The Tornado School of Martial Arts in Chicago

Produced by Avishay Artsy and Andrea Silenzi for Word of Mouth on NHPR.

On a weekday evening in Chicagos South Side, about fifteen young martial arts students practice their thrusts, jabs and kicks. Twelve-year-old Mario Lewis just started but hopes to make it all the way to black belt. He admits it wont be easy.

ML: It takes a lot of hard work, dedication. You gotta concentrate, focus. Be concentrated. When youre in here you cant play around.

The American Martial Arts and Science Association offers classes like this one at schools throughout the city. Fred Jordan is the founder, CEO and head instructor.

FJ: And instead of just teaching a martial arts class, what we do is we teach the concepts of focus and awareness, and we show accountability in academic enhancement and social development amongst youth.

Jordan grew up on the violence-plagued South Side, and had friends that were killed or went to jail.

FJ: "My community was heavily gang infested, and lot of drug activity.

He credits martial arts with a way to escape that lifestyle and learn discipline and leadership. QaKnesha Leslie says the program helps her rest easy, knowing her son Amario is safe from the violence of the neighborhood.

QL: Theres just a lot of teenagers out around, and theyre not guided, or doing the best productive things

Soon more students will be able to attend martial arts classes. Fred Jordan announced a new initiative that offers scholarships to ten-thousand low-income students throughout the city.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Tornado School
• Fred Jordan
• AMASA
• Chicago
• Word of Mouth
• Avishay Artsy
• Andrea Silenzi
• NHPR
• QaKnesha Leslie
• Martial Arts
• South Chicago
• Mario Lewis

[rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr529]

I go there. That's my sensei and besides that fact tae kwon do is a great art to learn, doesn't make it a better thing to train than this martial arts acamdemy. The rigerous training that children are put through on most days of class is just mere childs play for the students that train there. and if you feel like signning up for this wonderful program i will be happy to see you there.

[1banryukyu]

@ClockSociety64 Young man you are missing the point here. This is noy just about the martial arts but a way to help innercity kids find a positive outreach. And by the way what is now North & South Korea was colonized by Japan from 1910- 1945. As a colony of Japan at that time the Koraen language & culture and even the Korean martial arts were suppressed in favor of the Japanese (martial arts). Taekwondo did not come into being until 1955 under Gen. Hi. Elements of Shotokan are a part of it. Osu

[h0rangi]

@ClockSociety64 what you think of as korean taekwondo is lame olympic point sparring nonsense. i live in korea and taekwondo here is only a way for kids to exercise and burn off extra energy. they mess about and play games. no real training like these kids.

[ClockSociety64]

im sorry yall but dats nothing compared to the skill and indomitable spirit of KOREAN TAE KWON DO!