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JOAN MATSUI For Go Lackawanna

Eric Kovaleski has spent his Saturday mornings for the last six years teaching children with special needs that there’s more to karate than kicking, punching and blocking.

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Master Kovaleski stands with his students and fellow instructors at Karate USA in Dickson City.

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At Karate USA in Dickson City, Master Kovaleski is a 5th Degree Black Belt in Tang Soo Do Moo Duk Kwan. There’s plenty of activity at the dojo as children ranging in age from six to 18 with a variety of disabilities gather to practice Tang Soo Do. Dressed in their gi, Kovaleski teaches lessons grounded in individuality, self-esteem, endurance, posture, balance and coordination through a “consistent disciplined practice.”

Kovaleski, 31, started training in Tang Soo Do when he was three years old. He earned his black belt when he was 13 years old. He has trained and studied under the guidance of his mentor and father, Grand Master Robert P. Kovaleski.

He became interested in teaching special needs children from a man who taught for the Deutsch Institute. “He used to take me to assist with the classes at the YMCA in Dunmore and I fell in love with teaching kids,” said Kovaleski. In 1994, they opened the karate school at 802 Main St., Dickson City.

“My father was teaching martial arts since probably the early 60s. That was his hobby and his love. As a kid growing up watching my father do it, seeing how he worked with kids, I just wanted to be like my father and I wanted to do what he did. He was my idol,” said Kovaleski.

Six years ago he started the class for special needs children. “I want them to have fun and enjoy it. I want them to be proud of themselves,” said Kovaleski.

Joachim Lena, 12, is the son of Dr. Marie Lena of Archbald, who has a pediatric practice in Carbondale. “I’ve seen his progress and he loves it. It (karate) builds strength, stamina and self-esteem. The instructors are the role models for these kids and they are so loving.,” said Dr. Lena.

Joachim went up the ranks and earned his white belt and then progressed to a yellow and orange belt.

“They need the social interaction and having an instructor as a role model, they learn discipline and they wait for their turn,” Dr. Lena said.

Dr. Lena added, “People with disabilities are turning more and more to alternative medicine to try to help the rehabilitation process as well as encourage positive emotional stability. Alternative therapies are becoming accepted by society. Involvement in this martial art has helped Joachim in the reducing the need for some physical therapy.”

Michael Christ, 15, of Blakely has Down syndrome. In ddition to weight lifting with Kovaleski two days each week; Christ is also a karate student at Karate USA. “Tang Soo Do helps my coordination, teaches me to honor my parents and respect others, said Christ.

His mother, Toni Christ said, “Our kids just adore him and he (Michael) gets so much out of him because he just has a special talent. He does an outstanding job with these children. The kids are all at different levels, but he brought them all to one.”

Many of the kids in the special needs class have Down Syndrome, some have cerebral palsy, and other children in Master Kovaleski’s mainstream classes have Asperger’s syndrome as well as ADHD.

Classes run for one hour on Saturday usually from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.