Freshman Cameron Colley may have a humble demeanor, but his skills in Kempo karate should not be underestimated. Colley has been training in Kempo since the age of four and received his black belt at 13 years old.

Before Colley was four years old, he was taught to be well-mannered and to refrain from physical provocation at daycare. However, in kindergarten, kids in his class acted differently than the calmer ways he was used to. “When I’d go pick him up after school, there he would be at the bottom of the pile of kids saying ‘I don’t like this’ or ‘Get off of me’” Colley’s mom Barbara Colley wrote in an e-mail message. “We enrolled him in the martial arts and he took to it like a bird in flight.”

The Kempo style emphasizes the usage of hand and feet techniques, as well as immobilization, take-downs and weaponry. Still, like most martial arts, Kempo focuses on the discipline of the body and mind. The goal of a Kempo user is to have his or her motions flow naturally and ultimately achieve harmony.

Colley took the philosophy of “peace over power” to heart and has reaped greatly from the benefits of discipline. “[Karate] gives me the discipline to do my homework and try hard in my studies at school,” Colley said.

In the summer of 2006, Colley joined the United States Self Defense Academy (USSD) tour to China. The tour group, consisting of martial artists from all over the country, visited and trained alongside the Shaolin Monks of China. During the tour, Colley received his black belt from the Shaolin monks.

As of now, Colley trains three to four hours each week and regularly competes in sparring, Kata (a Kempo form) and weapons arts. While Colley shows mastery in the weapons arts of bowstaff and sword, his favorite aspect of karate is sparring. “It is interesting because your opponent and you go at each other and are really trying to hurt each other,” he said. Colley has won multiple tournaments, including first place in the 2005 Junior Men’s Sparring Black Belt Tournament.

While Kempo helps to build discipline and control, no one can argue that karate won’t come in handy physically. “Karate gives me the physical fitness, balance and skills [so] that I can pick up any sport really fast,” Colley said. “[Also], when you get in trouble, you’ll really need it.”