Grosse Pointe Woods

Local martial arts studio raises money for charity

By April Lehmbeck
C & G Staff Writer

» click to enlarge « Photo by April Lehmbeck New Edge Martial Arts co-owner/ instructor Kevin Nilson helps newly promoted student Emmett Cho put on his new purple belt. The school is hosting a kick-a-thon for charity this month. Photo by April Lehmbeck New Edge Martial Arts co-owner/ instructor Kevin Nilson helps newly promoted student Emmett Cho put on his new purple belt. The school is hosting a kick-a-thon for charity this month. Photo by April Lehmbeck Yellow belt Jeidus Deseranno gives a board held by Nilson a knee strike during a class. 0 Photo by April Lehmbeck Yellow belt Jeidus Deseranno gives a board held by Nilson a knee strike during a class.

GROSSE POINTE WOODS — Martial arts take focus and discipline, stamina and power. And a studio in the Woods also helps its students grow in character and humanity through charity.

New Edge Martial Arts is planning a “kick-a-thon” to raise money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The students are gathering pledges for their efforts; the event is scheduled for July 21 at the studio on Mack Avenue.

“My students will be raising awareness and bringing in donations from friends and family as they kick until they cannot kick anymore,” co-owner and fifth-degree black belt Kevin Nilson said.

It’s not the first time the studio has done something for charity and raised money for St. Jude, and with the values of the company’s owners, it won’t be the last.

“I am hopeful that it will help raise awareness for St. Jude, as well as inspire others to participate in charity events of their own,” Nilson said.

“We’re expecting a big turnout,” Nilson said.

Nilson and his mother, Cindie Lee New, also a fifth-degree black belt, run the studio. It’s a job they enjoy — something that’s fun and rewarding, where the students are like family in many ways.

Like families sometimes do, the students will band together to take part in something bigger than themselves.

During the fundraising event, students will do a speed-kicking activity, and people have options like if they want to donate per kick or pledge a flat amount, Nilson said.

The students will be kicking for at least three minutes, longer than the normal speed-kicking activities they do in class.

“It’s a lot more exhausting, and they really have to work to raise money for it,” Nilson said.

“We’ve got new students who haven’t done the kick-a-thon, so it’s always a treat for them,” New said.

While Nilson set a goal to raise at least $2,000, he’s not settling for simply reaching that goal.

“I’m hoping to raise a lot more than that,” he said. “I think we can with this community.”

When choosing what type of charity to raise money for, the mission at St. Jude tugged at their hearts.

“It deals mostly with children,” Nilson said. “My mom and I have a passion for dealing with kids.”

This type of activity not only benefits the charity, but also the students.

“It teaches the kids community service at a young age,” New said.

Nilson agreed.

“It teaches the kids that they can both become healthy in exercise, as well as raise awareness,” he said.

This isn’t the only way the Nilsons give back either. Another way they’ve found that they can help others is by offering free self-defense classes.

The free classes are held with no pressure on anyone who comes to them to feel they are being sold future martial arts classes. It’s just a way to contribute and give back to the community, Nilson explained.

Anyone who wants to donate to the St. Jude fundraiser can contact New Edge Martial Arts at (313) 885-5199 for more information.

You can reach C & G Staff Writer April Lehmbeck at alehmbeck@candgnews.com or at (586)498-1043.