Expert in martial arts opens a studio on Slaughter Road
09/24/03
By BOB LABBE (bob0873@yahoo.com)
For the Madison Spirit
Kevin Swanner has been making a difference in the lives of people for nearly 20 years teaching martial arts.
Swanner, the holder of at least five black belts in many styles of martial arts, opened his first fully owned martial arts studio - Spirit Made Steel - on Slaughter Road.
"I began teaching classes at the Madison Recreation Department about 10 years ago, and I also operated studios in two different locations in Madison, which I leased," Swanner said. "But now I have my own land and building and I can say I am the sole owner of a martial arts studio."
He began taking martial arts classes under the late Berry Grizzard while attending college at the University of Alabama in Huntsville. Grizzard soon saw the natural talent Swanner possessed as a teacher, so he asked Swanner to help him out. The two agreed on the arrangement, which lasted for nearly a decade.
Grizzard was killed several years ago in an auto accident. But Swanner has kept following the teachings similar to what Grizzard first taught him in those classes more than 20 years ago.
"Our motto is 'Ancient Art, but a Modern Approach', and I feel our teachings of martial arts is not only fun to learn, but can be very helpful mentally and physically," said Swanner.
Swanner knows martial arts can help the body and mind.
He grew up in the East Limestone area, and he ran track in high school but always dealt with a several bronchial problem that affected his breathing. Once he began taking martial arts, which features training exercises in breath control and breathing exercises, he overcame the distress his body was going through.
Martial arts taught Swanner confidence and the ability to deal with others. Also the self-defense techniques he learned once enabled him to fight off an attacker one night while he and his date were walking in a park.
"The attacker came at me with a baseball bat," Swanner said. "I simply used my training and took control of the situation. I took away the baseball bat from the attacker, without anyone getting hurt. The attacker was totally surprised and ran away. My date was very impressed."
Swanner knows those types of attacks are rare, but he has tried to prepare everyone in his family for any situations that may arise. He has taught martial arts to his mother and father, his wife of 10 years, Morena, and their five children who range in age from 5-18.
Swanner owns one acre where the 4,000-square-foot martial arts studio is built. The building is fully equipped with mirrors, bags, sparring rings and dressing rooms. He wants to begin an outdoor training center behind his building so students can go learn their martial arts in the fresh air.
Current classes are going well. Swanner has more than 100 students enrolled in various programs, which are for all ages. Classes are broken down for children or adults. His classes include weapons training and women's self-defense, which Swanner has taught for HelpLine and HOPE Place for many years. He teaches self defense seminars at UAH and Alabama A&M University.
He is also part owner of the Eagle Spirit Karate studio in Meridianville.
Swanner, a full-time engineer and program manager at Applied Data Trends, was recently awarded an honorary black belt in Renshi Sho, which is given to teachers for high merit.
"I have had students come through my classes that have gone on to be West Point graduates, law enforcement officers and others who have included their training on their resumes in applying for a military academy," said Swanner. "Those people have certainly made me proud."
Spirit Made Steel is located at 1604 Slaughter Road. The phone number is 830-0860.