By Mary Beth Marino

Kiyah! Upper Spear Hand! Diagonal Elbow Strike! This is what you hear on a Monday or Wednesday evening at St. Thomas More in the school cafeteria.

No, it’s not aerobics…it’s Tae Kwon Do, a Korean martial art that is being taught to enthusiastic boys (and two girls) who are interested in the art of defense.

Father Hugh Marren, an assistant pastor at St. Thomas More parish is the “red-belt with black stripe” instructor who is a student himself, hoping to achieve the highest belt (black) by May.

Father Marren has the students warm-up by running to loosen their muscles. One thousand push-ups are given to the student who doesn’t tie his “obi” (belt) properly, but you can’t miss the twinkle in the priest-instructor’s eye! After the warm-up the students bow to the instructor and proceed with their yell, “Kiyah” which in laymen’s terms is a war-cry.

There are several levels of karate moves. These moves are recognized by the awarding of different colored belts; white signifies a beginner and black belt is the highest level achieved.

“Karate requires skills and stamina,” says Father Marren confidently. The skill of karate builds self-esteem; it silently gives the student the courage to walk away from a fight, rather than encourage a fight in order to prove oneself, he said.

“It allows you to take advantage at an opportune time, such as when the attacker is ready to strike, not before,” the fighting Irishman said!

There are approximately 17-20 students signed up for the course. It is apparent that their favorite skill is breaking a board with a palm of the hand, a foot, a knuckle, and sometimes even breaking their hand instead of the board. Such is the case of Cole Maddox who walks around with a cast on his hand. “This rarely happens,” grinned an embarrassed Father Marren, “but I’m sure glad his parents were here when it did happen!”

But, a small fracture doesn’t scare Cole off. He still attends every week to keep up with the class and watches closely all students who are breaking the boards and not their hands!

As in any sport, precaution is needed; as in football, you learn the proper way to tackle, and in karate you learn where to hit the opponent. It’s a skill, but more important, it’s stamina you must develop.

Father Marren studies karate at the Athens Institute of Karate in Athens, Ga. His friend and instructor, Lawrence Huff, is noted as being one of the top Karate experts in the country, according to Black Belt magazine.

Father Marren’s precision moves a precise instinct for timing, would scare the toughest offender! Decked out in his white “Gi” (uniform) with red belt and barefooted, he appears to be someone you wouldn’t dare cross!

But as soon as you hear him issue the commands to the students, his patience, sensitivity and encouraging words denote his easy going personality which would never have the need to be defended. His is always prepared should he ever need to ward off an attacker.

The course is free to anyone interested in learning the art. In the meantime…Kiyah!