Elgin Rec Center teaches respect, not violence

"I will!" yelled instructor Demetrio Ruiz.

"I will!" echoed in unison 10 Latino kids dressed in matching black martial arts outfits, each wearing a colored belt.

"Develop myself!" Ruiz yelled.

"Develop myself!" the kids echoed again.

And so on, to spell out the sentence: "I will develop myself in a positive manner and avoid anything that could reduce my mental growth or physical health. I will use common sense before self-defense, and never be abusive or offensive."

This motto, which the kids repeat at the end of each martial arts class at the Elgin Recreation Center, exemplifies the approach Ruiz takes when teaching children, teenagers and adults alike - martial arts are not about violence, but about respect, discipline and, when needed, self-defense.

"These are skills one can use to hurt someone, but this is not about hurting people, but about defending yourself if you are in that kind of situation," said Ruiz, 49, a native of Mexico who has lived in Elgin for nearly a decade. The classes are bilingual in English and Spanish.

Ruiz said he teaches the basics of karate to children ages 3 to 12. Adult students get trained in mixed martial arts, including Jeet Kune Do - Bruce Lee's system - and the "Defensor Method," a combination of Filipino and Indonesian martial arts created by Chicago-area resident Nate Defensor.

"The kids get little samples of Jeet Kune Do and the Defensor Method, so that they can continue when they move on to the adult classes," said Ruiz, who began his training in martial arts in Mexico in 1982. "There are many, many kinds of martial arts, here we follow a few."

Classes take place on Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings and most participants come three times a week.

Among the young students are siblings Aaron Valencia, 11, and his sister Selene, 7, of Elgin, both purple belts who love kicking moves.

"It helps you protect yourself when you're in the streets," said Aaron, who has never had to actually use his skills outside of the classroom. His sister also agreed that what she learns in class makes her feel safer.

Parents like Erika Vences and Maira Aguilar, both of Elgin, said they are happy their children get trained in a discipline that not only keeps them physically active, but is also useful.

Aguilar said that it's much better for her son Johnny, 7, an orange belt, to come to the Center three times a week than to spend hours in front of the T.V.

"He learns to exercise, and he learns self-defense. It's a very good class," said Aguilar, who started taking martial arts classes at the same time she enrolled her son, and is now an assistant for the kids' class.

"I really like the instructor, and I like what he tells the kids," said Vences, whose 5-year-old son Nicholas is a white belt. "(Nicholas) gets good grades in school, and his reward is to participate in activities that he likes."

Class cost is $50 a month for kids and teenagers, and $60 a month for adults. The Elgin Recreation Center, also known as God's Gym, is at 1080 E. Chicago St. For information call (847) 873-7907 or visit artesmarcialesrec.com.