Still Focused

Apollo’s Karate: A focus on building character for all ages.

“Focus your mind, focus your eyes, focus your body, sir!” This familiar value builder is heard often at each Apollo’s Karate location.

Steven Satterwhite is a 2nd Degree Black Belt, and is Chief Instructor and Manager of the Owasso location. He has been there for five of its eight years of operation.

“I wanted to begin martial arts when I was five years old. I finally began when I was 14,” Satterwhite recalls. His mother then realized how serious he was when he began to pay his own way.

Since then, he has become a focused, highly skilled, professional fighter and kick-boxer. Trained by Five-Time World Champion, Dale “Apollo” Cook, and Two-Time World Champion, Kevin Nix, he is skilled in Submissions and Jujitsu as well as other disciplines.

Remembering his interest at a young age, Satterwhite encourages others to begin while they are young. At Owasso, as with other Apollo’s Karate locations, instruction starts at age four.

The four, five, and six year olds form training sessions known as the ‘Little Ninjas’. The instructors begin teaching them self-defense along with other life skills.

“These skills, according to Satterwhite, include respect, politeness, confidence and ‘stranger-danger’ techniques.” Self-defense techniques include stand-up defense maneuvers, some submission moves, joint locks, Jujitsu and ground fighting. Ninety-percent of fights end on the ground. We teach our students how to deal with those situations.

Involving kids in martial arts training keeps them focused and out of trouble. “Mr. Cook has been very involved in the community, going into the schools, teaching life skills such as goal setting, making choices and dealing with peer pressure.

He believes martial arts training transfers to everyday life situations. We teach our students the importance of standing up for themselves when they must, walking away from aggression when they can and seeking understanding when necessary by raising their hand to ask a question,” said Satterwhite.

Martial arts training develops vital concentration skills that younger and older students can use throughout their lives. Dedication to the sport and progressive skill mastery encourages children, especially, to excel in every area of their lives.

Parents are encouraged to know that aggressive behavior is not encouraged. Cook assures that his school’s focus is positive assurance, encouraging students to walk away from violence and feeling good about themselves in the process.

Satterwhite affirms for the Owasso location what is true for each of Apollo’s Tulsa area locations, “The kids make this worth it because they are the future. If we teach kids useful life skills and confidence building techniques, they will create a good future for us all.”

From children to adults, the instruction levels increase. Adults learn more extensive self-defense and submission techniques.

Apollo’s Karate spans all ages and gender. “Female involvement is growing and we have a few older adults involved,” Satterwhite adds, “Martial arts is not just a male sport or merely for the young. Anybody can benefit from it, if they apply their heart and mind.”

Specials are available at Owasso and at each Apollo’s Karate location. Hours of operation are Monday through Thursday, 3 p.m. to 9 p.m., Friday, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to noon. Classes begin daily at 4 p.m.

Focus benefits everyone. Apollo’s Karate instills it in students of every age.

For more information, contact

Apollos Karate

Tulsa

(918) 627-7070

(918) 369-1953

Owasso

(918) 695-7070

Broken Arrow

(918) 695-8885