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Summer camp teaches young men martial arts

June 12, 2009|Brieun Scott

Through an intense mental and physical training, Craig Caudill will be able to help young men push "beyond their self-imposed limits" and learn self-discipline.

"They will learn to knock the barriers down between each other," Caudill said.

Caudill, chief instructor at Bluegrass Budokai, 26 N. Main St., will teach the Martial Arts Weeklong Intensive. The camp, in its third year, is designed to teach participants about outdoor survival, community involvement and self-discipline. Caudill said the training will help the students overcome mental and physical barriers.

"I want them to learn that they do have self-imposed limits and they can knock those walls down that limit them," he said.

This year, Caudill has seen an increase in participants in the camp, jumping from six to about 15 interested men. Students have registered from all over Kentucky, including Nicholasville, Richmond, Lexington and Versailles. Some people have even come from as far as Tulsa, Okla. But, due to the growing number of students and the economy, there was a shortage of funds.

"The economy has hit everyone," Caudill said.

He said interested students should still get an opportunity to participate in the camp.

The training camp begins July 12, and will consist of martial arts — judo and aikido — and self-defense, as well as mental activities to help students gain self-discipline.

Caudill said the point of the camp was to make young men recognize the limits they put on themselves and others because of social class, race, age and education.

"I want them to be happy with the ability to work with each other."

Caudill believes that it's important for the community to get involved in the development of the young men. He said they should "recognize that this generation of young men are likely not to have the character and mental fortitude to carry this country into the next generation."

"We have a genesis of an idea on how to do that," he said.

For more information about Budokai or the camp, call Craig Caudill at 771-8313.

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