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All the right moves
Martial arts promotes self-esteem and self-discipline
By Scott Richardson
srichardson@pantagraph.com
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NORMAL -- Steve Silvey gets a kick out of life -- and sometimes a punch or a toss. The retired Illinois State University policeman teaches Hapkido, a Korean form of self-defense.

Silvey, 55, thinks more people are taking up martial arts to improve self-discipline and self-esteem. Others look upon it as just a rigorous form of exercise, he said.

Whatever the reason, every New Year brings a flood of new students to the classes he holds on the campus of the former Soldier's & Sailor's Children's Home at 706 E. Oglesby, 1 Normal Plaza.

"It's the New Year's resolution. ... You have people come who want to learn to feel good about themselves," said Silvey, a member of the Hall of Fame of the United States Martial Arts Association. "Ultimately they come to learn how to intervene in a crisis situation and not turn around and run."

Silvey stressed Hapkido is combat martial arts dating back centuries to the Silla Dynasty when warrior monks were trained to protect kingdoms.

"The 'arts' (in martial arts) is the self-expression," said Silvey. " 'Combat' means we are self-defense."

Silvey started practicing martial arts as a boy.

"You're put in martial arts (at that age) because your parents want you there. It was self-discipline. ... You create a lot of self-worth in young people when you put them in martial arts," he said.

His interest, particularly in Hapkido, rose when he joined the police force. He wanted to learn police defensive tactics, which he taught to other officers. Seven days a week, two hours a day, thousands and thousands of hours later, Silvey achieved a 10th-degree black belt.

A monthly fee of $50 permits a student to attend up to four sessions a week. But he encourages most people to work out just two or three times in a seven-day period. Four or more times a week raises the odds of burn-out, he said.

Students learn a handful of punches, kicks and tosses. But, each one has several variations. Silvey also teaches use of a Korean weapon called a middle stick, a 30-inch ratton less than an inch in diameter.

Sessions begin with an aerobic warm-up to get the heart pumping followed by exercises to stretch tendons and muscles. Then come calisthenics followed by a series of kicks and punches to enhance muscle memory. The goal is to make moves second nature so no thought is needed if the time comes that they are used for real.

"You just stand there and do it, and do it and do it," Silvey said.

Moves are practiced to avoid hyperextension. Kicks are not the high-spinning kind. The point of self-defense is to connect with vital parts.

"We kick low," Silvey said.

Students eventually pair off to practice with an opponent. The key of Hapkido is to learn to turn the force of the aggressor against him or her in keeping with the oriental philosophy of transforming a negative into a positive. Injuries are rare because students respect each other and the power Hapkido can unleash, he said.

Silvey works to set individual goals. The idea is to focus on each student's strengths while identifying and improving their weaknesses.

"We are all different," he said. "We all have a different curve of ability."

Interest in martial arts rose after the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, according to Silvey. But martial arts have long been popular in America where they can often be seen on television from the Power Rangers to movies.

Silvey has taught kids as young as 10 and adults in their 20s to their 60s who want to learn martial arts to improve their physical, mental and spiritual sides, he said. Some have been victims of violence. Others merely want to be prepared.

A few students are physically challenged by diseases such as muscular dystrophy and want to improve their muscle strength, coordination and motor skills. One student is blind. He learns strictly through hands-on instruction.

"Average student? I don't think I have an average student," Silvey said. "It's just ordinary people doing extraordinary things."

Paul Brauchle is a professor in Illinois State University's College of Applied Science and technology. In teacher terms, he's "a late bloomer" who began to study Hapkido three years ago at age 60. His goal was to improve his fitness level to extend his life and improve its quality. Today, he's within two years of earning a black belt. He also teaches martial arts to the 30-member ISU Women's Self Defense Club and serves as the group's faculty adviser.

"It's something I always wanted to do," said Brauchle. "I should have started a long time ago. I think the big message I would give is that this or any other activity you do that you enjoy is probably going to make you live longer and better."

Brauchle also was concerned he might need to defend himself one day, but he didn't not know how. His wife, Marguerite Boyd, is president of Truman College and lives in Chicago, where the couple spends much of their time together.

He agreed that Americans of all ages seem more interested in martial arts. Perhaps they are taking more ownership in their own protection since Sept. 11, he said.

"When you think about the guys on the planes, what could you do? What would you do?" Brauchle said. "Many people think, 'If something happened, I don't have an idea what I could do.' If you have an idea of what you can do, it gives you some measure of protection, a leg up," he said.

But the fact he could achieve a black belt doesn't impress him.

"It's a journey, the journey is what's important" he said. "A belt is a sign of inward growth. If you have the growth, you don't need the belt. If you don't have the growth, the belt doesn't mean a thing."

Silvey can be reached at (309) 242-4704.

Take a look
David Kletz, left, of Bloomington, and Jay Ricketts, right, of Normal, demonstrate a Hapkido move Tuesday night as classmates Vanessa Basil, back left, of Normal, Peter Olakowski, middle back, of Bloomington, and Instructor Steve Silvey, back right, look on at One Normal Plaza, Normal. (Pantagraph/B MOSHER)
Hapkido instructor Steve Silvey goes through some hand streches before class begins at One Normal Plaza, Normal, Tuesday night. (Pantagraph/B MOSHER)
Jay Ricketts, left, of Normal, and David Kletz, right, of Bloomington, follow Vanessa Basil, middle, of Normal, through a stick move during the Hapkido class. (Pantagraph/B MOSHER)
Bloomington's Peter Olakowski practices Hapkido moves. (Pantagraph/B MOSHER)
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