A martial arts school in Judsonia that specializes in aiding "at risk" children is seeking to become a non-profit organization.
The goal of The School of Hard Knocks Martial Arts Academy is to teach honor, respect, confidence, control and power to its students through the a blend of traditional and modern martial arts. Students learn aspects of Hapkido, Taekwondo, Kenjukido, Kenpo and Jujitsu, among other styles.
According to Scott Gray, head instructor and owner of Hard Knocks, the academy teaches these concepts to develop strong bodies and minds in its students so they can transcend any need or desire for violence.
"With our younger students, we focus a lot on discipline," Gray said. "With the older ones, we focus on self-defense. Our target demographic, though, is kids who have issues and kids who can't afford classes. I believe the main problem in the world is that no one believes in honor. No one has respect. Our goal is to change that in the kids we teach."
Gray said he knows from personal experience the importance of teaching discipline and anger management to kids. "I grew up bi-polar and ADD," he said. "Luckily, I had a good home. If my parents hadn't put me in martial arts lessons when I was 8, I would probably be in prison now. Martial arts has taught me discipline and focus."
"I'm even on good terms with the police now," he joked. "A few of them have been my students in self-defense classes."Unfortunately, he said, a lot of kids face similar issues — excessive shyness, lack of focus, anger issues — but do not come from stable homes. "Some boys who face issues have single moms," he said. "A mom will do the best she can, but she can't teach her son how to be a man."
According to Gray, the academy has had great success in helping students overcome problems associated with ADD/ADHD, bi-polar disorder, anger issues and even autism. "One boy had extreme anger issues," he said. "His counselor brought him to me, and after six years of me working with him, he now has complete control over himself. He has a bit of the typical teenage angst, but overall he's very polite and courteous. He also has a 3-0 undefeated record in cage fighting."
Ray Warner, a 16-year-old Hard Knocks student, said he has learned key concepts since he began in December 2010. "I've learned discipline, the student oath and the code," he said. "It has helped me with not trying to hurt my younger brother and sister when they get on my nerves. Also, I've learned we are not supposed to use our martial arts skills unless we have no other choice."
Although the academy offers competitively low rates — $65 per month — for classes, Gray said there are still many children who would benefit from taking classes who are unable to because they lack the finances. "I have several kids right now who are wanting to take classes but don't have the money," he said. "I have secured some funding to provide scholarships for kids, but it isn't enough. I'd like to work to get more funding and become a non-profit 501(c)(3) so kids can come do this for free."
Gray said he originally secured some funding for the academy through Child and Adolescents Service System Programs, with whom he volunteers. He said he also works with the White County Children's Safety Center and has helped establish a Searcy chapter of Bikers Against Child Abuse.
"I don't have any overhead because my parents own the building," Gray said, "but I do have to make enough money to keep the place running, and it's getting harder and harder the way the economy is. I have to work a day job, too, and scrape by just like everyone else."
Gray said finding grants has not been easy and that becoming a non-profit organization is a long, arduous process. "I'm no business man," he said. "My idea of paperwork is typing out lesson plans. If I were a business man, I'd have the potential to make a lot of money with the academy, but that isn't what I want to do. I just want to provide a service to these kids. What would be helpful would be for someone who is business-savvy to come help us establish the non-profit and work through the grant-searching process. I've had some businesses tell me they would donate if only we had a 501(c)(3) established."
Gray said the academy would like to establish the non-profit fund in memory of their friend Jeremy Vestel, a martial arts instructor who died in a car accident in July.