The first Martial Arts club meeting of Cerritos College was held in campus on Feb. 1.

Club members are students of the Tae Kwon Do class. All students are welcome to join the club, regardless if one is not enrolled in the class.

“If you ever had an interest in martial arts as a child, or as an adult and you’ve always felt that you didn’t think you can do it, because it was too expensive or you didn’t have the time. I think this is a great opportunity,” Tae Kwon Do instructor Vicmar C. Coliflores said.

Coliflores thinks by introducing martial arts to the community college, it will hel students share knowledge on certain topics.

“Gives the students a place where they can share knowledge with other martial arts artists in an environment that’s non-confrontational, non-competitive; more of a teaching environment,” he said.

President of the Martial Arts club, Jaime Rob Flores is interested in Coliflores’ history and method of teaching. These qualities sparked his journey with the club.

“He is a great mentor, he is someone who you can definitely turn to for advice,” Flores said.

The club is slowly growing since the class was introduced last Fall.

Flores feels that as president of the Martial Arts Club, his duty is to promote and get students around campus involved with the club.

Before forming the club, Flores and his friend were inspired to start this club from discussion they had about the assaults that women on campus were facing.

Flores feels that “Girls needed a way to defend themselves.”

The Martial Arts club emphasizes on self-defense.

“It’s not about fighting at all, we want students to know about the art, the concept behind it and the history as well.” Flores said.

Flores and Master Coliflores, wait on development of the club on campus and would like to participate in as many contests as possible.

They plan to keep the club members active by motivating them constantly.

Flores’ strategy is to have every member of the Martial Arts Club fill out an application to participate at the Spring Awards banquet.

Coliflores plans to select one of his students to participate in the Mr. Cerritos contest.

Coliflores welcomes and encourages all martial arts styles to the club and wishes to expand this discipline experience across other college campuses.

The practice of martial arts is not only beneficial to one physically, but what came across was how these arts provide mental healthiness “if applied correctly,” Flores and Master Coliflores both agreed.

“Having the confidence within your self, I think that is where martial arts have the discipline, which is important in every aspect and anything we pursue in life,” Coliflores explained.

Martial arts has a deeper meaning to students who practice it.

Club member Julius Chua shared his experience as former student of the Tae Kwon Do class in his second consecutive semester.

“The number one rule is humility, it teaches you about life. It teaches you to be humble and how to be nicer to other people. It is not about the fighting. If you think it is about that, you’re in the wrong class,” he said.

The Martial Arts Club welcomes everyone, even to those who don’t have a background with the art.

Coliflores wants martial arts to be introduced as something that would help in life and for students to come together and enjoy an art that has been passed on through many generations.