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"Venturing Helps
Teens Find A Way"
Reprinted with
permission from The Sanford Herald, Sanford, FL
Story and photos by Joe Hendricks - Staff Reporter
October 3, 2007
On Wednesday nights, a dozen teenage members of
Venturing Crew No. 715 gather at the Seminole County Juvenile
Enforcement Center, on 28th Street, near the Sanford Airport. Under
the supervision of Sgt. John Groody and advisor Pam Kaiser these “at
risk” youths between the ages of 14 and 16 are exposed to various
recreational activities as part of the program Groody describes as
“the teenage version of Boy Scouts.”
The Venturing program
is one component of the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office Police
Athletic League, a program in which law enforcement personnel and
community members work together for the benefit of Seminole County
youth.
Sponsored by the Sheriff’s Office, and providing proactive youth
programs throughout the county, the goal of the Police Athletic
League is to “prevent juvenile delinquency through positive role
modeling, enhancement of self-esteem and the development of positive
moral values through wholesome competition.”
Many of the Venturing Crew members have had run-ins with the law,
but Groody describes them not as kids with “hard core problems” but
as “kids on the edge.” Groody feels it is important to reach these
youths at this critical age, before they fall off “the edge,” thus
preventing them from a life of future legal entanglement. “We try to
expose the guys to something they wouldn’t normally be exposed to,”
Groody said on Sept. 26, while awaiting the beginning of a martial
arts demonstration to be given by Master Constantino Terrigno, a 4th
Degree Black Belt with 27 years of martial arts
experience.
Last week’s demonstration marked Master Terrigno’s second appearance
at the Juvenile Enforcement Center. He is currently training a
16-year-old female student he met during a similar demonstration
given there last year. Terrigno’s association with the Police
Athletic League and Venturing Crew #715 came about after he made
contact with the Sheriff’s Office and offered his
services.
Master Terrigno with Sgt. John Groody (center) and Advisor Pam
Kaiser (right)
Back row - Joshua Stokes, Jon Anest and Amon Guerrero
Venturing Crew # 715
Terrigno
relocated from the New York area three and a half years ago. In 2006
he opened Two Dragons Tang Soo Do, the martial arts school he
operates inside the Platinum Gym on SR 46, near the intersection of
Monroe Road. “My school is not the typical commercial operation,”
Terrigno said. “I’m not in it for the money; I do it for the love of
the art, it’s about spreading awareness of the art. I train and I
teach because I love doing it, plus it keeps me in shape. The money
is secondary.”
Practicing what he preaches, Terrigno offers Tang Soo Do classes at
a rate lower than those charged by other local martial arts schools.
Two of Terrigno’s adult students – Josh Stokes and Jon Anest –
assisted him with the demonstration. A third student, Amon Guerrero,
was delayed and arrived as the demonstration was nearing its end.
Terrigno is also the creator and editor of
TangSooDoWorld.com, the
new Web site devoted to the art of Tang Soo Do – a site he believes
to be the first and foremost of its sort, providing links and
information on the art of Tang Soo Do, Tang Soo Do schools and
instructors worldwide. Tang Soo Do is the martial art form
practiced by former world Karate champion Chuck Norris.
By day, the mild-mannered, soon to be 56-year-old martial arts
expert makes his living as a product manager for a Connecticut based
company that deals in specialty building products.
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Kicks are for kids
After introducing himself, Master Terrigno and the group bowed to
each other and had a moment of meditation. Before the workouts
began, he said, “You might be a little sore tomorrow, depending on
whether you are in good shape.”
Terrigno then led the crew through a series of stretching and warm
up exercises, preparing them for the stances, punches, kicks,
one-step sparring and fall-breaking exercises that would follow.
While the youths kicked at padded targets held by Groody, Stokes and
Anest, Terrigno said, “This is a good group. I think we need a
Sheriff’s department martial arts team.”
As he discussed the basics of self-defense, Terrigno pointed out
that the force used should match the level of threat. “It’s not
about hurting, it’s about controlling your opponent. I take them
down and I don’t have to worry – that’s control,” he said.
Continuing his thoughts on the responsibilities of practicing
martial arts, Terrigno said, “I’m going to rely on your integrity.
I’m going to rely on you not to do the things I showed you tonight
when you are fooling around with your friends. If you start training
with me, you’ll understand.”
Toward the end of his nearly hour-long demonstration Terrigno
informed the Venturing group members that each one of them was
invited to attend his school free of charge for one year. He
concluded his demonstration by saying, “I hope you had a good time;
I hope you learned something and I hope you take me up on my offer.”
As he made his way out to the parking lot after the demonstration,
Brandon Francis said he planned on taking Terrigno up on his offer.
“It was great,” Francis said. “I’ve never done it before, but I love
doing it.”
While changing into his street clothes, Terrigno said, “The group
was great. You felt their energy. Once they start working out they
build camaraderie by working toward a common goal.”
Thoughts from a Master
A few days before the Sept. 26 demonstration took place, Terrigno
shared his thoughts on the benefits of martial arts and how the
discipline it requires can benefit “at risk” kids.
“There are a lot of kids who don’t have the money, means or exposure
to the martial arts,” he said. “I thought we should be responsible
and reach out to the community. If we just touch one kid out of the
program, giving them something to turn their lives around, it’s
worth it.”
Terrigno talked about how the Tang Soo Do system is deeply rooted on
the premise of respecting one’s elders and those who practice the
martial arts.
“The first thing you learn is we always call our black belts ‘Mr.’
and ‘Ms.’ When they reach the master level, they are referred to as
‘Master’. There’s always a term of respect associated with a title,”
Terrigno explained.
When asked if there is any risk in teaching juveniles with troubled
pasts a skill they could apply to criminal activities, Terrigno
said, “The structure and focus keeps their thinking along the lines
you want them thinking. They see that this is something not to be
used outside of the school. Kids who are more interested in using it
outside the school to look cool are not going to last long with me.”
Stressing the importance of humility, anger control, tension and
relaxation, Terrigno said, “Having the class there [at the Juvenile
Enforcement Center] is a way of introducing them to the art,
exposing them to something constructive that they can do with their
time and their life. We teach a lot of philosophy; we don’t just
bring them in to kick, punch and fight. Pretty soon they apply what
they learn in martial arts to their daily lives.”
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