The Bucks Martial Arts
Club is a great club to join for
those interested in the sport.
The club is open to those
with all martial arts backgrounds
and skill levels-
from those with a lot of experience
to others who have
never taken a formal martial
arts class in their life.
Club adviser David Briggs
started the club in 1986 after a
number of students from his
personal defense class
expressed interest in joining
such a club. Today the club
has 15 members.
Briggs made it clear that the
Martial Arts Club is just
that-a club, not a class.
There are no formal teachings
during club time.
Instead, the club has a laidback
environment. Members
can practice on their own or
work with fellow members to
practice and learn new techniques.
However, new members
must attend at least three club
meetings before they are
allowed to practice with other
members. Club members also
have access to different
equipment to help further
their practice.
There are a number of reasons
to join the Martial Arts
Club besides getting time to
practice various techniques.
“There is the physical fitness
aspect, of course,” said
Briggs, “as well as a sense of
camraderie among members.”
In addition, there is a tactical
aspect one learns from different
martial arts techniques.
For every attack, there is a
method to counter or evade
it. “It’s a lot like playing
chess,” Briggs explained.
Joining the Martial Arts
Club gives one the opportunity
to meet others with similar
interests.
“I have been involved with
martial arts for 10 years but
had nowhere to go to be
involved with it,” said
Donnie Hinkle, a 20-year-old
liberal arts major, when asked
why he joined the club. He
has been a member of the
club for about two years now.
“It’s more personal than
formal classes,” Zhack
Zinman added, a 20-year-old
police administration major
and fellow member of the
club. Zinman has been a
member of the club for almost
a year and joined because,
like Hinkle, he always had a
fascination with martial arts,
but had nowhere to go to
enjoy it.
The club’s friendly environment
was evident in how the
members casually talked and
joked with each other at a
recent meeting. Members are
encouraged to show fellow
members what they know
and to help others succeed in
their martial arts training.
In addition to their martial
arts practice, the members
also involve themselves in
community service every
year by going to Tyler Park
and cleaning up litter.
The Martial Arts Club
meets every Tuesday and
Thursday from 12:30-1:30
p.m. in Gym C. The club occasionally
meets at other times
as well.
For more information, contact
Briggs at
[email protected], or call
(215) 968-8444.