Pioneer Times photograph/Gloria Austin
READY — Several students taking kickboxing classes at Asian Karate Institute (AKI) on 12 Maple St. in Houlton are, from left, Danny Gillotti, Cody Tucker, Isaiah Dupuis, Josh Palmer, Toni Gillotti, Dominic Hatch and Kristen and Sha’Born Armstrong.
By Gloria Austin
Staff Writer
Sha’born Armstrong, 22, has opened his own Asian Karate Institute (AKI) in Houlton, but what you find in his dojo is different than other local martial art schools.
Armstrong is teaching kickboxing.
Growing up in urban New Jersey, Armstrong had to make good decisions and right choices as he was faced with a variety of predicaments whether it was at school or on the streets.
“There are a lot of different people and trouble to deal with,” he said.
Coming to the Shiretown to visit his prospective wife, the wheels started turning in his mind.
“Before I went back, she said, ‘It would be cool if you opened a school up here.’ She didn’t know it, but I was already considering moving here before she mentioned it,” he said.
Pioneer Times photograph/Gloria Austin
SIGNING UP — Toni Gilloti signs up for classes at AKI on 12 Maple St. in Houlton.
“I knew he would do great at it,” said his wife Kristen [Hatch] Armstrong.
The couple opened AKI in March at 12 Maple St. and interest has been steadily peaking. The couple are now looking at expanding their dojo and offering more classes to accommodate the growing clientele.
“At first, we came here [during registrations] and no one showed up because it had snowed,” said Armstrong. “Then, word started spreading and now it’s like a wildfire.”
At least two to four new students register each week at AKI. Their adult class is the largest and they had to split the group.
“We only fit roughly 13 in here,” said Armstrong. “A lot of people just want to come for the workout. It is different than what they do at their homes. I am not going to push someone into fighting if they don’t want to fight. If people just want to come to work out, come by all means. This is a different atmosphere and workout.”
The definition of kickboxing is boxing in which boxers are permitted to kick with their bare feet as in karate. It is a combination of disciplines such as the mixed martial arts.
“In a way we are cardio, but not at the same pace,” explained Armstrong. “We go through a set of combinations. Once you think you are done, I kick you into another exercise to get your heart rate up.”
Cardio kickboxing was a discipline that Armstrong could not engage in.
“Originally, I went to a cardio kickboxing school, but it wasn’t for me. I wanted to fight,” he said.
After walking by one building for several days, Armstrong got his courage up to go in.
“I went in and met the teacher,” said Armstrong. “I started training originally just as a workout. Then, my teacher told me he wanted me to go full contact in competition.”
Armstrong decided to pursue the competitive side of kickboxing.
“Mind you, it was not easy,” he smiled and shook his head. “It definitely was not easy. I stuck through it. It wasn’t that I just wanted to fight. I enjoyed kickboxing. I enjoyed going there and meeting other people. Everyone became a big family for me.”
Pioneer Times photograph/Gloria Austin
WORKOUT — Sha’Born Armstrong, right, holds the pads while Isaiha Dupuis prepares to start his exercises.
Eventually, Armstrong fought in a title match and won the amateur New Jersey heavy-weight belt.
That is the credential, along with the blessing of his mentor Shihan Luis Colon, a fifth-degree Kenpo Black Belt, by which Armstrong opened his business.
“My teacher said I had the experience and to go ahead and open a school,” said Armstrong. “The Asian Karate Institute is my teacher’s school. He was trained under an Asian teacher and he brought that [discipline] back to New Jersey countless years ago. I then asked him if I could use the school’s name and become a branch of his school. He was in full support of it.”
Armstrong noted his wife thought that kickboxing may be something people were looking to try.
“It has opened a lot of doors,” said Armstrong. “I have met a lot of people already.”
Before Armstrong even opened his school, one of his first students was eighth-grader Isaiah Dupuis, son of Mike and Renee Tucker of Hodgdon. The 14-year-old was being “bullied” at school and wanted to get even, but Armstrong showed him another alternative.
“I got into a couple fights at school,” said Dupuis. “I was getting picked on and getting teased. I had gotten charged one day and I took it all out on the one kid who charged me.”
“He told me about a kid he had a problem with at school,” explained Armstrong. “He said, ‘I am going to beat this kid up.’ I told him, ‘You don’t have to do that.’ It is not going to do anything except make it worse for you.”
Dupuis reminded Armstrong of himself many years ago.
“That is how I felt when I first met my teacher,” explained Armstrong. “I was picked on, probably because of my weight, but working there [AKI] changed my view.”
Armstrong worked with Dupuis six hours, four days a week. Dupuis even hit the gym on weekends. “Since I’ve started kickboxing, I haven’t been in one fight,” Dupuis said. “I have learned that is not good either, you can really hurt someone and you don’t want to do that.”
As Dupuis’ outlook changed — slowly, not overnight, — the problem diffused.
Along with physical training comes insight of how to combat life’s challenges with a clearer head.
“Anyone can punch a bag,” said Armstrong. “Kickboxing is not just punching a bag. It takes more than that to deal with life. Through training, I want to show students a different aspect of how you handle day-to-day pressures.
Pioneer Times photograph/Gloria Austin
BAG TIME — Isaiah Dupuis begins working out on the bags at Asian Karate Institute (AKI) where he studies kickboxing. Dupuis is one of AKI’s first competitive fighters.
“If you tend to have anger issues, come here and be as aggressive as you would like on the bag,” he added. “Do that here. Not in the real world.”
Kickboxing is Dupuis’ niche and he got his younger brother and sister, Cody, 12 and Marina, 8, into the sport.
“It is something I like doing,” he said. “It is better than getting in trouble at school or getting caught up with stupid stuff like doing drugs. I have learned a lot here and I’ve met new people.”
Armstrong noted that there are not many competitive kickboxing schools, and Dupuis, who is of a slender build, is one of his competitive fighters. One of Armstrong’s goals is to have a team of fighters who will compete in New York and New Jersey.
“I will get him as far as I can throw him, which will be pretty far,” Armstrong laughed. “I would love him to take on the competitive way and maybe, in the future, he will open his own school.”
Besides just building up an arsenal of competitive kickboxers, Armstrong wants community members to check out what he is offering.
“Don’t look at it as something you wouldn’t try because you might get hurt. It is not that way. Come and try it. You like it, you continue. You don’t like it, you continue,” laughed Armstrong. “There is nothing wrong with a little workout. It is not all about fighting.”
The Armstrongs offer a number of classes including: K-3 introduction class each Wednesday; unlimited classes for grade 8 and under; unlimited adult classes and competitive classes. Cost varies but ranges from $35 to $65 a month.
“I would love to build the K-8 grade demographic,” said Armstrong. “I would love to double those classes.”
“Our classes are affordable for everyone,” added Kristen. “The price isn’t through the roof.”
The classes, according to the Armstrongs, are a good option for youth who may not have anything to do. Instead of wandering around and getting into trouble due to boredom, they want kids to check out their school.
“This is a family environment,” explained Armstrong. “Kids become your friends, not your enemies. You get to know people; but you get to know them for who they are not what you see.”
“Everyone is very encouraging,” added Kristen.
For more information on AKI, stop by their gym at 12 Maple St., Houlton.
