There is a new Salt Lake Community College club for martial arts enthusiasts of any skill level, or just people who want to learn more about the art.
The new “Martial Arts Club” is not SLCC’s first or only club that is dedicated to the martial arts, but unlike the Capoeira and Taekwondo clubs, it isn’t focused on a single style.
“It’s a club where people can come in and practice their skills against other types of the martial arts,” said Martial Arts Club President Shane Green. “With our club, you don’t have to be taking any martial arts class currently. You don’t even have to have martial arts training. We welcome all styles.”
The club has participated in events at the college like the Date Rape Awareness Expo in April. At the event, the members of the Martial Arts Club demonstrated self-defense techniques with Mixed Martial Arts Instructor Max Weiss.
“I’d really like to see a wide variety of martial competition,” said club vice-president Wayne Gold. “Maybe we’re a group that someone who liked to wrestle in high school would like to join, practice their wrestling and perhaps go to a competition where other colleges have a wrestling team.”
The club is built on a foundation of diversity, unity and the pursuit of knowledge.
“If you were only taking Kung Fu and practice only against Kung Fu, you’d be great at defending against Kung Fu,” said Green. “But if someone comes up with Kempo, it’s a different style.”
Currently, the club is taking a break for the summer, but during Fall and Spring semesters, the club meets at the Lifetime Activities Center on Fridays from 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. in LAC 163.
“We’re supposed to be working them [DECA] again on another event,” Green said. “We’re a pretty new club, so we’re still trying to structure it out a little bit. I want to see this club grow.”
