Grandmaster Hans Martial Arts of Central Arkansas

Thursday, June 18, 2009


By PAULA BARR
Daily Journal Staff Writer


Eighty-year-old fifth-degree black belt Inez Kniffen takes down her instructor, Master Ceth Jordan, during a recent class in Farmington. - Paula Barr / Daily Journal
More PhotosShe has been a wife, mother and psychiatric nurse. Now, at age 80, Farmington resident Juanita Inez Kniffen has a new title — master.

Kniffen recently earned her fifth-degree black belt in Youn Wha Ryu, a type of martial arts that combines the styles of Taekwondo, Karate, Hapkido, Kung Fu, Jiu Jitsu, Tai Chi and incorporates some work with weapons.

For more than 13 years, Kniffen has studied under studio owner and instructor, Master Ceth Jordan at Grand Master Han’s Martial Arts in Farmington, who is one of two sixth-degree black belts in the country in Youn Wha Ryu. Only she and three other of his students have advanced this far, Jordan said.

“She trains more consistently than any other student I have,” he added. “She never misses a lesson.”

Kniffen began her new hobby at age 66. At first, she tried Tai Chi, but after three months, the pace was too slow. Now, she can send grown men flying through the air with a couple of swift moves while getting in a few solid punches.

“We’re teaching people how to fight and we’re teaching them to fight back,” Jordan said. “You have to stand up for yourself, whether it means using your fist, using your voice, or just getting up and leaving. Don’t just give up.”

Like the other 100 or so students, Kniffen pays $50 a month and takes as many classes as she wants, including a private lesson once a week in the facility behind Country Mart.

A native of Belle Rive, Ill., Kniffen attended a one-room schoolhouse with her younger sister. Grades alternated — first grade was taught one year, second grade was taught the next.

At 16, she fell in love and married a young man with whom she had two sons. The marriage did not last, and Kniffen later married a second time to a man with whom she shared 35 years before his death in 1985.

“Ralph would be so proud of me,” Kniffen said.

Early in their marriage, Kniffen had earned an associate’s degree and a bachelor’s degree in nursing. She left her job after Ralph’s death. Her younger son had been badly injured in Vietnam and eventually had to move in with Kniffen for the care he needed.

The demands of caring for her disabled son led Kniffen to find physical activities as an outlet. She learned to swim, ride horses and belly dance. She walked three marathons — two on the Kady Trail and one in California, and continued her bowling hobby. She also began making it a point to meet with friends of all ages for lunch and conversation.

“Keeping busy — that’s the key to longevity,” Kniffen said. “They say being with younger people keeps people young, so I make it a point to help by spending some time with ‘old women’ in their 90s.”

Kniffen talked her younger sister into beginning martial arts classes. The sister wanted to learn how to break boards, but Kniffen never had that desire.

“I’ve got arthritis from the back of my neck to my toes,” Kniffen told her. “There’s no way I’m going risk breaking my hands on boards.”

As a beginner, Kniffen began as a white belt, but moved up through the colors to yellow, green, blue, red, brown and then black.

Since earning the black belt, Kniffen has learned about 50 “forms,” or stylized routines. Physical training became more challenging as she moved through the higher levels. Moving higher through the black belt degrees also requires nonphysical skills such as leadership.

It took two years for Kniffen to move from fourth degree to the fifth degree black belt. It would take another eight to 10 years to qualify for the sixth degree, if she wanted to pursue it.

“I have reached my goal at the fifth degree,” she added. “I will continue to train, though.”

Kniffen said her current goal is to inspire others to be active, mentally and physically, in order to lead a longer, productive life. No time is too late to start activities such as martial arts, she said.

Because of her age, requirements are slightly different for Kniffen than for youngsters. For example, 25-year-olds taking the test would be required to fight two people. Kniffen did not have to fight, but did have to demonstrate moves and complete requirements the younger students did not have to do.

And while she is quick to toss an “attacker” to the floor, Kniffen does not take the offensive.

“They don’t want to hurt me,” she said.

That does not mean getting her degrees was a gift. Kniffen made it clear when she began that she intended to earn each of her steps. That is exactly what she has had to do, Jordan said.

“It was no walk in the park,” he said.