4 By CHARLOT M. DENMON ; Staff Correspondent There are more benefits derived from karate lessons than many people realize, according to Jonah “Skip’’ Smith of Beau- mont, who teaches the Japanese martial arts system. Smith, who is a black belt instructor, started instructions in karate as a hobby when he was about 17 years of age. He attended a two-month program conducted by the Sembach Karate School at Dallas Senior High, then continued under other teachers for a period of time. He then stopped taking lessons and practiced on his own, giving higher priority to school and work. After several years, he took the martial arts more seri- ously and, in 1975, he began formal training first with Kempo, then Goshin Jutsu and later in Tae KwonDo. He earned his black belt in Togakure Ryu Ninjutsu in April of 1984. Smith, owner of a grocery store, teaches group classes at the former Beaumont School, two nights each week. He said that ideally the classes should be at least three nights weekly but because of his business and his family, at the present time he is limited to the two. “I do emphasize to my stu- _ dents that it is important that they practice at least an hour each day in order that they become more proficient,” said Smith. Although he teaches, Smith also continues to study karate under Master Ho Kown, an eighth degree Black Belt. In his classes held at the former school building, Smith teaches both men and women, who have ranged in age from six to 55 years of age. Each session runs for four hours with half of the time spent in practicing blocks, punches and kicks and other basic moves and the remainder of the time spent pair- ing with a partner and practicing what they have learned. Smith stated that the majority of his students begin his martial arts classes because they want to learn self-defense, but before long they learn there are better benefits to be realized. from ‘karate. C “I don’t believe there is any other program that enables a person to develop physical, mental and spiritual discipline which he can apply to any sport he desires,” Jonah says. ‘The more often the martial arts stu- dent trains and and practices, the quicker he will develop cardio-vascular fitness, concen- tration, coordination of hands, feet and eyes, strength, balance, agility and flexibility.” Smith pointed out that all of the above can be applied to any sport and, in most cases, is most economical. Developing these skills also puts the individual a step ahead of his competitors. Smith also said that it takes a willingness to work hard and dedication to become proficient in karate. Many times, persons enroll in the program because they believe that it is glamorous and, when they discover how hard they must work, they give up. Martial arts originated in the Asian countries, Smith explained, but said most Euro- pean countries and the United Sttes have always had a form’ of martial arts. “Martial arts in some form date back to the time of the cave man,’”’ he said. “Translated, the word means ‘Art of the Military’, - a form of self-defense. American boxing is a form of martial arts. It breaks down into the art of self-defense through physical and mental fitness and how to use your: body for your own protec- tion.” An average height individual and slender, Smith said that the longer he studied karate, the more self-confident he became. The more he trained, the better he realized it was easier to walk away from a confrontation than to concede to provocation. Despite his dedication to the martial arts, Smith is a firm believer the art should be kept in perspective and one’s priorities kept in line, such as school, work and family, not necessarily in that order. Married to the former Nancy Williams of Wilkes-Barre and Harveys Lake, they have four children, two girls and two boys. Nancy, who is employed by~the Postal: Service, also works ouf in the’ classes.” In "fact, ‘she and m karate Jonah first met in karate classes. Although Smith primarily teaches the Japanese martial arts system, he explained there are many methods within each system. He said the Chinese system is the forerunner of all martial arts and Okinawan and Korean sys- tems are also popular methods with many instructors. The Japa- nese karate uses a lot of kicking, punching and blocking while Chine Kung Foo uses kicking, low-standing and circular moves. There are many styles as there are instructors, according to Smith, since each instructor incorporates some favorite moves of his own. There are six different colored belts earned by the student as he progresses, beginning with ' the white belt. Length of time it takes to earn a belt depends on the student and how hard he works and how he progresses. The second belt iS yellow, the third, blue; fourth, green; fifth, brown; six, black. There are various degrees in the black belt level. On the average, it takes three to four years to attain the black belt level, dependent on the dedi- cation and work of the individual and the opinion of the instructor as to his progress. All of the skills in the martial arts program can be developed by any student through the appli- cation of hard work, dedication and concentration, according to Smith. “To some students, the skills come more naturally while others have to work harder and put in more time,” he said. “After a time, the student knows which skills are easiest for him and he develops those more than the others. “One cannot say one system is better than another,”” Smith added. “The interested individ- ual