CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — A local dojo is seeing an increase in the number of students from an unexpected source.
Instructor Jorge Casiano III of the Corpus Christi Family Martial Arts Academy said the Netflix show "Cobra Kai" has inspired many kids to take on the art form of karate.
Casiano says since the announcement of the renewal of the fourth season in October 2020, the dojo has seen an increase in enrollment. Their dojo focuses on the fundamentals of karate first before teaching strikes and moves.
“Whenever I saw they were showing the Miyago-Do side, I was very pleased to see everything they were teaching," he said. "It’s a lot of patience, a lot of form.
“So whenever I have them in class I don’t just teach them how to punch and kick. I make sure they go through all of the critical thinking to understand what the situation calls for."
Students Noah Trevino and Cesar Cobarrubias say since taking karate lessons they are no longer being bullied in school because they’ve have built structure, self-discipline and confidence in their lives.
“I used to get bullied at school,” said Cobarrubias, who is attending the beginners class.
“It was like whenever somebody was on my friend from school like shoving and pushing him, I stood up for him,” said Trevino, who is in the black belt kids class.
The Dojo teaches students how to overcome challenges they may face in the real world by building their confidence and teaching them how to critically think about the situation.
Whether it’s a bully at school or a situation where they might need self protection, the dojo teaches its students how to overcome challenges they may face in the real world by building their confidence and how to critically think about the situation.
“It helped me because I get to defend myself," Cesar said. "If they start hurting me or try to hit me or do something to me I can defend myself."
Casiano adds that building self-confidence his students can spread to others is his most important aim.
“If there is any one thing that I want these students to take away, it's what they can do for themselves outside of here," he said. "Hopefully, that's to teach somebody else at some point and time."
For the bullies out there, Noah said, “They shouldn’t do that. They should leave the kids alone.”
If you want to learn about self-defense class at Corpus Christi Family Martial Arts Academy click here.
