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Berwyn, IL —
At 76 years old, Sensei Ken Keith could be forgiven for sitting back and enjoying his golden years. He’s done just the opposite.
Keith, a retired Cook County deputy sheriff, has been practicing martial arts since age 10, now running a dojo out of his 2.5-car garage on Chicago’s South Side he had built specifically for practicing martial arts. He staunchly insists on running his dojo free of charge.
Currently, he spends his Saturdays from 1 to 3 p.m. teaching a self-defense course at the Pav YMCA in Berwyn, also free of charge.
“It keeps me agile; it keeps me moving,” Keith said. “I just love it.”
Whether as a deputy sheriff or a self-defense instructor, Keith has dedicated his life to keeping people safe. He even devised his own kind of martial arts he calls Takeo Ryu. Keith said he offers free self-defense courses for any group in Chicago and the immediate suburbs who asks. He even brings students from his dojo to provide assistance.
Students during last Saturday’s course at the YMCA were treated to one-on-one tutelage from Keith and his staff.
“I think people gain self-esteem and confidence, as well as awareness of their personal well being and overall conditioning,” Keith said of his courses.
Margot Ruark, the director of The Peace Center in Berwyn, organized self-defense courses at the YMCA because she believes a sense of personal safety is prerequisite to gaining inner peace. She reached out to Keith and has been nothing but happy with his work.
“It’s really nice to work with people who are passionate about what they do,” Ruark said. “He’s really on a mission to keep people safe.”
Simply grab Keith’s wrist and he’ll smoothly roll into six different joint locks before a person could start counting. Then he’ll demonstrate just as many strikes, pressure points and maneuvers to evade an attacker.
Although all of Keith’s methods are firmly rooted in a deep understanding of the martial arts, his courses present a streetwise sense of utility and urgency. This Saturday’s course at the YMCA will be the third in a four-part series, but all are welcome to attend.
“Self defense is not something you can do real quickly,” Keith said. “It’s painstaking. It takes time.”
At 76 years old, Sensei Ken Keith could be forgiven for sitting back and enjoying his golden years. He’s done just the opposite.
Keith, a retired Cook County deputy sheriff, has been practicing martial arts since age 10, now running a dojo out of his 2.5-car garage on Chicago’s South Side he had built specifically for practicing martial arts. He staunchly insists on running his dojo free of charge.
Currently, he spends his Saturdays from 1 to 3 p.m. teaching a self-defense course at the Pav YMCA in Berwyn, also free of charge.
“It keeps me agile; it keeps me moving,” Keith said. “I just love it.”
Whether as a deputy sheriff or a self-defense instructor, Keith has dedicated his life to keeping people safe. He even devised his own kind of martial arts he calls Takeo Ryu. Keith said he offers free self-defense courses for any group in Chicago and the immediate suburbs who asks. He even brings students from his dojo to provide assistance.
Students during last Saturday’s course at the YMCA were treated to one-on-one tutelage from Keith and his staff.
“I think people gain self-esteem and confidence, as well as awareness of their personal well being and overall conditioning,” Keith said of his courses.
Margot Ruark, the director of The Peace Center in Berwyn, organized self-defense courses at the YMCA because she believes a sense of personal safety is prerequisite to gaining inner peace. She reached out to Keith and has been nothing but happy with his work.
“It’s really nice to work with people who are passionate about what they do,” Ruark said. “He’s really on a mission to keep people safe.”
Simply grab Keith’s wrist and he’ll smoothly roll into six different joint locks before a person could start counting. Then he’ll demonstrate just as many strikes, pressure points and maneuvers to evade an attacker.
Although all of Keith’s methods are firmly rooted in a deep understanding of the martial arts, his courses present a streetwise sense of utility and urgency. This Saturday’s course at the YMCA will be the third in a four-part series, but all are welcome to attend.
“Self defense is not something you can do real quickly,” Keith said. “It’s painstaking. It takes time.”
