Family of Black Belts Embrace the Spirit of Martial Arts

For the Valentin Family, Karate is not just a sport, it's a lifestyle.

Each day, Valentin Karate owners Rachel Valentin teaches kindergarten during the day while Efrain Valentin teaches karate at two of their three studios. After school the couple swaps duties taking care of their five children - with the sixth in college - and teaching karate at night.

"It's all about balance, and it's work in progress," Efrain Valentin said. "We usually meet for lunch and talk about what's going on with the kids and the studio for the rest of the day, and figure out who's doing what."

It's that self-discipline and work ethic that Valentin tries to instill with his students, along with character building principals like respect, responsibility and humility. He'll often ask young students to make sure they pick up their rooms and shoes at home, in order to progress in status.

"A lot of parents have come up to me saying, 'I've been trying to get my kid to clean his room forever, but he only started doing it now,'" Valentin said. "We always tell the kids if you make good choices, you get your belt, but if you don't, you have to keep trying a little harder, so they learn accountability."

Valentin said karate also gives young people a sense of self-confidence that he found through the sport as a young boy.

"I was bullied when I was younger in school, because I was a smaller kid, so my father wanted me to learn karate to defend myself, and it really made a difference-I carried myself with more confidence," Valentin said. "But it's not about teaching kids to fight back, it's about giving them the confidence to say, hey that's enough."

The benefits pay off for kids and adults alike, said six year student-turned instructor Wendy Hannigan, who's husband and four children also take lessons. She said she's grown physcially and emotionally stronger since she joined.

"Everything about it is great, from the physical exercise to the self discipline and self esteem it gives you," Hannigan said. "I always say it's cheaper than therapy. I came looking for inner peace and I found it."

Valentin opened his first studio 21 years ago when he was 19, earning extra income as a licensed plumber until he could focus on the business full time. Since then he's opened a studio in Meriden in 2008 and recently unveiled a Berlin studio in October, run by his brother and sister.

Now the 41-year old, sixth-degree black belt enjoys watching his own children benefit from his hard work. One of his two ten year-old sons was just named grand champion of the region nine world Tang Soo Do at the New England Championships held at the XL Center.

His other ten-year old earned his black belt that same day, joining their older 15 and 18-year old brothers who hold second and third degree black belts.

The family has been able to travel together much over the years attending competitions nationally and internationally, which has been a fun perk, said Valentin.

He also tries to involve his students in community service when possible, seen in a recent food drive for Bread for Life and toy drives during the holidays. His teenage students are currently forming a team for Relay for Life.

"I like to think it's not just a karate school, it's a place where we can come together as a group and make a difference in the lives of others by putting our principles into action," Valentin said. "We do that with a lot of help from our parent coordinators as well."

Although it's consuming work that never seems to end-the school often holds birthday parties and functions on Saturdays and Sundays-Valentin says it's all worth it to see a change in just one child.

"When you see the kids that are shy, come in here and become more confident, or you hear about a student who stood up for someone else that was being bullied, those are the moments you live for," Valentin said.

"You accept the challenges because of how rewarding it is, and what it's instills in our kids," Rachel Valentin said.