— By Wendy Burton

Phoenix Staff Writer



Karate was boring for one local teenager.

But Aikido is a whole different story for Dustin Burrows, 13.

Burrows is attending a free Aikido class at Muskogee Teen Center on Tuesday and Thursday evenings.

“I took a white belt class but then I quit like a week later,” Dustin said. “It was mostly just kicking and punching.”

Dustin said he likes what he’s learning at the Aikido class and admires the instructor, too.

“It’s like your own little world when you’re on the mat,” Dustin said. “It’s like everything else is gone except you and whoever’s on the mat with you.”

The instructor, Read Omohundro, is a former Marine and now a consultant for the military. He’s only been in the area for a short time, but plans to stay and continue with the free teen classes for about three years.

Omohundro has been doing Aikido for about 20 years. He began taking classes while he was stationed in San Diego as a Marine.

His Aikido classes in Muskogee aren’t the first he’s taught, but are the first he’s taught at a teen center.

“Over the years I’ve just discovered that people enjoy doing martial arts, especially teenagers,” Omohundro said.

Early teen years seem to be the most difficult he said. Aikido can help with self-esteem, self-confidence and self-control, he said.

“It’s also very important for young women to understand how to deal with intense situations,” Omohundro said.

“So when things begin to get out of control, they can take care of themselves, regain control of the situation.”

Dustin’s sister Crystal, 16, and cousin Ryan Parker, 13, attended their first class Thursday evening.

“I watched them the first day they did it and I thought it looked like a pretty cool defense class,” Crystal said.

Omohundro showed the students a move, then had them practice with him, then one another.

The moves don’t require harsh hitting or kicking. Everything was done gently — even when bringing an opponent down to the ground by shifting their balance.

Ryan laughed as she found herself making Dustin fall to the ground quite handily.

Aikido focuses not on punching or kicking opponents, but rather on using their energy to gain control of them.

It’s about self-defense and control, Omohundro said.

“It’s not as flashy as Tae Kwon Do,” he said. “The particular style of Aikido I do is non-competitive. We try to be traditional about it.”

All students from seventh through 12th grade are welcome to participate, he said, though each needs a permission slip signed by a parent.

If enough adults show interest in taking Aikido classes, Omohundro will begin an adults-only class for them.

Reach Wendy Burton at (918) 684-2926 or wburton@muskogeephoenix.com.

If you go



WHAT: Aikido classes.

WHO: Students in seventh through 12th grades.

WHEN: 5:45 to 7 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday.

WHERE: Muskogee Teen Center, 322 Callahan St.

ETC.: Students will need to have their parents sign a permission slip. There is no charge.