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With a spacious patio, a study area and a playroom, the new studio of the West Coast World Martial Arts School is more like a community center.
"We want to make our school a place where not just people in training feel comfortable," says Michael Foster, an instructor at the school. "When parents are waiting for their kids, they can chat on the patio. If the students have younger brothers and sisters, they have a place of their own to play. We want everyone to feel happy and comfortable here."
Scott Coker, a sixth-degree black belt marital arts master, opened the martial arts school at 1141 Lincoln Ave. in 1994. The school is affiliated with Ernie Reyes' West Coast World Martial Arts Schools, which has 35 schools all over the United States.
Foster joined the school in 1998 and has helped Coker manage it ever since. Ferdinand Cadiente, Coker's student, was recruited to the team in 2000 and has worked with Foster to run the school and teach martial arts.
The school has grown steadily over the years and now boasts more than 300 students, compared with the 50 students it had in 1998. But the rapid increase caused parking problems and traffic congestion, so the school was moved to its new location, 660 Lincoln Ave., on Oct. 1.
"We grew very fast, but we couldn't take more students because the school was too crowded," says Cadiente, a fourth-degree black belt martial arts master. "But we will be able to reach our full potential in our new location."
Cadiente, 24, says they decided to keep the school on Lincoln Avenue because it is a major thoroughfare and Willow Glen is centrally located in San Jose.
The new facility features two classrooms divided by soundproof walls, two bathrooms and three dressing rooms.
The school is still remodeling its studio. Although the refurbishing will not be complete until early November, the school has started offering classes in one classroom, which is equipped with 12 red kick bags, six body-length bags and floor-length mirrors.
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Photograph by Sean Penello
Self Defense: Kerry Harrison kicks a workout bag during a kickboxing workout class.
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The school's new location also allows more classes to be offered, Foster says. There will be 12 classes every day from Monday to Thursday and five on Fridays and Saturdays. Classes include kickboxing, self-defense, gymnastics and tae kwon do. The school also helps organize birthday parties for people who are interested in martial arts.
"Our school is pretty well-known since it is affiliated with the West Coast Martial Arts Schools, but we want our school to be known as a community school where local people can come to learn martial arts and have fun," Foster says.
For more information, call 408.993.8122.
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Photograph by Sean Penello