Putting their best foot forward
By David Rogers/ drogers@cnc.com
Friday, January 21, 2005
Anyone can learn how to kick or punch. What’s harder, says Saab East Coast Martial Arts owner Jeffrey Saab, is imparting to students the spiritual aspects of kempo karate.
Part of that training is emphasizing the importance of being a better person and helping out others. And by the looks of it, Saab's message is hitting home. That's because more than two-thirds of his students will take part in a charity event next Thursday to raise money for victims of last month's deadly tsunami in South Asia.
"It lets the kids see that we're connected, they're just not here to kick or punch but to truly better themselves," Saab says.
Triggered by a 9.0 earthquake in the Indian Ocean, the tsunami killed more than 155,000 people in 12 South Asian countries. Thousands more are in danger of dying from disease.
The idea of next week's kick-a-thon was submitted by fellow instructor, 16-year-old Patrick O'Hala. A junior at Amesbury High, O'Hala thought of the idea after remembering the success he and others had raising money in a similar manner for St. Jude's Hospital. At that fund-raiser O'Hala said he kicked more than 1,000 times in 10 minutes. He raised money for each kick through the generosity of a sponsor.
This time around, O'Hala pitched the idea to his father, Matthew O'Hala, moderator of Main Street Congregational Church. With his father's blessing, Patrick O'Hala then asked for sponsors at a recent Sunday church service. The call was answered by about 30 Main Street parishioners.
Patrick O'Hala said the idea of helping tsunami victims swelled ([b]Edit: Oh my![/b]) in him as the death count continued to rise. While he said he was pleased with this country's rush to aid those in need, there will always be more than can be done.
"There's no limit to what is enough," Patrick O'Hala says.
Matthew O'Hala says he's proud of his son's fund-raising endeavors.
"The kids in general compared to the way we were when we were kids are much better," he says. [b]Edit: Now really, how often do you hear that?[/b]
Saab, who has operated the Macy Street school for three years, says his students will take turns kicking, accompanied by hip-hop and dance music. Each participant will be monitored by a kick counter. Students will then take the totals back to their sponsors. Sponsors can pledge anything from a penny a kick to a lump sum covering the entire 10 minutes. Saab says the combined efforts of the school and the church will be donated to the American Red Cross.
"You'd be surprised how many kicks they can do," Saab says.
The kick-a-thon takes place Thursday, Jan. 27, from 5:30- 7 p.m. at Saab East Coast Martial Arts, 58 Macy St. For information on the charity event or to sponsor a kicker, call Jeffrey Saab, 978-388-8078.
Edited for readability.
http://www.townonline.com/amesbury/artsLifestyle/view.bg?articleid=168560
Check out the dude in the picture, his last name is ‘Fatal’ 
I think it is great that they are using their training in this manner, certainly their actions are to be commended.
