Mayra Valezco, 7, barely bends her arms and arches her rear into the air as she cranks out 20 push-ups at the beginning of "Lil' Ninjas" kenpo karate class. What she lacks in form, she makes up in pure volume, filling the empty room with shouts of "one … two … three …" along with Parker Dennison, 5.
Instructor Jorge Angat Jr., 44, Centralia stands across from the pair, smiling widely and trying not to laugh. Lil' Ninjas is one of the 5 group classes Angat teaches at the Aerie Ballroom, along with private lessons. He used to kickbox professionally, and won the world champion title in 1983 and 1989.
Angat took over teaching martial arts classes from Flying Tiger Arts and Exercise Center owner Neil White in March.
White felt very connected to his business, but wanted to find more time for his own children.
"Jorge came into our lives, and it was just like light bulbs went off," White said.
"We needed to feel comfortable that whoever would take it over would provide the same kind of service. We felt that Jorge would not only do that, but take it to a level that we probably never could have met."
Choosing the karate family
Angat's desire to learn karate began when a fellow sixth-grade girl threatened to beat him if he didn't hand over his lunch money. He parted with the money daily for a week, and then asked his mother for karate lessons. Angat's family was living in Oxnard, Calif., at the time and his father was in the service.
"Mom wanted to keep us out of trouble," Angat said.
Once karate lessons began, Angat could no longer be found by the girl, who, he maintains, was a gang member.
Angat did not take to karate right away. He came home with black eyes, bloody noses and fat lips. He wanted to stop. His mother insisted he continue for a year before quitting. At the end of the year, he was hooked.
"For me, it was to channel all my negative and positive energy," Angat said.
Angat was short, chubby, and shy. He received many offers to join gangs, but chose karate instead.
"All kids need belonging," Angat said. "I didn't want to do the gang thing. I did the karate family."
Angat stayed at the karate place in Oxnard for 11 years, and then started kickboxing professionally. Angat always sought improvement. If he got hit 100 times one day, his goal the next day was 99 - so he could improve by one.
"I wasn't the tallest. I wasn't the strongest; If you're going to beat me, you're going to go all 12 rounds," Angat said of his fighting philosophy.
"You may be better than me, but you're going to have to earn it. If you beat me, you will know my name. You will say, 'Jorge Angat was a good fighter.' "
While Angat's career thrived, he made poor choices personally, he said.
"I never drank or did drugs, but I did all the bad things professional athletes do," Angat said.
Angat began working as a bartender in 1992 after a failed relationship. His co-workers were Christians, and Angat began searching for God. He started going to different churches. He felt as if God was speaking to him. Five years later, he met Christa, 34, at a singles retreat. The couple married and have two children, Jonah, 5, and Caleb, 1½.
"I'm blessed to be in a position where I can be a positive role model for these kids," Angat said.
Head of the class
Mothers line the side of the Aerie Ballroom as they watch their sons practice techniques in the Kid Power Class.
Two boys giggle and talk as Angat describes how to neutralize a hair grab. He looks the boys in the eyes and asks for five push-ups.
"He doesn't let the kids get away with anything," said Kathryn Scott, Toledo, who enrolled her 10-year-old son in Flying Tiger Arts and Exercise Center four years ago, when White was teaching. After watching children in the program for years, Scott said, she's seen it instill confidence in shy youths and discipline in unruly youngsters.
"I saw a lot of boys with bad attitudes," Scott said. "After a while, you can see a change. I wish all kids could do this."
The participants take home a "Kid power at home" sheet, which asks about politeness, temper, chores and other aspects of courtesy, integrity and perseverance in the dwelling. The children are given points, which translate into items that can be purchased at a store.
"It's a good reinforcer," Scott said.
Mayra's father figure, Luis Gallegos, said he's seen a change in her behavior since she started classes three months ago.
"This is not just how to fight," Gallegos said. "Most of it's discipline: how to be a better person, more respect, better actions - saying please. Now she'll make you say that."
Mayra also takes her karate moves everywhere she goes: the store, the park, home or anywhere else.
"She's always, jumping, kicking. Anywhere she goes, she's doing this," Gallegos said, while waving his arms around.
Angat takes his role as life coach seriously. He believes karate was instrumental in keeping him from gangs and building his self-esteem.
"I'm proof that a kid with good role models will stay out of trouble," Angat said. "I'm giving back to the community because I needed it."
For information about classes, e-mail aplusmartialarts@comcast.net or telephone 623-1022.
Julia Nicholls is a feature writer for The Chronicle. She may be reached at 807-8245, or by e-mail at jnicholls@chronline.com.
