Together, instructors and students focus on doing the standard movements of taekwondo, followed by working on the proper forms for kicks and flips, and later learning the best way to defend yourself against two opponents. In doing pushups, he finishes a set of 20 with the children by clapping his hands on the way up between each of the last few pushups. During stretches, he touches his palms on the floor without bending his knees. Then he moves the children into a warm-up routine that includes 25 jumping jacks, pushups, stretches and rotations of the hips, knees and neck. I ask them, ‘How do we live these things out?’ It’s interesting the answers I get.”īarefoot and wearing a white martial arts uniform, just as the children do, Roberts starts each lesson with a prayer. “So, we talk about things like, ‘You shall not kill’ and ‘Honor your father and your mother.’ I just like to get the feedback from them, what do they think these things mean. It’s about how they conduct themselves in life. “I want their taekwondo practice to be more than just kicking and punching. “Sometimes, I’ll ask them, ‘What do you think the First Commandment is all about - having no other gods?’ Then they have to reflect on it,” he said. There’s also the foundation of the Catholic faith, tying in the Ten Commandments to the lessons. The priest’s approach to his classes includes an emphasis on taekwondo’s precepts - integrity, self-control, indomitable spirit, perseverance and courtesy. He had all those goals in mind when he started his own taekwondo school called Taijido Kwan.
Roberts hopes the martial arts lessons also will help the children grow personally in certain qualities and even be a way to deepen their faith and their relationship with God. Asked what he thinks of the priest, Elroy flashed another smile and said, “He’s awesome!” Fifth-grader Elroy offers a more succinct view of the bond between Roberts and his young taekwondo students.