School teaches self-defense
Andrew Christiansen
Reporter
Kajukenbo grew out of the need to teach people how to defend themselves in the mean areas of Oahu, back in 1947. Today the martial art has followers around the globe, including in downtown Goldendale.
Art Butler decided to open a Kajukenbo school, or dojo, in the spring of 2006. His motivation was to help others enjoy the activity he loved and to teach self defense.
“Everyone needs to know how to defend themselves,” says Butler. Some of his students encounter potentially dangerous people in their line of work.
Today his school has 11 students and operates out of the Touch of Class Dance Studio with classes on Monday and Wednesday evenings. Butler recently received his sixth degree black belt and his red and white instructor belt, indicating his rank as Sigung.
Butler was born in Pendleton and raised in Ridgefield. He served in the U.S. Air Force with a stint in Viet Nam before continuing as an employee at Travis Air Force Base, in California. Butler retired after 36 years of service, and he says he moved to Goldendale in 2002 to “just retire.” He is married and has two adult sons.
He didn’t want to do anything at first, but decided to get back into Kajukenbo. He works for the sheriff’s office as a courtroom security officer and evidence technician.
Butler chose Kajukenbo because “it teaches respect for everyone, self discipline, and humbleness.” The name is a combination of karate, judo or jujitsu, kenpo, and Chinese boxing, which were practiced by the five founders of the martial art form. Kajukenbo is promoted as the only American based martial art, since it was developed in Hawaii. It has evolved since its inception, when it was known as the street-fighting art.
Helping out with instruction is Angela Hoffman, a green belt. Other members are Doug Gilliam, Dwight Dukes, Jamie Ward, Cheyenne Smith, Haley Hoffman, Hannah Hoffman, Tracy Hoctor, Pat Kaley, Randy Wells, and Dave Butler.
Gorge Games brings riverboarding into light
One of the more extreme events in this week’s Gorge Games will be riverboarding. Riverboarding is a relatively new sport that involves swimming down whitewater in slalom or head-to-head races, called “boardercross”.
As if negotiating the rocks, rapids, cold water of the White Salmon River and obstacles isn’t enough of a challenge, some of this week’s competitors will conclude with a run over Husum Falls. In addition to the slalom and boardercross, there will be a mass-start, long distance endurance race, and freestyle surfing, to showoff tricks on a stationary wave.
The mass-start on Friday at 8 a.m., is a rigorous six-mile race that will conclude with a plunge over the 10 foot Husum Falls. Later that morning, the slalom will run one-quarter mile of upstream and downstream gates through a class IV rapid.
The riverboarding events continue on Saturday, July 19, with the freestyle surfing, at 10 a.m. Boardercross competition runs from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., with pairings determined by slalom times.
Contestants must pass a basic skills test in order to compete. The winner earns points toward the 2008 Face level Riverboarding Championship.
For more information: http://www.gorgegames.net/
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