A church building might seem like an unlikely place to find a martial arts academy, but it’s reality at Spruce Pine First Baptist Church where the Hope 4 Mitchell County Martial Arts Academy meets twice a week.
Rocky Branch, First Baptist Church Pastor and one of the founders of faith-based nonprofit Hope 4 Mitchell County, leads classes every Monday and Thursday.
Branch has plenty of experience to pull lessons from. He has been actively engaged in martial arts since the 1970s.
Each class costs just $1. Kids classes are every Monday and Thursday from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. and an adult class caps off the evening from 6:30 to 8 p.m.
The classes are held inside First Baptist Church and Branch volunteers his time to teach.
“It’s a community effort,” Branch said. “We just rock on with it. I don’t get anything for teaching the classes. We keep the money in an account if we need equipment or something.”
Each class begins with the pledge of allegiance and a time of prayer. Those attending a class for the first time are asked to observe before jumping in.
“The first time, you observe,” Branch said. “Whether you’ve taken classes before somewhere else or have a rank in some other style. We want you to understand.”
Branch said the classes are open to all experience levels and there is never any pressure.
“We don’t encourage people to buy a uniform or anything until you’ve been here for a couple of classes,” he said. “It’s not for everybody. There’s no pushing or pressure of any kind.”
Those that do stick with the classes benefit from not only instruction from Branch, but also lessons from the more advanced students who are always willing to help their peers.
“Our more advanced students help the younger students,” Branch said. “It’s always about pouring back into students what you’ve learned. You have to be able to teach what you know.”
Branch said the classes are as large and popular now than they have ever been. He has been running the classes for about five years.
Lately, Branch said he gets about a dozen kids and a dozen adults and admitted the numbers are likely down some due to the pandemic.
Branch encourages anyone interested in martial arts to attend a class. The classes feature a wide range of ages and skill levels.
“I’m the oldest person in the room,” Branch said laughing. “We have people in their 40s and 50s. Some have never taken classes before. We are just there to workout, get sweaty, learn some stuff and just make it happen.”