should observe programs in various schools and decide which method of teaching is preferable to him. Whichever method he or she decides on, they will only get from it what they put'into it. It’s the work and dedication which makes it successful.” Smith has spent 10 years train- ing and studying and says that he has gained a high degree of balance, coordination, respira- tory improvement; and ‘most important; great mental and spiritual attitude. ky Track (Continued from page 9) (D), Michaels (D); 200m dash, Moran (M), Murray (M) Wisneski ~(M); 3200m run, Aston 12:01.2 , relay (M); high jump, Starolis (D) 4-4; Breiseth (M), Hammerbach (M); triple jump, Harvey 31-4, Dris- coll (M), Phillips (M); long jump, Harvey (D), Martin (M); disus, Martin (M), Wasleski (M), Stem- pleski (M); javelin, Waseleski (M), “Martin (M) and Davies (D). 3 TEAMS REVERSE In last week’s meet with Wyo- ming, Dallas wins were reversed with the girls taking the Warriors 95-46, and the boys losing to the Warriors, 89-61. Brenda Harvey and Amy Aston combined for seven firsts to lead the Dallas cinder girls to the win. Har- veys took four firsts, running a leg of the winning 400m relay team; taking the 100m hurdles, long jump and triple jump. Aston came in first in the 1600 and 3200m runs and was a member of the winning 3200m Other Dallas firsts were Wis- nieski, 100m dash 14.1; 400m run, King 66.6; 300m hurdles, Ogurkis 57.9; 200m dash, Wisnieski 30.2; 1600m relay, King, Nattress, Ogurkis, Starolis 4:42.8; high jump, Vloedman 4-6; Harvey took the 100m hurdles in 19.1, triple jump with 30-%; long jump 14-10%, and on the 400m relay team with Balber- chak, Wisniewski and Lawley in 58.6; Aston copped the 1600 in 5:31.4; 3200 in 11:36.9 and the 3200 relay with King, Michaels, and Pawling in 11:46.2, Taking seconds were Ogurkis, 100m hurdles; Starolis 100m dash; Pawling, 1600m run; Starolis 400m run; Orlando 300m hurdles; Michael, 800m run; Pawling, 3200m run; Wisnieski, long jump. Third place winners were Lawley, 100m hurdles; Nattress, 400m run; Nattress, 800m run; Orlando, triple jump; Vloedman, shot put; and Davies, javelin. WARRIORS WIN The Warriors win over Dallas boys gave Wyoming a 3-0 record as they overpowered the Dallas run- ners inthe sprints and long distance events. Mark Wright led the Mountai- neers with three firsts win the 1600m and 3200m runs and as a leg of the 3200 relay team. Wright took the 1600m run in 5:01.7, 3200m run in 11:00, and with Lipo, Oliver and Lasecki, the 3200m relay in 901.5. He also took the high jump with 5-8. W. Gauthier took the long jump, 17- 1%; and Matt Mihal, discus 126-1. Taking seconds were Oliver, 1600m run; Oliver, 800m run; serviSman. | | SERVIGTAR. 5016/3 || 20-Lb. Crabgrass | Entry |ockset Duo Extension Preventer with #893-CPAL . Cord Lawn * Polished List Price . | Food Brass $11.49 : | List Price Finish 499 i [ross | $13.99 * Keyed-Alike | il Ree Hi 97 788 . 100’ CORD, z= | 8 1 NOW $9.97 * 20-5-5 Formula F 5... 3Y Fy = Lasecki, 3200m run; Kern, pole vault; triple jump, Gauthier; shot put, M. Liva; discus Liva and jav- elin, Hislop. Picking up third place points were Eric Supey, 110 hurdles; Farrell, 100m dash; Lipo, 400m run; Supey, 300m hurdles; 200m dash; Mike Farrell; Lasecki, 3200m run; Mihal, shot put. KNIGHTS LOSE In Lake-Lehman track competi- tion, Tuesday afternoon, Coughlin Crusaders swept the Knights 108-42 and the girls took the Lady Knights 78-42. Chris Van Gorder paced the Knights with wins in.the shot put, discus and javelin. He took the shotputwith 44-2, discus 108-11, and the javelin 164-9. Dave - Janiczek took the 1600m run in 4:54.1; and the 800 m in 2:07.2. Dennis took the pole vault for the Knights with 8-0. Taking seconds were Weaver in the pole vault and Guzenski in the long jump. Third place winners were Judge, 110m hurdles; Weaver, 400m run; Judge, 300m hurdles; Van Gorder, triple jump; Radomski 3200 m run and Hudzik, high jump. RANGERS WIN In last Monday’s meet, Northwest Rangers took the Black Knights 83- 67 and the girls from Northwest swept the Lady Knights 116-16. 2231 E : § Sizes and widths vary by style ad TN JOB... -\ “Ma / } —d TA TION AND INVENTORY OF WORK SHOES 288-578 Back Mountain Baseball will open its 37th season this Saturday, April 27 at 8 a.m. Over 700 boys and girls from Little League and softball teams will take part in the opening ceremonies. Directly afterwards, Fay Broody Studio will take team pictures of all major, minor and girls softball teams. Invocations will be given by the Rev. James Wert of the Shavertown United Methodist Church, while the Dallas American Legion Honor Guard will raise the American Flag. Back Mt. Baseball was organi- zedin 1948 with its original location being where the Shavertown Burger King now stands. The original refreshment stand was a green wooden trailer sitting atop concrete blocks along with a two story struc- ture used for equipment storage and announcing booth. This year’s first pitch for Little League will be thrown out by Mike Vozniak, Dodgers Farm team member, and the first pitch for girls softball will be thrown out by Lisa Vozniak, Reds Softball team member, grandchildren of Robert Parry, President of Back Mt. Base- ball for Boys from 1957 to 1963. In 1957, Dallas schools donated the land presently used and in 1958 the site was moved to the present complex. Mr. William Jenkins, great-grandfather of Mike and Lisa Vozniak, was the contractor who built the present dugouts, press box and refreshment stand. Betty Parry, grandmother of the