6
QUEENS WEEKLY, MAY 3, 2020
Flushing martial arts center offers free online
classes for kids during coronavirus pandemic
BY CARLOTTA MOHAMED
Although Champions
Martial Arts in Flushing
is temporarily closed amid
the coronavirus pandemic,
children are keeping active
and staying fit at home —
online and free of charge.
Michael Ro, master and
head instructor of Champion
Martial Arts Taekwondo,
has been teaching
online classes for children
ages 3 to 12 from Monday
through Saturday on Zoom.
“Staying active and
healthy is very important
during these times. I say,
‘health is wealth.’ Keeping
them active and healthy
will keep them mentally
stable and strong,” Ro said.
“The children need structure
and need the sense of
normality in their daily
lives. I believe that if your
mind is healthy, your body
will be healthy as well.”
Champions Martial Arts
is a large organization with
more than 60 locations, and
together they’re teaching
thousands of students during
the pandemic.
After closing his studio
on March 14, Ro began
teaching online classes on
March 16.
At the beginning of the
coronavirus outbreak, Ro
thoroughly cleaned the facility
twice daily, spraying
and wiping down equipment
after each and every
class. Every student also
used hand sanitizer before
Phoebe Huang, a student at Champions Martial Arts Takewondo in Flushing, practicing via an online class with Master Michael Ro.
and after classes.
“No students who
showed any sign of illness
were permitted into our
class. All parents were encouraged
to wait outside
during the class,” Ro said.
Since Ro began teaching
from home, he has been able
to connect with more than
200 children from local areas
to other states that have been
taking online classes with
Champion Martial Arts.
“It’s an amazing experience!
The children are able
to take 20 minutes out of
their day to get their daily
exercise, learn some fun
martial arts, interact with
other students and instructors,
relieve some stress,
while practicing social
distancing from the convenience
of their homes,” Ro
said. “Parents have been
so happy with our program
— they send us messages
and emails thanking us for
doing this for the community.”
Besides the free martial
arts classes, Champion Martial
Arts also does fun events
for the children as well such
as scavenger hunts and
trivia games, Ro said.
“We hope that other parents,
who have children at
home, take this opportunity
to enroll their children into
this productive martial arts
program and seek all of the
benefits martial arts has to
offer,” Ro said.
Parents can contact
any Champions Martial
Arts location to learn more
Photo courtesy of Michael Ro
about free online classes,
or contact Master Michael
Ro by calling 718-886-5425,
or sending an email to
FlushingCTKD@gmai l.
com.
Reach reporter Carlotta
Mohamed by e-mail at cmohamed@
schnepsmedia.com
or by phone at (718) 260–
4526.
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