Martial artists make strong showing

For young martial artists, there's no better way to test their skills and their mettle than by entering competition. Several students of Outlaw Martial Arts have made strong showings.

Twelve-year-old Anessa Stotte traveled to Austin, Texas, over the Fourth of July holiday to compete in the Junior Olympics. It was her third trip to the events, where she competes in "poomse," the forms that are an important part of training in taekwondo. Poomse demonstrates stances, punches, kicks and blocks in a set series of motions, which are judged for their fluidity and precision.

Stotte also took a silver medal in state competition and sixth place in nationals.

"The competition is very stiff, very good," said Marty Kaczmarek of Outlaw Martial Arts (better known as Master K). "People train all year round for this type of competition."

Stotte underwent demanding one-on-one lessons with Master K in the run-up to the competition - and he was impressed with her composure and fortitude in the face of tough critique.

"She listens and just tries harder," Kaczmarek said. "That's what makes her successful."

"I just love competition because I like to be around people who do what I love to do," Anessa said. "I like everything about (martial arts). It's all fun. And you learn manners from it, and being respectful."

She aspires to becoming an eighth-degree black belt in taekwondo.

Jaxon Barry, 11, Cody French, 11, Tate Kaczmarek, 11 and 13-year-old George Chladek all traveled to Hillsboro for the September 12 Oregon Open Brazilian Jiu-jitsu Tournament.

Outlaw Martial Arts has added BJJ to its curriculum for both youth and adults through an affiliation with the Roy Dean Academy. BJJ is a grappling art, where competitors strive to obtain locks on limbs in order to place an opponent in submission or force them to concede or "tap out."

The young grapplers did their relatively young program proud, with several notching silver medals in their individual belt and weight class.

Cody French was entering his first competition.

"I didn't get a medal, but I had a good time," he said. "I got experience and it also helped me to push myself harder so I can be the best martial artist I can be."

Cody acknowledged that he has some "issues" that his martial arts practice has helped him get a handle on.

"It's helping me get rid of something I've had a problem with for a long time. Drama. Drama doesn't work with Master K," he said.

Cody expressed great appreciation for his fellow martial artists - which include his sisters and his mom. The whole atmosphere is like a big family, he notes.

"I don't know what I'd do without you guys," he said.

Jaxon Barry won a match by armbar submission before losing his final match. Described by Master K as "very talented," Jaxon's slight frame belies a big competitive spirit and a commitment to his martial arts.

"If I ever got in a fighting situation, I'd be able to defend myself," he said. "And it's fun. You get to compete with your friends. It's athletic."

Tate Kaczmarek is a second-degree taekwondo black belt, having started training at age three, and he has been working on Brazilian jiu-jitsu for a couple of years.

He won a submission in his first tournament match in six seconds and was forced to tap out in a tough match where he and his opponent spun on the mat, each seeking an advantage and a submission. His performance was strong enough to earn a silver medal.

George Chladek took second place in his class, winning two matches on points and losing one.

"He's really talented, for sure," Master K said.

"I like learning the moves and the moves themselves," George said. "I like being able to take control of someone."

He is also a Taekwondo martial artist.

"I like the movement, the kicks and punches," he said.

Tony Gonzalez IV earned a bronze medal. He was in Utah and unavailable for an interview.

Taking students to competition is important, Master K says. It may not suit every student, but most learn from it - and so does he. Seeing how students stack up in competition is a great way to gauge the effectiveness of instruction.

Given that the BJJ program is still young and the students are performing well, Kaczmarek is satisfied that the program is on the right track.

BJJ offers a new dimension to a martial artist's practice. While most traditional martial arts emphasize striking and kicking - standup fighting - BJJ gives them options if and when a fight goes to the ground.

The art is heavy on technique, which can allow a smaller martial artist to submit a larger opponent.

BJJ training, called "rolling," puts practitioners on the mat working through a variety of techniques to obtain submissions - each of which also has a defense.

"Jiu-jitsu is all flow," Kaczmarek says.

While it is challenging, it is also exhilarating. Unlike with other martial arts, BJJ is all about work with a sparring partner.

"It's fun to have that constant, physical interaction with somebody else," Master K said. "There is nothing like the grind of being on a mat."

For more information on Outlaw Martial Arts programs, visit www.outlawmartialarts.com.

Author Bio

Jim Cornelius, Editor in Chief

Jim Cornelius is editor in chief of The Nugget and author of “Warriors of the Wildlands: True Tales of the Frontier Partisans.” A history buff, he explores frontier history across three centuries and several continents on his podcast, The Frontier Partisans. For more information visit www.frontierpartisans.com.

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