Feature by Alyssa Brown "I'm here to plant seeds," he said. "I believe the Lord sends us people at certain times in their lives because we can give them something they need. The nucleus of the school is Jesus. People see that when they come in."

Back to Table of Contents | Back to Main Index Previous Features | Send mail to The Voice Karate Teacher Opens Christian-based Dojo Although the Roys began the dojo with little money, large numbers of students now come to learn karate. --Alyssa Brown, photo Albert Roy is no Jackie Chan. No visible similarity links the movie star and this chubby family man. From his round belly to his robust laugh, Mr. Roy would fit better writing comics at a desk than teaching a class of black belt students how to flip an assailant over their backs. But teaching karate is what he does best. "Are you guys practicing kata or talking about pizza?" Mr. Roy asks, leaning over the railing to look at the cluster of students below. The animated conversation about pizza toppings quickly fades to a final murmured "is so." A boy smiles sheepishly up at him, "Um, talking, Sensei Al." Mr. Roy's ever-ready smile pops up, making his round face glow. "You must be hungry. What did you have for breakfast?" he asks. "I'm going to pizza for lunch." "Well, concentrate on karate now. Do your katas each three times. Help each other, and see if you can all do it perfectly. I'll be down in a couple minutes." He turns back to his office, a rectangular loft above the classroom. "Now, where did I put that phone number?" he asks. He looks under the stack of papers on the printer, behind the rainbow of floppy disks by the computer, even in the recycling bin against the wall. No number. After moving aside a calendar and a jar of nuts, he says, "There it is." Welcome to Eugene School of Karate, where 350 students from freckle-faced first graders to silver-haired businessmen come to learn karate from Sensei Al. Mr. Roy sees Eugene School of Karate as more than a business. "The business is a ministry," he said. Mr. Roy does not push Christianity but is open to discussing his faith with students. Christian students, in turn, are motivated to bring their friends to church and become more active witnesses in their community. Five students have become Christians as a direct result of Mr. Roy's 12 years of ministry. He is not discouraged. "I'm here to plant seeds," he said. "I believe the Lord sends us people at certain times in their lives because we can give them something they need. The nucleus of the school is Jesus. People see that when they come in." That faith is proclaimed in the mission statement hanging on the wall: "Our goal is to build a Christian-based martial arts school." In 1992, Mr. Roy and his wife, Elida, moved to Eugene and opened the school near the University of Oregon "with our last $10," he said. Forty-five students have earned their black belts under his tutelage. The dojo--a Japanese word for a karate school--has classes for all ages and skill levels, as well as a parks and recreation program, special classes for home schoolers and an "extreme kick boxing" program that U of O students enjoy. "This afternoon, we're doing a demonstration for the Boy Scouts," Mr. Roy said. Mr. Roy advocates karate as an activity that teaches valuable life skills, not just self-defense. "Students learn patience, respect, concentration and perseverance," he said. "I went from a D student to straight A's when I started." "It's helped me become more confident," student Danae Brown said. The 15-year-old is looking forward to getting her black belt in June. "My dad made me start, and at first I was like 'OK, it's only three months; it will go by quickly.' But once I started, I loved it.'" Mr. Roy works to nurture and encourage students. Eighteen-year-old black belt Michael Summers said: "Other schools are more rigid and militaristic about the way they teach. ESK is all about the relationships between teacher, student and peer." "He focuses on the positive," Brown said. "For every bad thing, he tells you two good things so you don't get discouraged. He makes it fun." "I was short and fat and going nowhere in life," Mr. Roy said of himself when he started karate at age 10. He patted his belly and then said, "Some of that hasn't changed." A dojo was across the street from his parent's furniture store, and they enrolled him. He earned his black belt by the time he was 16. By the time he was 18, he had started teaching classes. As a swim instructor, he had discovered a love for teaching. But he found little opportunity to impact the children as a student teacher in a public school. "Most of my time was spent managing kids, not teaching," he said. While in college, Mr. Roy continued teaching classes at a dojo in Yakima, Wash. "I used the students like guinea pigs, " he said. "I learned what really worked in real-life teaching." Mr. Roy received his master's degree in effective teaching methods from Central Washington University. He met Elida through karate. She had picked up the sport at age 15 and taught in Washington for three years before the Roys moved south and opened their dojo. She teaches many of the youth classes. Hours at the dojo are long. Even with six part-time senseis, Mr. Roy teaches classes 25 hours each week. Although his work can be stressful for his three children, he rarely wishes for an eight-to-five job. "I have the best job in the world," he said. "This is what I've been called to do. Jesus said, 'Be content in all things.' Wishing for something else shows a lack of contentment in life." Keeping the dojo open has been a walk of faith from the beginning, Mr. Roy said, but his needs are met daily. When he first opened the dojo, neighbors brought groceries. Businessmen have donated thousands of dollars toward the new building the Roys are hoping to buy. The current building is rented and too small. "I want this to be a permanent fixture, a long-term thing to bless the community," he said. "Karate isn't about beating someone up, it's about the building of tenacity," Summers said. "That's what karate and Sensei Al have built in me. I wouldn't trade that for any part of my being." Brown has been inspired to mimic Mr. Roy's outreach. She said: "Teaching karate as a ministry is definitely something I'd like to do. I love karate, I love people and I want them to know about God." "We just care about people," Mr. Roy said. He looked again at the students practicing their punches below. "That's what God put us here to do." Back to Table of Contents | Back to Main Index Previous Features | Top Of Page Send mail to The Voice| Journalism department website © 2005 The Voice. No part of this publication may be reproduced in written or electronic form without prior written consent from the journalism adviser of Multnomah Bible College. 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