Teens learn the art of nonviolent self-defense at health fair

By Kris Capps

Published Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Self-defense is not all about punching or kicking.

Larry Wick will show local teens a new way to deal with potentially violent situations at Saturday’s Teen Health Fair at Tri-Valley School from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The Teen Health Fair, sponsored by Kids In Motion, also will offer sessions on dating and dining etiquette, yoga and money management. A free healthy brunch will be available.

Students can participate in a special Wii competition in bowling, boxing, tennis, “Guitar Hero” and “Rock Band.” Snow Frisbee golf experts will lead sessions through the new Frisbee golf course located on school property. There also will be a special workshop on ice climbing.

Clear Sky Sportsmen’s Club members will introduce hunter safety. Join musical duo Candace and Darren Mudge in an African drumming jam session.

At 2 p.m., Alaska State Trooper Ryan Nichols will lead an all-terrian vehicle and snowmachine safety class, ending in certification.

Along the way, information about smart and healthy choices will be provided by Mothers Against Drunk Driving and Railbelt Mental Health. Students can check their blood pressure, vision, height, weight and meet the area’s new visiting dentist.

The self-defense program Wick and his two assistants will introduce at 11 a.m. is called RESPECT, for Restrain Elimination Systems Practical Effective Control Techniques.

“We’ve been working on this project the last couple years now,” he said.

Wick owns and operates the Fairbanks Tang Soo Do Karate Academy in the Chena Pump Plaza in Fairbanks. He’s known worldwide and was recently named “Master of the Year” at the World Tang Soo Do Association’s World Championship, honoring him for excellence and dedication to his art.

“This is a nonviolent escape kind of thing,” he said. “There is no pain in this program whatsoever.”

He has already been teaching this to adults at some Fairbanks agencies, but this will be the first time he’ll teach students ages 13-18.

“Most people think you have to punch or kick to get away,” he said. “It’s all body mechanics. You can escape without pain or violence.”

The system is being used in facilities for troubled youths, he said.

“Sometimes, someone might gets grabbed by a child who is on medication and gets violent. We get rid of the violence part. It’s all about keeping the triggers down, in a very calming way. We turn a negative into a positive goal.”

Parents are invited to check in too and see what their teens will be learning that day.

This program was made possible through the matching grant program with the Denali Borough, organizer Ellen Lueders said.

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Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

http://beta.newsminer.com/news/2008/oct/22/teens-learn-art-nonviolent-self-defense-health-fai/