Karate school links katas and Christian values

~ The KICKS program is open to all children. Welch welcomes anyone who wants to learn by giving them a Bible the moment they walk in the door.

Eric Welch has had a passion for karate since he was 16 years old. Over the years he has taken his hobby and continued to find new ways to influence the people around him. In 2008 Welch felt called by God that he could do more with his talent. He discovered that he wanted to teach Christian values to children and implement karate into the learning process. Based on this notion, Welch started the Kids in Christian Karate School.

KICKS is a free program he offers to children between the ages of 5 and 17; it incorporates Christian ideas and child-abuse prevention. Welch said he began his program after he discovered his purpose in life during a church event.

"Me and my wife did a '40 days of a purpose-driven life' [program] trying to figure out what my purpose was," Welch said. "And I mean it took 39 days to figure it out because I was like, 'All I know is karate. How can God use my knowledge of karate to benefit him?' and so that's when KICKS was born."

KICKS is situated at Christ Church of the Heartland in Cape Girardeau, and Welch is looking for a larger space to accommodate its growing numbers.

Karate instructor Elizabeth Perkins warms up with a group at the Kids In Christian Karate School on Thursday, May 8, 2014 at Christ Church of the Heartland in Cape Girardeau. (Fred Lynch)

Welch said he has a heart for children, abused children and children who can't afford martial arts classes, explaining that sometimes courses can cost up to $100 a month just for one student. Welch wanted to provide the opportunity for all children to learn martial arts. He explained that some children could be phenomenal at it; all they need is the opportunity to try.

The KICKS program is open to all children. Welch welcomes anyone who wants to learn by giving them a Bible the moment they walk in the door.

"They don't even have to be a Christian; they're going to learn about Christianity, how to walk with Christ. And that's the whole point right there -- it's for every and any child," Welch said.

Welch and his instructors hold class from 6:30 to 8 p.m. every Monday and Thursday, with an advanced class at 10 a.m. Saturday.

"Bible study is usually 20 to 30 minutes and then we start training," Welch said. "We have an advanced class that's on Saturdays at 10 a.m. and that goes until I wear [the students] out. In the advanced class you should be in good enough shape to last two to four hours."

Eric Welch, director of the Kids In Christian Karate School, observes sparring by Naomi Williams, left, and Brady Perkins on May 8 at Christ Church of the Heartland in Cape Girardeau. (Fred Lynch)

KICKS has approximately 50 students in its ministry. There are about 20 advanced students, with seven of them having black belt ranking.

To advance a rank in the KICKS program, students must combine their martial arts knowledge with their knowledge of Christ.

"For each belt rank you have to do certain things," Welch said. "Kick and punch combinations, katas [defensive movements] and we incorporated Bible verses. So for ... your yellow belt you have to do the Lord's Prayer. For your gold belt you have to do John 3:16 and so on and so forth. So for every belt you have to memorize that verse or verses."

After achieving a brown belt, Welch said, students are officially qualified enough to become student instructors. He has a mixture of student and adult instructors, with most of the adults being parents.

Elizabeth Perkins is one of these instructors, and has multiple roles in the KICKS program. She is the secretary of the organization, a parent, an instructor, a student and a teacher.

Perkins heard about the program from a neighbor approximately six years ago. Her boys began the program and have continued growing in it until they've both reached their black belts. They were 9 and 11 years old when they began. A year later Perkins herself joined the ministry.

"I got involved because Mr. Welch made an announcement to the parents about helping students with special needs," Perkins said. "And I was sitting there thinking, 'God, I know you're not calling me to help with martial arts, because I know nothing about martial arts. Please don't, and God just kept convincing my heart that I needed to help these children with special needs. So I got involved in that way and I've loved it ever since."

Perkins has a degree in special education, and in addition to assisting special needs children she teaches the lower-ranked students different kicks and punches, different forms of bow staff forms, discipline and about the Bible.

"I've worked all throughout the Old and New Testament teaching Bible stories," Perkins said. "Teaching about Noah and who Jesus is, but I also teach about respecting others and respecting people."

Perkins said what her boys enjoy most about the program are the Bible study and sparring, but that they also love that it's a family and that everyone there is Christ-oriented.

KICKS offers open enrollment, so any child interested simply has to attend one of Welch's normal classes offered every Monday and Thursday.

smaue@semissourian.com

388-3644

Pertinent address:

Christ Church of the Heartland 720 Bertling Street, Cape Girardeau, Mo.