FULLERTON : Youngsters Get Big Kick Out of Class

Two steps up. Five steps back. Mie-guere (front kick). Oi-zuki (sharp air jab).

Sensei Mario Huipe’s karate classes are full of such instructions, which his students follow with fervor.

About a dozen of the city’s neediest children attend Huipe’s free classes on weekends at the First Baptist Church. Huipe, a Karate Do brown belt, has been offering the classes for the past two years to youngsters who cannot afford private lessons.

Huipe, whose heritage is of the Purepecha Indian tribe from Michoacan, Mexico, conducts his classes in Japanese, English and Spanish. Most of his pupils speak English and Spanish and are enthusiastically picking up some Japanese along with karate technique. But that’s not all they’re learning in this gang-alternative program.

“Karate makes me feel like I can do anything,” said student Julian Gomez, 13. “I’m learning how to protect myself, how to say no to gangs and drugs and be proud of myself.”

Eight-year-old Luis Montes, who recently won two first-place trophies at a National Junior Karate Tournament, credits Huipe for his success in the sport and in school.

“I used to get bad grades,” said Luis, who started taking Huipe’s class 1 1/2 years ago. “Now I get all A’s. It’s because of the karate. . . . I feel like I can be a champion in everything.”

His parents agreed, saying they are grateful for Huipe’s classes.

Huipe “motivates the children to excel in everything,” Luis’ father, Angel Montes, said. Stimulating the whole child through the mental and physical rigors of karate is the purpose for the classes, said Huipe, who works as a security guard for the Shield Security Co., based in Orange.

“Something very amazing happens through the martial arts,” he said. “The students gain self-confidence, self-esteem and a feeling that they can take on any challenge. That kind of pride helps you later in life. You can face difficult situations in a calm manner and make the right decisions.