Buffington Martial Arts to open Jan. 5
WAYNESBURG — It is always exciting to see a new business open up in Greene County, especially one that promotes health and safety, encourages people to learn new skills and teaches techniques that can not only help people defend themselves in unexpected confrontations but could also save their lives.
Chet Buffington believes his new business will do just that.
Beginning Jan. 5, Buffington Martial Arts will offer classes twice a week at 80 W. High St. in Waynesburg, in the same building as Time To Dance, on the second floor.
Students will learn numerous disciplines, including karate, self-defense, kickboxing and grappling.
The martial arts classes for ages 13 and up start Jan. 5 and will be held every Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. and every Thursday at 6 p.m.
Unlike other martial arts classes, there are no contracts to sign. The cost is $50 per month, and new students will receive a free martial arts t-shirt. Walk-ins are welcome; however, everyone is encouraged to call to sign up.
Each evening that the classes are offered, there will be two different classes. The first class, which Buffington calls “Aesthetics and Athletics,” teaches traditional karate and self-defense techniques, and the second class, which he calls “Combatants,” will focus on controlled contact sessions.
“The first class teaches proper punch and kick techniques as well as self-defense maneuvers,” Buffington said. “If someone puts you in a choke hold or a bear hug, how do you get out of it? How can you defend yourself? That’s what this class will teach you.
“As for the second class, it is more advanced,” he continued. “We spar, we make contact, in a controlled environment. We let them put on boxing gloves and gear and go at it.”
Buffington will not be instructing in the classes alone. He will be joined in the classes by instructors Chad Wendell and Chad Tedrow, both of who hold first degree black belts in Go-Ju Ryu Karate; and Master Paul Braddock of Waynesburg, who holds a sixth degree black belt in Go-Ju Ryu Karate, a third degree black belt in Bando and a brown belt in Judo.
Buffington said he and his instructors will take the classes very seriously and will instruct their students to the very best of their abilities.
“When our students learn from us, they will be representing us in their everyday lives,” he said. “So what we teach them and what they learn from us will be a strong reflection of us.”
Buffington encourages students to make a long-term commitment to the classes, as they will be able to move up through ranks over time.
Braddock said people of all ages can benefit from the self-defense classes.
“After one class, students feel much more confident,” he said. “When you learn and have skills and confidence, you don’t need to fight. I always like to say that martial arts teaches people to be ‘Gentlemen First and Animals Second.’ Fighting is only one aspect of what you can learn here.
“Martial arts can really be a life-saving experience,” he added. “As a parent, I’d rather see my kids learn to protect and defend themselves than see them lying on a slab.”
Braddock said students will greatly benefit from Buffington’s experience.
“He is tremendously skilled because he will help students gain the true understanding of why and how the techniques work,” Braddock said. “People need to understand that no matter how much time and sweat they put into a karate class, it doesn’t matter if they don’t have a good teacher. With Chet, I just know that the perfect student is about to become a great teacher.”
Buffington has 47 years of martial arts experience and a multitude of accolades, honors, awards and inductions.
He holds a fifth degree black belt in Go-Ju Ryu Karate and an eighth degree black belt in Bando. He is a five-time Bando National Champion and was inducted into the Bando Hall of Fame in 2001.
He was featured twice in “Who’s Who in American Martial Arts” and was also featured in a weapons and fighting demonstration for the Burmese Ambassador of the 2004 Bando Nationals.
He was awarded the Team Cup for the best school at the Bando Nationals nine times, along with Masters Tom Hogan and Jerry George for the Wheeling Bando School and one time for the Columbus Bando School.
Buffington was selected to be on the USA Team for Bando demonstrations in Paris, France in 2005 and was featured in a weapons demonstration in Atlanta, Georgia at the 2014 Bando Weapons Camp.
He was inducted into the Ohio Valley Martial Arts Championships Hall of Fame in 2014.
For more information or to sign up for classes, call 614-441-5953 or 724-499-5896. You may also find out more about the classes by visiting www.buffingtonmartialarts.com.