Martial arts mixed with Bible lessons in Endwell church’s classes

College students punched the air, kicked and blocked punches as they practiced martial arts in an Endwell basement lately.

They could have been element of any martial arts class — with some exceptions, such as pupils beginning class with prayer.

Welcome to Curry’s Progressive Martial Arts, held twice a week in the basement of the Endwell Church of Christ. Tamika Curry, a fourth-degree blackbelt who is married to the church’s pastor, David Curry, teaches the classes, which incorporate quite a few martial arts, which includes Aikido, Judo and Jujitsu.

Classes are open to students 4 years old and up, including adults. This is her fifth 12 months teaching at the Endwell church, despite the fact that she’s been practising and teaching martial arts for 28 many years.

“Most martial arts instruct philosophy,” including self-control, patience and discipline, reported Curry, regarded as Miss Tamika to students. Martial arts are equivalent to Christianity.

“Christianity would make our martial arts superior,” she explained. “Martial arts helps make our Christianity superior. They blend into every other.”

Every single course functions a “mat chat” wherever learners pause, sit in a circle and find out about a moral from the Bible. Through a the latest course, Curry compared jigsaw puzzles with the numerous factors that make up Christians.

“As Christians, we need to enjoy God and love our neighbors,” she mentioned. “We really should be reading our Bibles. We need to be praying. We need to be assisting some others. If you’re missing some of all those factors, does that make you not a Christian? No. But you’re missing some things.”