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“ Within weeks , they are doing things they thought they could do . ” - Kim White, co-owner, Legacy Martial Arts Studio
TOP-RANKED KARATE CHAMPION In competition, Bent won hundreds of amateur “light contact” tournaments across the Midwest, and then turned pro at the suggestion of his grandmaster. By 1981, he was ranked number one in the U.S. in full contact karate. While continuing to compete, 35 years ago Bent opened a martial arts studio to pass on his knowledge. As an instructor, he helped develop some of the top martial arts competitors in the country. He owned studios for about 25 years before retiring from teaching – temporarily, as it turned out. “People kept telling me I should go back to teaching.” Today, Bent says the satisfaction he derives from teaching dwarfs the enjoyment he experienced as a competitive champ. “Competing was a form of ego grati cation, but working with kids and seeing their lives change has been way better,” Bent says, particularly teaching kids with autism or some other type of disadvantage. One of his goals when opening the school was making martial arts instruction affordable for kids from single parents and low income families; he charges a sliding scale based on family income.
“I love teaching kids; my reward is watching young people grow up in the right direction,” says Bent, who will turn 65 this year. “If they learn to set small goals at a young age, pretty soon, big goals will be no problem.” Requiring each student to learn certain techniques to continue being promoted is one way to accomplish that. “I'm always challenging students to set new goals; that's how they grow.” Earlier this year, after a Madison woman was attacked on a local bike path, Bent was inspired to begin offering free self-defense classes for women. While physical self-defense techniques are part of the course, the main focus is on preventive measures – such as being aware of one's surroundings and avoiding potentially dangerous situations. Co-owner White says the four Legacy partners share a strong competitive spirit and a desire to teach. “We put our heads together to teach and it's a wonderful thing,” says White, who started studying martial arts as a ninth grader, at one of the rst local studios. “We see some people come in who can barely walk and chew gum at the same time. We work with them, and nurture them and within weeks they are doing things they never thought they could do” – tornado kicks, ying aerial jumps and a repertoire of other exotic, self-defense moves. Along with learning to concentrate and focus energy on the task at hand, those who study martial arts also learn the valuable skill of maintaining calm in stressful situations, White notes. Studying martial arts is a lifelong pursuit and a continual growth process. “I'm 57, and I'm still learning.”
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