Thomas Killens started teaching Karate and Akido in Whiteville in 2000 because of his passion for these unique arts. We asked Thomas how his interest started, and to share his journey and philosophy with us. I was attending Rosenwald High School in Fairmont when desegregation became law, and was moved to Fairmont High School.

I started playing football there, was good at it, and became the first Black captain of the football team. I was also curious about martial arts; I had watched some on TV, and had seen some magazines, and really wanted to know how they could do those moves. Then I discovered that Southeastern Community College offered Karate as part of the curriculum. I jumped at it, and yes, it was as great as I expected.

Black Belt magazine had listings of competitions, and on Friday nights, after working my welding job all week, I’d drive to tournaments and compete, eventually going up and down the East Coast. I also studied Akido with Del Russ in Wilmington, North Carolina, three to sometimes four times a week. I was in the company of world champions, like Bill Wallace, Joe Corley, and Chuck Norris, who wasn’t a movie star yet. I even beat some of their students! And in 1999 I went to a seminar in Washington, D.C., held by Saotome Seusei, a student of Morihei Ueshiba, the founder of Akido. My credentials include attaining a 7th degree black belt in Karate, a 3rd degree blackbelt in Akido, and a 2nd degree blackbelt in Toyamo-Ryu Iaido.

Martial arts are a way of life, that can be used for self-defense. You’re disciplining the body to help you control the mind. You do things over and over in the quest for perfection, and that carries over into your life. That said, Karate and Akido are very different. Karate has been made into a sport, with competitions, where you have aggressive moves as well as self-defense. However, there are no aggressive moves with Akido. When you practice Akido, you need a partner to be the aggressor, so you can do the Akido technique.

The school was never supposed to be a primary source of income. While teaching on the side, I had a successful 35-year career with the NC Department of Corrections, thanks in large part to the lessons learned through my practice. But helping others start their martial arts journey towards self-confidence and a disciplined, successful life has been very rewarding. I love it when a parent tells me that their shy son is now outgoing at school, or their daughter is so much happier.

After all, we only get one shot at life, why not make it the best one it can be?