For 9-year-old George McClintock, Kessler’s Martial Arts and Fitness is the one place he can focus without his medication.
The vivacious and rambunctious fourth-grader has been diagnosed with severe attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, aka ADHD.
“It’s the one place I’ve found that when he’s not medicated, he can stand still. It blows my mind,” said his mother, Jennifer Perry.
The studio, which opened in Boulder Creek last May, offers martial arts and fitness classes for children and adults.
Aaron Kessler, 41, and Mark Dingli, 38, opened the studio as a passion project. Kessler’s specializes in a mixture of shaolin, kenpo and jujitsu.
“I don’t do this for the money,” said Kessler, who works as a tile contractor but has studied martial arts for 30 years.
As he recapped a recent school talent show, fighting tears, it was clear that Kessler cares for the kids he trains. George was planning to break through boards with a swipe of his hand at the show but suffered several setbacks.
“During the morning show, George didn’t break the board. He tried three times and didn’t get through it. Then, at the night show, he almost didn’t break it and was ready to walk off the stage again. But we got the audience chanting his name, and he finally broke through the boards,” Kessler said. “I was so proud of his courage.”
George, who has bright green eyes, said the studio provides an outlet for him to have fun.
“I like coming here,” George said. “It’s fun to learn new things and have something to do after school.”
Dingli said the studio is not just a place to learn martial arts but also a place to learn discipline. There’s a designated space set aside where students can do their homework.
“Schoolwork and household chores have to get done before they participate,” Dingli said.
Lyle Vashon, an 8-year-old who attends Boulder Creek Elementary School, also uses Kessler’s as a haven to grow both physically and mentally.
Lyle was born three months premature and deals with leg stiffness from cerebral palsy, as well as some physical developmental issues.
He is one of the teachers’ favorites, and it’s easy to see why — he’s the kind of kid who lights up a room instantly.
“Lyle is one of the best parts of my day. He’s incredibly cool,” Kessler said.
Lyle’s father, Bernie Vashon, said a physical therapist said that martial arts would be really good for the boy.
“We looked around and found Kessler’s,” Vashon said. “Lyle really likes it here. I’ve watched him really blossom. He really loves Aaron. Mark and Aaron care deeply about the students here. They’re really great teachers.”
