Local News - October 2003

Benefit has students tumbling for world record

By ALICE SMITH, Staff Writer

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On Saturday, March 18, students at a local martial arts studio will join thousands across the county in an attempt to break a world record and raise money for a beneficial program.

Lincolnton Aikido & Fitness, 1001 N.C. 27 West, is raising money to support Project Action, a program that fights juvenile crime and aims to keep children out of gangs. It also helps kids deal with bullies and pressures of growing up.

Project Action makes it possible for youth to take martial arts classes even if they can’t afford it.

“There’s a lot of kids that come to me that I think really need the program,” said Pete Nappier, owner of Lincolnton Aikido & Fitness.

The studio currently has 12 students who are taking part in the program, Nappier said.

In order to raise funds for the program, students will attempt to break the world record for the most back falls executed in one hour.

The current record is held by two men in England who performed 47,786 back falls in 10 hours, Nappier said.

Participants ask for pledges and receive prizes based on how much they collect.

The event also falls on the second annual Martial Arts Day, which was organized by the National Association of Professional Martial Artists, Martial Arts Professional magazine and the Project Action Foundation.

All money raised by students for Project Action will come back to benefit Lincolnton Aikido’s local program. It is the only studio in Lincoln County taking part in Project Action, Nappier said.

Children benefiting from the program are constantly monitored to make sure they are improving from the program. Report cards and behavior are examined regularly.

One of the main focuses of Lincolnton Aikido’s program is to help kids deal with bullies, Nappier said.

It offers a unique way of looking at and dealing with difficult situations, he said.

“It’s easy to say but hard for kids to do,” Nappier said. “We actually show them what would make a friend out of them.”

The physical martial arts skills are taught as non-violent conflict resolution to problems rather than aggressive fighting, according to a Lincolnton Aikido pamphlet.

For more information about Lincolnton Aikido’s martial arts program or Project Action, call 704-732-2010.

© 2001 Lincoln Times-News  

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