November 3, 2006

Evergreen karate studio chooses brains over brawn every time

Head master Kevin Waldschmidt returns to eastside roots with America’s Best Karate

By Justin Petersen
Staff Writer

Expect the number of black belts in Evergreen and Silver Creek to skyrocket this year.

Students are reminded that Karate is also about having fun, as seen on the walls of America's Best Karate in Silver Creek. Photos by Diego Abeloos

Kevin Waldschmidt, who owns and operates three America’s Best Karate studios, with locations in Los Gatos and Almaden, added Silver Creek to his list of mind-oriented Dojos in July.

“We are not a punch and kick studio,” said Waldschmidt, who returned to his roots by opening shop at 2895 The Villages Parkway in Silver Creek.

Waldschmidt spent his younger years, traversing what was formerly farmland on the east side, riding dirt bikes and afoot. The head master attended both Liberty Baptist and LeyVa Middle School, before his family moved to Los Gatos during his high school years.

“At America’s Best, we work on teaching life skills through martial arts,” he said. “Our main focus is helping children and students of any age have fun and improve their skills. We use martial arts as a tool to teach students the successful aspects of life.”

Waldschmidt included courtesy, honesty, courage and integrity as major points of focus inside his studio.

America’s Best Karate’s curriculum also features a developmental leadership program that Waldschmidt helped design and implement.

“It instills the seven or eight traits of highly effective people,” he said.

As a result, ABK black belts boast a 3.9 grade point average cumulatively.

“You will see four and five-year-olds that already have the confidence to go and introduce themselves to adults in our studio,” said Waldschmidt. “They walk right up, stick out their hand and offer, ‘hello, my name is…’”

Waldschmidt said ABK also weaves public speaking, scheduling and different aspects of maturity into the regimen.

“Those things are not typically associated with punch/kick studios,” he said.

Waldschmidt’s three studios certify approximately 100 black belts per year. Only West Coast Karate awards more. However, Waldschmidt noted that West Coast also operates 40 studios, compared to three under local ABK rule.

“Typically, it takes three years to go from a white belt to black,” said Waldschmidt.

Once a student receives the black belt, an equivalent to the high school diploma according to Waldschmidt, degrees follow in increments every several years, assuming steady participation on behalf of the student.

Waldschmidt himself started training in 1989, under the tutelage of ABK founders George Chung, Larry Lam and Master Don Berryessa, who currently operates an independent ABK location in Oregon.

The ABK name itself was conceived by Chug and Cynthia Lothrock, former B-movie action stars, according to Waldschmidt.

“They were considered to be two of the top martial artists in the country, so they called it America’s Best,” he said.
Waldschmidt excelled quickly as a student before departing for Chico State University after high school.

America's Best Karate Senior Managing Instructor Dennis Diggins shows a young student correct form during class.

The company went public with the ticker symbol: ACEI on the NASDAQ stock exchange in 1997. But a year later, the company disbanded and Waldschmidt purchased the Los Gatos location individually.
Waldschmidt founded the Almaden location in 2001.

Now approaching 20 years training, Waldschmidt is currently a fourth degree black belt with a fifth degree black belt looming in 2007. He received his first black belt in 1995.

“I started out with karate because I was playing basketball and I felt it would be a great way to help my skills develop further,” said Waldschmidt.

Since opening in July, the Silver Creek studio currently has 50 kids enrolled on a monthly basis. All students are sponsored by Waldschmidt, manager / instructor Dennis Diggins, or other students.

“It’s totally by referral basis,” said Waldschmidt. “Say you were in the studio and had a friend that was interested. You would make a recommendation, and we would arrange a tour of the studio, display the safety features that we offer at our academies, and go through a presentation on etiquette, where and when to use your martial arts skills.”

Etiquette, in fact, is a major concern among masters at karate studios. Waldschmidt conveyed irritation with the stereotype that teaching kids martial arts techniques leads to fights in the school yard or that it breeds bullies.

“We preach longevity,” said Waldschmidt. “The longer students train, the less likely they are to actually use techniques we teach them in a fighting situation…we do not compete. We don’t believe in it.”

As a result, the average student trains at ABK for two years. According to Waldschmidt, that is three times the industry average nationally.

“We have students who have been with us for 10 years,” he said. “We take tremendous pride in actually servicing and catering to families. We have mothers and daughters who are black belts together.”

For more information about America’s Best Karate in Silver Creek, call (408) 528-6639 or visit www.silvercreekkarate.com