Michael Bainton is a champion knife thrower, martial arts expert and has a love for kids. He helps kids develop strength inside and out.
Think school – subjects like math, science, English – and mix that with martial arts and knife throwing. Well, that's what they do at South Austin Karate.
What do knives have to do with learning? Well, it's all part of focus and self-control.
"We started in 1992 here in South Austin Karate using the vehicle of martial arts for teaching self-control and discipline and some folks required children to get a 90 percent average and it's worked very well for us. Now, throughout my police career there's three reasons that I put people in prison. And I believe – now, I'm not a psychologist – but I believe those three things are lack of respect for your family, your education and yourself. And here we try to give them those three things," Bainton said
The focus is several targets on a wall and the goal is to throw a knife into the center of one of the targets.
"It's a fairly easy thing to learn. It's got a learning curve to it, but to get very accurate is, of course, a long process," Bainton said. "Any age [can do this]. We start them at 5-years-old and we have people 70, 80 years old throwing. Some of the world champions in the past have been in their late 70s and some kids – 14, 15 – have done really well."
The program has had success with ADD and ADHD children to improve their focus and self control.
"It all kind of helps them to get through their school work and their home life," Bainton said.
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Knife throwing
News 8 Austin's Heather Maze reports from South Austin.
 
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The results surprised educators.
"Well, everybody thought I was going a little too high when I asked for 90 percent average and you know, this year we've had 95 percent scholastic average through all our students. What we do is take all our grades and divide them by the number of people and we have a 95 percent average this year. For 11 years, we had a 94 and this year we have a 95," Bainton said.
The classes are Monday-Friday 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. The cost is $250/month. The summer sessions begin in May and those last all day long for the same price.
