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;
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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
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JOB...
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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
<hildren ran the refreshment stand
from 1957 to 1963, and their uncle,
Bob Parry, played on the 1962 All
Star team.
Mike and Lisa are the children of
John and Linda Parry Vozniak.
%
The Harveys Lake Bassmasters
sponsored its annual Youth Trout
Derby on April 13 with 131 children
in several age groups participating.
The total weight of the fish caught
for the derby was 272 pounds, 8
ounces.
Trophies and prizes were awarded
to the following children: 11-15 age
group - Bryan Taylor, first; Glenn
Carr, second; Chris Kutish, third;
Steve Sennett, fourth; and Phil
Sims, fifth. 10 and under age group -
Jason Boice, first; Matt Kopicki,
second; Samantha Abod, third;
John Kopicki, and Allen
Morrow, fifth.
The lunker (the largest fish by
weight) went to 8-year-old Nikki
Sennett for a fish that weight two
pounds, 13 ounces.
The Bassmasters would like to
acknowledge the generous support
of the following: Boscov’s, Bait Box, &@
Bob’s Bait Shop, Cook’s Variety ~~
Shop, Garcia, Villa Roma, Grotto
Pizza, Lake Summit Rod and Gun
Club, McDonald’s, Big Top Rental
and Rinken’s Cafe.
fourth;
Gridiron Club
The Dallas Gridiron Club will
conduct ‘Meet the Coaches Night”
on Tuesday, April 30, at 8 p.m. at
the Dallas Senior High School Cafet-
eria.
All new coaches will be present.
plans event
Film of the Dallas-Coughlin junior
varsity game will be shown.
Refreshments will be served. All
those interested in the Dallas High
School football program are urged
to attend.
More than 90 awards will be
presented to the top finishers in
Wyoming Seminary Alumni Asso-
ciation’s 10 Kilometer Run and One
Mile Fun Run. In conjunction with
the prep school’s Alumni Day activi-
Regular $204
RAM LASER
ties, the runs will be held on Satur-
day, May 11 at Nesbitt Field, corner
of Hoyt and Chestnut Streets, Kings-
ton. It will be co-sponsored by
Custom Management Corporation,
Kingston and Calmar Specialties.
$130
HOURS:
gr.
Fale
Michelob invites you to enjoy an exceptional
dark beer. Michelob Classic Dark’
It's a rare combination of the robust flavor of
dark beer with the classic smooth and mellow
taste that comes from one beer alone. Michelob;
WHERE YOU'RE GOING, IT'S MICHELOB?
ANDY ROAN
§
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