FELLSMERE – Patty Raineri smiles while watching her fifth-grade daughter, Stephanie, adjust her stance in preparation for a powerful kick.
“Ah, that was a good one,” she says as the “whack” from Stephanie’s wallop to a leather practice bag reverberates throughout the building.
Driving from their Sebastian home to karate classes at Operation Hope in Fellsmere two times a week has been a Raineri family ritual since the lessons began in March.
“And it’s so worth it,” says Raineri, whose young son, Anthony, also is taking lessons.
“Stephanie loves karate. She has more confidence in herself and seems more comfortable in doing things,” she says.
Her dedication to the class is evident.
Stephanie, along with 17-year-old Daniela Naranjo, of Fellsmere, are considered star students in the class.
With only a few months of instruction, both girls already have achieved yellow belt status.
“They are learning some very valuable lessons through this class,” says Daniela’s mother, Elba.
“They are learning discipline, getting exercise and gaining confidence, which are all good. But the students here are also learning moves that could help them defend themselves someday, if they had to,” she adds.
The notion provides a semblance of relief for some of the parents, especially those who recall hearing about a pair of attempted child abductions in the Sebastian area last October.
Both incidents occurred at or near Sebastian Elementary School. However, no arrests have been made to date.
The karate classes are the first of their kind to be taught in the Fellsmere area. However, in addition to Fellsmere residents, the low price for the class – $10 per month per student – also is attracting students from Sebastian and Vero Beach.
“Our objective is to keep them safe,” says Kevin Mahon, class instructor.
Mahon, 47, has taught martial arts and boxing for close to three decades.
Currently in the process of opening the gym, Boxfit of Vero Beach, he offers his karate expertise and services for free at Operation Hope.
“Our classes are open to students of all ages but the majority are children and teens,” he says. “Our main objective is to keep them off the streets, from drugs and from other negative influences. We want them to get involved in something that will make a positive impact on their lives.”
Mahon, who first got into karate at age 11 while growing up in Woodside Projects in Queens, N.Y., says his classes are more akin to what would be found in a child development program rather than a traditional martial arts dojo.
“The one thing we found with this program is our children develop positive self-esteem through learning karate,” he says. “Their confidence comes back, they start setting goals for themselves and become persistent in pursuing those goals.”
In addition to the physical activity of the class, students are also expected to broaden themselves academically.
“We emphasize that the discipline they learn here can be translated into discipline and focus in every part of their lives, especially school. If their grades are not good, they cannot participate in class,” Mahon says.
“You have to show that you are practicing discipline, that you are focused on your goals. I don’t set a particular grade for the students, just ask them to do their best. For instance, give me a C-plus to a B, show me that you are trying,” he says.
The class’s influence also affects student behavior.
“It’s not all about the grades, but also about the behavior. We talk regularly with our parents to ensure our students are listening at home. They are doing their chores and obeying their parents,” Mahon says. “All of these areas are connected.”
Jesse Zermeno, Operation Hope’s founder and president, says the karate class fits in perfectly with the organization’s mission of helping people.
“This class provides a tremendous opportunity for children to receive valuable knowledge that will help them in the future. Kevin donates his time and talent to pass on his expertise to these children, providing classes that normally cost over $100 a month in Vero, Sebastian and Melbourne,” Zermeno says.
“We really appreciate what he is doing for the Fellsmere community and surrounding areas. It’s a wonderful class,” Zermeno says, adding that the organization will soon add a zumba class to its roster of services. “We have a wonderful facility here and want to develop services that promote health, self-esteem and other positive qualities in our youth.”
Ruth Hill, a Roseland resident who has been volunteering at Operation Hope for three years, performs all of the student registrations for the karate class.
She says the class started with 102 students when it premiered on March 5.
They now average about 65 students per class. Classes meet from 6-7:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. All ages are invited to attend.
“There’s always this sense of excitement every Tuesday and Thursday. The energy in the room is amazing. The kids are very focused on Kevin during class,” she says.
Hill adds that the organization is currently seeking sponsors to help purchase new flooring and other supplies as the karate class grows.