Teaching a neighborhood to defend itself

Alex Marulanda, a student, and Michael Olusczak, the instructor and owner, hold a bamboo pole used in jumping drills. Malik Symonette, a Whitebelt student, jumps over the pole. Photo by Chelsea Matiash

For a while, Michael Olusczak had been mulling the idea of opening a karate school in the Village West community. As a karate instructor at a nearby center, Olusczak was familiar with the area. But when one of his students was mugged a year ago, two blocks away from Grand Avenue, Olusczak knew for certain that he would bring the art of self-defense to the neighborhood.

“Stronger communities are made by providing positive options for adults and kids to spend their time,” said Olusczak, who opened his karate center, School of the Warrior Light, in August.

Oliver Symonette Jr. was the first to enroll his sons Seth, 7, and Maliek, 16, in the in the new school.

“My boys are here because I like the way he teaches the class,” Symonette said. “He explains the movements used in karate as an art form not like a sport. So they learn how to defend themselves and learn a new culture as well.”

Olusczak said he thought it would benefit the community to have a center that would teach the self-defense techniques found in karate while also teaching children and adults the traditions of the ancient practice, which include discipline, self-motivation and self-relaxation.

Students address Olusczak as “Sensei,” the Japanese title for teacher. Each karate class is taught using the same techniques and Japanese traditions except that the children’s classes for ages 5-12 do not incorporate as many self-defense techniques.

The karate classes are separated into specific age groups. Classes are available for children 5 -12. The adult program begins with students at age 13. Olusczak’s oldest student is 71.

During class, Olusczak motivates his student to keep up with the fast-paced movements. He also creates and controls the pace for each age group.

“The only difference between my 7- and 71-year-old students is that I have to push my younger students to work harder while I’m usually telling my 71-year-old student to take more breaks,” Olusczak, said.

A person can go from white belt beginner to fifth degree black belt master. Olusczak has mastered many forms of martial arts. He holds a first-, second- and fourth- degree black belt among other distinctive achievements.

Inspired by the movie “Karate Kid” and a growing interest in learning self- defense techniques Olusczak started taking karate class at 9 years old in his hometown of Lakeland. He excelled on the mat and was awarded a karate scholarship at Arizona State University and majored financing.

Learning karate helps build the students’ bodies in ways that can have a great effect in their present lives as well as in the future, Olusczak said.

Some students, such as Bonnie Stewart, an office manager, take the class to relieve some of their everyday stress.

“You really need to concentrate on what you’re doing when you’re in here because most of the movements have specific names in Japanese,” Stewart. “There’s no time to think about anything else besides karate.”

Olusczak also teaches cardio conditioning and Vinyasa Yoga, a form of yoga that uses breathing techniques, static stances and backbend positions with deep meditation at the school.

Anne Marie Lind, a client of Olusczak for more than three years, has taken three classes as well as personal training.

“I am a model so I need to stay in shape and I enjoy all of his classes,” she said. ”But the most rewarding class is karate because it requires you to think and do things with your body you might have not thought were possible.”