OGDEN -- High school students would be ill-advised to sluff one of the classes taught by Mark "West Side" Johnson.
The 16-year teaching veteran is a Brazilian jiujitsu instructor and is offering free martial arts instruction to high school-age kids who can't afford to take lessons on their own.
"I grew up with my mom and three sisters," he said. "I wanted to take martial arts classes, and my mom was a hardworking lady, but we couldn't afford lessons.
"It was always in the back of my mind, and I thought, 'If I'm ever in a position to help someone, I'm going to do it.' "
The Mountain View, Calif., native found his way to Utah via an athletic scholarship at Utah State University. After college, Johnson landed an English-teaching position at Ogden High School.
In 1998, he started Brazilian jiujitsu training under Pedro Sauer, a Helio Gracie black belt. Helio Gracie is a style named after the jiujitsu grand master.
In 2002, Johnson received permission from Ogden High to teach jiujitsu after school.
"I wanted to offer classes to my high school kids," he said. "We started doing it in the gym there. Then all of the sudden, it got big and adults wanted to come, too, so I opened my school and started teaching classes."
West Side Jiu-Jitsu Academy opened at 2236 Washington Blvd., across from The Junction. After that Ogden location did well, Johnson opened a second academy in Logan, at 709 W. 1725 North.
With both schools prospering, Johnson felt it was time to give back.
"I decided I wanted to give free lessons to kids that were like me growing up, you know, that wanted to take lessons but couldn't really afford it."
Johnson targeted high school-age kids after students approached him at school about lessons and he saw the disappointed look in their eyes when he explained the cost.
"I said, 'You know what, I can sponsor about 30 kids, it's not going to cost me anything, and hey, it might help them.' "
Johnson asked two of his advanced students, Miles Vigil and Grayson Greener, to be volunteer instructors for the twice-weekly classes.
"Jiujitsu has done so much for me," Vigil said. "It's nice to give back and open kids up to this kind of world and watch their skill and confidence develop."
Johnson's next challenge was finding gis -- Brazilian jiujitsu practitioner's uniforms -- for his new students. He posted information on West Side's blog and Facebook page, and contacted friends with jiujitsu gyms across the country.
It wasn't long before the boxes landed on his doorstep.
"They started pouring in," he said. "A school in Mississippi sent me 10 gis. A lady who's a lawyer in Texas found out about it on the blog and sent me two very nice gis.
"I had asked for used gis, but a lot of the ones I got were brand new, and when I gave them to the kids, it was like Christmas."
At the initial meeting before classes started, Johnson said parents were apprehensive and almost in disbelief that he would be offering the lessons with no catch.
"I had three or four parents approach me after the first session, saying, 'Now this is free, right?' And I kept saying 'Yes, it's totally free.' "
Students are given one year of free instruction.
Johnson said that is ample time for students to earn their first advanced belt, in addition to deciding if jiujitsu is really something they enjoy.
Those enrolled in the class are expected to be committed to learning the philosophy and practice of jiujitsu, only miss class for work or family commitments, and stay out of trouble. They also can't sluff school.
"It's beautiful for me, because I'll talk to the teachers at Ogden High, and if the kids are sluffing class at school or getting into fights, then showing up to jiujitsu, I can take them aside and say, 'Hey, that's a problem.' "
One of many female students enrolled, 16-year-old Torill Contos, of Ogden, heard about the classes at school and said it's been a lot of fun and an excellent workout.
"I didn't think I'd like it because I thought it would be a lot like wrestling," she said. "But I love it. We've learned a ton of different moves, and it's been a really nice outlet to look forward to letting off steam each week."
After finding himself in a little bit of trouble, 15-year-old Cesar Lopez was asked by a counselor if he'd like to give the classes a try.
"I was in boxing for a little while, so I thought I'd like this," he said. "I think it makes you a better person by teaching you self-discipline. It helps you mentally, and you learn about confidence in yourself and responsibilities."
Johnson's class currently has 24 students, and he would like to fill the remaining slots with area youths who are committed to learning, but can't afford tuition.
He would also like to offer the same kind of classes at West Side's Logan location and is curious if there is an interest in the Cache Valley.
Johnson said being able to give back something -- especially to those who may not have the means, but certainly have the desire to learn martial arts as he did growing up -- is what it's all about.
"The reason I'm doing this is because I want to," he said.
"Too many times, people think a business is a selfish entity trying to produce money. That's not why I started this school. Sometimes it's about more than money, and the people that volunteer their time and businesses are really just good people."
Comments