurt and Alanna Steinke opened a karate studio, teaching Hapkido (karate), in Worland at 228 N. 10th street with several different lessons for persons four through adult.

They will also be offering karate lessons in Ten Sleep for children ages 4 - 12 at the Ten Sleep Senior Center on Wednesdays after their official grand opening Sept. 8.

Kurt Steinke stated that karate is good for your health and not only provides physical fitness but has the added benefit of learning to protect oneself. "The martial arts were developed thousands of years ago for the purpose of increasing health and strength. Diet and exercise work together in the martial arts and then the advantage that martial arts has over other types of exercise and diet plans are that we also learn to defend ourselves. It's that kind of inherent plus.

"The idea, thousands of years ago in China was that these bandits were over running these monasteries and the monks were just sitting there and allowing it to happen. They had no recourse and so a gentleman they called Tamo, he taught them the basic martial arts techniques and principles that we still use today."  (Tamo taught that war and fighting were wrong, but that it was also wrong not to be able, to defend, one's self.)

For thousands of years the main focus in martial arts has been not just self-protection but also staying in a healthy mind and body," he added.

Kurt Steinke added, "That's part of the whole martial arts thing; people say, 'oh I don't really have the energy,' it will give you the energy. 'I'm not really in good enough shape,' it will put you in good shape. That's the whole idea, this is daily training, it should be a way of life and then all of a sudden you are happier, you're more alert, you are physically able to protect yourself and everything that goes with it."

The Steinke's explained that they teach Hapkido to all age groups. "Hapkido is the martial art that we teach here, it's what we teach to all the age groups but it's age appropriate. We use developmentally appropriate teaching techniques and strategies depending on the age group we are teaching. The adult curriculum looks a little bit like the kids curriculum but it focuses on more passivity, more nonresistance circular movement so that we can kind of focus on the individual themselves rather than the outward expression. So self-refinement, self-cultivation and then, of course, the self-defense and the fitness that goes with it. We find that people's lives improve based on their just reflecting on the philosophy that we teach which is: empathy, harmony and resolve. Once they reflect on those and they can apply that to their general day-to-day life they find that their martial arts are actually helping them in every facet of their lives."

The structure of the classes for children is a plus for children with attention deficit disorder, anger issues and problems with self-confidence. Kurt Steinke stated, "We have seen it over and over and over again. Kids who have attention deficit problems; we keep the action so regimented that they can't help but pay attention and when it comes then to having to focus and concentrate, that's what the heavy bag work does for them in the beginning. That's what the pattern movements do for them, they have to remember and do everything precisely. It's so good for kids with attention deficit and hyperactivity issues and then the anger management for sure. One of the ways I got into doing all this so much was hitting the heavy bag when I was angry. It's a healthy outlet when you really need to just explode for a minute, you can explode on the punching bag instead of on someone else, instead of assaulting someone verbally or being aggressive you can just use the heavy bag. It's really good."

Alanna Steinke added, "It's really neat because the structure and the way we run classes really helps both ends of the spectrum. You have the kids that are bouncing off the walls and can't stand still and need some sort of focus and discipline to learn that regiment and listening to authority and having respect. It helps them kind of come to center [of the spectrum] and it helps the kids that have no self-confidence because they're yelling when they do their hand strikes and kicks and at first they are really tentative and then they start developing confidence hitting the bag and punching and kicking in the air. So it brings both kids, the ones that are too tucked into themselves and not confident enough, it brings them up and it brings the ones that are just all over the place, kind of zones them in."

Many parents worry about having their children take karate classes because they are concerned that their child may use what they learn in a bad way but the Steinkes are prepared for the chance that it may happen and frequently advise their students that they are not allowed to "practice" on their siblings or other people.

Kurt Steinke stated, "It has happened periodically over the years. People have come to me, sometimes the child will come to me and say, 'this happened at school, this happened at home' and other times it's the adults bringing their child to me and saying, 'we think he/she may have misused the martial arts you have been teaching.' Or they may actually come to me, and this happened in Ten Sleep already, where they said, 'we are very proud of our child for using what you taught them appropriately.' So we talk about that and during those conversations I ask the child to tell me what happened, tell me how you feel about that and what you would have done differently if you could go back and do it again. Most of the time the kids will say, 'I think I did the right thing,' so I will say, 'did you feel like you were threatened?' And then they will explain the threat level in their own words. Then I will say, 'did you use a measured amount of resistance?' 'Do you feel what you did was appropriate?' And they will be able to articulate it. So at the end of it we can say, 'alright, maybe you didn't need to punch that kid in the nose,' for example. Or, 'actually I am quite proud of you because you were able to hurt that person less than they would have hurt you.' We kind of do those balances and talk it through. I did have a student a number of years ago who I said, 'I can't teach you, you've misused what I've taught you so I just can't teach you' and we suspended him for a while. It's kind of like school that way, we suspend kids if we absolutely must until they can learn their lesson and come back and use it appropriately."

In Worland at their studio, the Steinke's offer classes in the afternoon for all ages. One of the classes that they offer is a class specifically designed for this area because of what community members have told the Steinkes they are looking for.

Alanna Steinke explained, "We designed a fitness class specifically for this location that was self-defense focused and instead of an intense fitness aspect it's more moderate fitness but a lot of instruction on self-defense topics and scenarios - how to block properly and how to punch properly, kick properly and even knowing how to fall down safely. I think it's really going to be a successful program. Several women have already signed up, it's women right now but, of course, it's open to anybody. People who are not really interested in the martial arts aspect; they don't want to wear the uniform and test for belts and do all the traditional stuff. In this program they learn everything they need to keep themselves safe and get fitness but not do the whole martial arts traditional stuff."

Genkido Kiatsu is also offered by the Steinkes. According to the Steinkes, "Kiatsu is a collection of innumerable energy pressure techniques to alleviate blockages in energy flow throughout the body. Kiatsu blends Eastern healing traditions such as reflexology, reiki and meridian work with basic principles of sports massage and chiropractics. Kiatsu can align the skeletal structure, aid in nervous system health and stimulate blood flow especially in the capillaries. Kiatsu also stimulates health in the internal organs and can speed recovery of joint issues and back pain."

The mission of Kurt's Karate is to nurture and encourage harmony, empathy and resolve as a path toward peaceful resolution to conflict through physical and mental exercise, discipline, honor and excellence.

Anyone interested in taking classes or having their child take classes can call 307-431-8522.