Martial arts classes start up with new year

By LYNETTE SOWELL 

Cove Leader-Press 

Children and adults alike have the opportunity to start something new this year, with martial arts classes being offered every Tuesday and Thursday by Phoenix Rising Taekwondo.

The classes are hosted by Copperas Cove Creative Space, located at 115 E. Avenue E in downtown Copperas Cove. 

Classes are at 5 p.m. for ages 3 to 6 years, and from 6-7 p.m. for ages 7 and up. 

Individual classes are $10, or $50 monthly. Discounts are available for multiple family members. Students should wear comfortable clothing, such as loose-fitting pants, like what you might wear for a gym class. 
Phoenix Rising Taekwondo is the brand-new business endeavor of Master Pamela Grant, who has studied martial arts for 25 years and has more than 20 years’ experience as a martial arts instructor. 

Grant is a Kukkiwon certified 5th Dan black belt in Taekwondo and would be considered a Master Instructor. She also began studying Hapkido and has about 20 years of experience with the art and 19 years of teaching experience. She has a 5th Dan black belt in Combat Hapkido. Likewise, she has about nine years of experience with Senkotiros Arnis and about 7 years of experience with teaching arnis. She is also a Lakan Tatlo ,which is the equivalent of a 3rd degree black belt.

“I first began training at Self Defense America in Copperas Cove under Master Jimmy Hogberg. Shortly after I earned my 1st degree black belt, I began teaching classes at Self Defense America. I was an instructor there for about 15 years,” Grant said. “I then began teaching Taekwondo classes in Temple at McCarthy’s Taekwondo/Self Defense for Grandmaster Lascelles McCarthy II. I worked there until 2022. After working for other instructors, I wanted to start my own school wherein I could take all of the best parts of what I’ve learned throughout the last 24 years.”
For the past year, she has been offering a free stick fighting class on Friday evening at the Copperas Cove Public Library. In February, Grant will be moving that class over to Copperas Cove Creative Space (CCCS). 

Last Thursday, the total number of students were seven, with two children in the 3-6 years class, and five in the age 7-adult class. 

Grant put them all through their paces as they warmed up, then spent time learning how to hit, kick, and more. 

Grant receives a lot of satisfaction at seeing her students learn and grow. 

“I love teaching martial arts. One of my favorite things is watching how the students grow both physically and mentally. I have students who had ‘two left feet’ when they started and were able to later inspire others with their impressive techniques. I’ve had students who were incredibly shy when they started, who eventually end up teaching classes. I was one of those students!” she said. “Martial arts can help with confidence, discipline, respect, and just getting in better physical shape. I love getting to see the students grow, and I’ve been in it so long that I’m now starting to see students who are the children of former students.”
Carlos Armas and his wife, Monique, are the owners and operators of Copperas Cove Creative Space, which has hosted a number of events for the community and has opened its doors to vendors. 

He explained how the collaboration for classes came about, after a referral from Jackie Duncan, property owner of the building where Creative Space had its start but Armas found they quickly outgrew. The Armases then moved to downtown Copperas Cove.

“The community has been great. It started with my former landlord, where we started. Miss Pamela came over there and she was looking for a place because of the occupancy. Ms. (Jackie) Duncan actually said, ‘Hey, my tenant has a place,’ and she came here, and it just worked out.”

Copperas Cove Creative Space is also offering to sponsor the first five students who enroll. 

“We know how hard it is to start a business,” Armas added. 

Copperas Cove Creative Space recently hosted a New Year’s Eve party with a comedy night, has upcoming open mic nights and hosts the Central Texas Writers Society. It also boasts a “smash room” where for a small fee, people can don protective gear and take sledgehammers to porcelain plates and other “smashable” items. 

For more about the classes, contact Pamela Grant via email at pamelagrant13@gmail.com or by calling (254) 661-3910. They can also to stop by the Copperas Cove Creative Space before or after classes to ask questions. Phoenix Rising can also be contacted via their social media page at https://www.facebook.com/PhoenixRisingTaekwondo. Copperas Cove Creative Space can be reached at copperascovecreativespace@gmail.com.