Wednesday, Jul. 02, 2008

Draftsman spends nights teaching black belt moves in Atwater

By SCOTT JASON
sjason@mercedsun-star.com

ATWATER -- As a teenager, Tony Deziga watched Bruce Lee jumping, kicking and punching in the television show "The Green Hornet."

The martial arts cultural icon quickly became Deziga's hero.

"You don't have to be very strong, and you don't have to be six or seven feet tall to protect yourself," he said.

Deziga immediately wanted to learn karate but couldn't find a teacher in Los Banos where he lived. Finally, he met a police officer who knew martial arts and agreed to teach him the skills on weekends.

Now an adult, Deziga is passing along the techniques and discipline to any willing students through his Bellevue Road studio, which opened in January 2006.

Inside of an old department store, the studio is 15,000 square feet and the largest in Merced County, he noted.

A month's worth of classes cost $50 for 5-year-olds to 11-year-olds and $60 for students 12 and older. However, Deziga understands not all families can afford the bill and never turns away a willing student.

He maintains a day job of drafting plans for custom homes and business parks, and teaches karate in the evenings.

"It's a great feeling to go from a hectic day in the real world to teaching what I love," he said.

Deziga, a fourth-degree black belt, primarily teaches the shaolin style, which is open-hand karate, and kobudo, which is weapons training.

He teaches that karate is a last resort, and, excluding tournaments, he's never had to use his skills to defend himself.

"I don't believe in that," he noted. "I'm a pacifist."

He helps his student overcome their fears by building self-confidence through karate.

Also inside the building, Deziga hosts a fitness and flexibility class for 4-year-olds to 12-year-olds taught by Christina Stopper, 17, and another girl.

Many of his karate students also take the class, which is $45 a month with a $25 application fee.

Combined, both the martial arts classes and the flexibility school have about 50 students, ranging from 4-years-olds to adults. "It keeps them active and off the streets," she said.

Deziga hopes to be a grand master some day, though it's six degrees higher than where he's at.

This teacher is still a student and knows there's always more to learn.

Reporter Scott Jason can be reached at (209) 385-2453 or sjason@mercedsun-star.com.

Deziga Shorin-Ryu Karate & Kobudo

LOCATION: 451 Bellevue Road, Atwater

PHONE: (209) 358-8067

HOURS: 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Thursday; 5:30 to 7 p.m. Friday; closed Wednesday.

ONLINE: www.dsrkk.com