SOUTHERN LAKES ALIVE section SUNDAY, JANUARY 24, 1999
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Belief in you art. The Burlington Center for Martial Arts stirs up the same devotion, the same belief as other art forms. Whether you are a disciple of drama or an aficionado of acrylic painting, the feeling is the same. The partners of the Burlington Center for Martial Arts(BCMA) believe fervently in their art forms. So much in fact that they don't seem to really care about the primary goal of most business owners: profit. They only wish to further their art. The three partners in BCMA which opened in July of 1998 had varied histories. Chet Chesher, a native of DeKalb Ill., started martial arts as a way to stay in shape and get involved in a sport. He is now a fifth-degree black belt and instructor in kenpo bu-jutsu, third degree black belt in kajukenbo and an instructor in norther shaolin tai praying mantis. |
"I also got something more out of it: I am able to protect myself and my family with it", he
says.
Chesher and his wife Dawn operated a martial arts school in Oklahoma City prior to moving to Burlington in 1993 to work for NEL Frequency Controls. Partner Dana Glasspool of Burlington was formerly from the Navy after 11 years, he now works at Abbot Labs in a northeast suburb of Chicago. Martial arts have been a part of Glasspool's life for over 10 years. His portion of the BCMA is the art of tae kwon Do. His two sons, ages 14 and 15 are active martial arts students, starting in the Little Dragons program in Salem. Both have competed in the Junior Olympics. |
The third partner, Chris Roy, fosters the art of aikido. The New Hampshire native is a
first degree black belt and has been an instructor for over five years.
The three men joined forces to rent a second floor studio at 109 Commerce St. in Burlington. Classes at the BCMA occur six days per week and are a mix of the three arts. Aikido classes occur on Sunday afternoon from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. and on Mondays and Wednesdays from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Aikido instructor Chris Roy's assistant, Anne Ruppert, touts aikido as a martial art that can be picked up at any age. Based on balance and technique, it is a martial art that can erase the size advantage of a large assailant. |
Balance and timing can allow a small person to derail the attack of someone who
may substantially outweigh them. This makes aikido a wonderful self-defense art for
smaller or older individuals.
Ruppert points out that although aikido is a reactive self defense art, it is still physically demanding. "It will get you in shape, but there's less likelihood of injury than other martial arts", she says. As a mid-ranged martial art, Glasspools tae kwon do classes are offered on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The Little Dragon's class for children from four to six years of age begins at 5:30 p.m. The 6 p.m. session accommodate children from ate six to nine . A class for those age 10 and older begins at 7 p.m. |
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Glasspool's classes offer Olympic-style sparring and forms. As the 1998 tae kwon do
forms and fighting champion for the state of Wisconsin, he seeks to promote his
sport. He regularly takes 10 or more students to regional competitions. The next trip
will be to Indianapolis for an Olympic-style competition on March 13.
Glasspool invites area groups to schedule him as a speaker and to demonstrate self-defense methods. The presentation would benefit male and female alike and is offered at no charge. Chesher classes feature the extreme end of the martial arts spectrum: American Kenpo Bu-jutsu. A fifth degree black belt in the sport. |
Chesher focuses on teaching
the art's combat self-defense aspect. The classes are Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday 6
p.m. to 8 p.m.
Because of the extreme nature, the class is only open to persons age 16 and over, and then only upon Chesher's approval following an interview. In fact, persons under the age of 16 are not even allowed to observe bu-jutsu classes. "We figure if a state is going to give them a license to drive a car at age 16, we'll teach them how to use their hands. All are potentially deadly weapons", he says. Kenpo bu-jutsu is a very serious martial art. We teach student to go the eyes, the ears or the throat", says Chesher. "We don't concentrate on forms. We teach aggressive responses to an attack." |
Chesher cites the number of recent abductions and murders in the rural areas of
southeastern Wisconsin.
"It's best to be prepared", Chesher says. "You could just as easily be attacked in a parking lot here as in a big city." The students at BCMA are not just instructed in the physical move of tae kwon do and the other arts. They are also taught the ramifications of using their martial arts against a would-be attacker. "You may and probably will go to jail", says Chesher, "but jail may be better than the alternatives." Jail would beat becoming a face on a milk carton or a missing-person flyer. |
Chesher feels that Roy and Glasspool's teaching techniques in the other martial art
forms are good building blocks for the student who wishes to study bu-jutsu.
Chris and Dana don't just teach forms. They teach Reaction and Response", he says. The partners of BCMA strive for a family focus in their business. Chesher's wife, Dawn, is starting a refresher course, having taken time off to raise daughter Amanda, age four. Amanda is a member of the Little Dragons tae kwon do class. Glasspool's domestic partner, Kathy Delaat, is a first degree black belt and teaches the younger tae kwon do classes. Their six-week-old daughter, Britni, will start classes as soon as she can walk, they joke. |
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The owners of BCMA make joining a class a no-risk opportunity. The first two weeks of tae kwon do are at no charge. The aikido and kenpo bu-jutsu classes offer two free lessons. Chesher says this gives students a chance to see if they like the martial art before they make a commitment. If they decide to continue, BCMA charges a flat fee of $50 per month with discounts available for families. Visitors may observe classes prior to taking a free lesson. |
This year the Center held a lock-in for its student on a New Years Eve. The evening was a combination of martial arts, movies, laser tag and refreshments. "They stayed up until 5 a.m.", says Chesher, "And it only cost $7.50 per person." Roy, Glasspool and Chesher invite area residents to pay a visit to the Burlington Center for Martial Arts, located at 109 Commerce St. in Burlington, 767-9561. |
RELATED WEB SITES American Kenpo Bu-Jutsu of Wisconsin The web site of the Burlington Center for Martial Arts. Http://www.users.qwest.net/~chesher/ Tae Kwon Do The web site of the Burlington Center for Martial Arts Tae Kwon Do classes. |
AikiWeb History and techniques of the art of Aikido. Humor and links. Taekwon-Do The International Taekwond-Do Federation, including history, philosophy and club listings. |
Please E-mail me at chesher@qwest.net
This page was last updated May 09, 2000
