Martial arts classes begin in Recreational Sports

The UM- St. Louis Recreation Department is offering classes to help students and faculty members stay fit while learning the disciplines of martial arts.

Sept. 28 marked the beginning of Aikido and Tai Chi classes at UM-St. Louis.

Larry Coffin, Manager of Campus Recreation, said that these classes are very beneficial to people.

"Both of these sports are lifetime activities and people of all ages can participate in them and they really assist with relaxation," Coffin said.

Aikido is a martial art which originated in Japan. This class teaches students how to handle themselves in the line of an attack. By learning the different techniques and exercises of Aikido, participants are able to understand the relationship between the mind and the body and become more relaxed. Aikido also teaches the basics of Ki Development Training (Japanese Yoga) by combining Ki breathing and Ki meditation.

Japanese teacher Morihei Ueshiba founded Aikido in 1942. Ueshiba created Aikido because he constantly witnessed his father being beat up by people who were against his political beliefs. Ueshiba wanted to stand up to his father's enemies so he practiced Jujitsu and spear fighting. He later combined his training with other moves and with his religious beliefs, forming "Aikido."

Mark Rubbert, the Senior Instructor, teaches the Aikido classes, along with the help of other certified instructors. Rubbert is currently enrolled in the non-profit management and leadership certificate program at UM-St. Louis.

Rubbert has practiced Aikido and Mind and Body unification for over 20 years. He currently holds a fourth-degree black belt in Aikido and a second-degree black belt in Ki Development.

He has continued studying these martial art practices with many well recognized teachers in the United States and in Japan. Rubbert said that he began practicing Aikido after he had moved from Florida to California and then to St. Louis. A co-worker asked him to attend an Aikido class and after attending the first class, he developed a love for the sport.

"After about two years of attending my first class, I started teaching a beginners' class and after about three years my teacher left St. Louis and moved to Japan," Rubbert said. "At that time, it was left to me and another student to keep the school going. We formed a relationship with Koichi Kashiwaya, the highest ranking Aikido teacher outside of Japan, who now lives in Seattle. He comes to St. Louis twice a year to teach."

Rubbert also attends special workshops two or three times a year. One of the workshops is a week-long instructors' intensive and the other is a national workshop with teachers from the Ki Society Headquarters in Japan. Rubbert said that he also teaches an after school program for at-risk children. The children study ways to be more calm and balanced when someone is threatening them or getting uncomfortably close. The class also teaches the children how to avoid conflicts with others. Aikido classes meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12:45 p.m. until 2 p.m. on the North Balcony of the Mark Twain Building.

The other martial art class offered through the UM-St. Louis Recreation Department is Tai Chi, an ancient Chinese exercise. Tai Chi teaches people many acts of self-defense, improves a person's health and has been reported to reduce the risks of illnesses. Some illnesses that Tai Chi has been said to help include hypertension, heart problems, lung related illnesses and stomach problems.

It has been said that Tai Chi was developed by a Taoist priest from a temple in China's Wu Dong Mountains. This martial art was created over 200 years ago.

When Tai Chi was first developed, its purpose was to focus on strength, balance, flexibility, speed and fighting skills. Over the past hundreds of years, the sport has become a softer and slower form of exercise.

Sam Lin, Researcher for the Department of Physics and Astronomy and instructor of the Tai Chi classes, has been practicing this martial art for over 30 years and shared his feelings about the exercise.

"This is very good for all people to feel more relaxed," Lin said. "This helps people relieve stress, build muscles and helps with sleeping disorders or health problems."

Lin said that he has practiced Tai Chi everyday for the past 35 years. He also described Tai Chi classes he teaches at UM-St. Louis. "We have beginning and intermediate level classes. It is a medium size class and there are about 15 regular students who participate."

Beginning Tai Chi is held on Mondays and Wednesdays in Room 221 in the Mark Twain Building from 5:30 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. The intermediate classes are held at the same time on Tuesdays.

Both of these martial arts classes are part of an eight-week program that runs until the end of November. The fee for the classes is $10 for students, $25 for faculty, staff, alums and $35 for the general public. The fees include all of the classes during the eight-week session.

Coffin said that it is not too late for people to attend a class. People are not required to attend all of the classes throughout the session and it does not matter that the session has already started.

From Oct 18 until Oct 23, UM-St. Louis Rec Sports is giving everyone the opportunity to participate in a yoga, total body toning, cardio kickboxing, water exercise or a stretch and tone class for free.

For more information about the classes and instructors visit www.umsl.edu/services/recsport.