Martial arts clinic held in observance of sex assault awareness month

Houston Noah is adding to his martial arts experience by attending jeet kune do classes on base.

Cannon Connections: Benna Sayyed

Senior Airman Giovanna Ortiz, left, and Captain Joanna Ho, far right, watch as jeet kune do instructor Michael Watson, center right, demonstrates to military spouse Gretchen Brown how to do a pak sau into a tan sau (slapping hands) Saturday at the jeet kune do clinic on base. The clinic was held in honor of sexual assault awareness month.

Noah, an airman first class from Moberly, Mo., was one of about 20 Cannon Air Force Base personnel and spouses who attended a free jeet kune do clinic on Saturday held in observance of sexual assault awareness month.

Jeet kune do is a principled approach to martial arts, which is comprised of wing chun, boxing and fencing. It was founded by master martial artist Bruce Lee.

Noah said he took a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu class and a karate class in 2012 in Air Force tech school when preparing to come to CAFB, his first active duty station.

He said he has always been interested in martial arts and ran cross country and wrestled in middle school and high school.

Michael Watson, the class "sifu" (martial arts instructor), said he trains all of his students to be instructors from the first day. Watson, a staff sergeant, has a black sash in jeet kune do and is a certified World Jeet Kune Do Federation instructor.

Watson said his students are grasping the material quickly and his younger students are receptive.

Watson said the main difference between teaching children and adults is the approach he uses. The class has a "no-bullying" policy.

"I have a lot of fun as an instructor so I try to present the material so it's easily understood and enjoyable," said Watson, who began studying jeet kune do in 2000 in Korea and became a certified jeet kune do instructor in 2012.

"I joke a lot with my students. I'm playful with my younger students because if I make the class too dogmatic you lose them and it becomes boring."

Watson said relaying the principles of jeet kune do is the most difficult part of his teaching. He said the base population has been quite receptive to the class and said the future of his jeet kune do instruction at CAFB looks promising.

Joanna Ho, an Air Force captain from Boston, thought learning self-defense would be helpful and saw the class as a good start.

Ho said she learned basic jeet kune do moves in Saturday's class. She said she liked the class and is considering attending it regularly.

"I expected to have trouble in the class but it was actually pretty simple," Ho said. "I liked the part where you get to put your leg under someone else's leg and make them fall down (laughing)."

What: Jeet kune do class

When: 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. Monday-Friday

Where: CAFB fitness center

For who: CAFB personnel and their families, must be at least 8 years of age

Cost: $55 a month

Information: 784-2466