Gold Martial Arts Reaches The Next Generation

Gold Martial Arts in Glen Cove has become a place where kids can learn self-discipline and life-lessons while having fun, exercising and socializing.  

Longtime city resident Hender Alvarado, the school's owner and chief instructor, called his business a family-oriented place that aims to channel kids energy in a positive direction.

"Many people think that martial arts is all about breaking someone's nose or breaking someone's arm, but that's not true," Alvarado explained. "Martial arts is not about violence, it's about discipline and the kids here learn how to control themselves and how to be respectful to others."

And Alvarado can be considered as an expert, because he has more than 20 years of experience in martial arts.

The 15-year city resident was a gold medalist at the 2003 and 2004 USA National Karate Championships in New Orleans and San Jose, Calif., respectively, a Tae Kwon Do gold medal winner at Pennsylvania's 2004 Master's Cup in the black belt heavyweight division, and a bronze medalist at the 2002 USA National Karate Championship in Norfolk, Va., just to name a few. 

Since his business first opened in January 2007, Alvarado said, he has been using his experience to teach and inspire countless students in the area. 

Gold Martial Arts — currently the only martial arts institution for children in the city — offers several age options, starting at Little Ninjas for kids ages 3 to 6, followed by Karate Kids for youngsters ages 7 and up. Each class is grouped by age, so that the children are able to socialize with kids in the same grade as them. The business also offers a martial arts after-school program as well as karate birthday parties and a summer karate camp. 

"When the children are here, they are getting a lot of positive reinforcement and that's what is important because they are building their self-confidence," Alvarado said, adding that he is looking to establish a 2-year-old karate program for kids and their parents. "Then that confidence transfers to other parts of their lives and then you begin to see their grades get better, their school behavior improves and their entire attitude changes for the better."

And the school has been garnering the praise of officials in the city such as Mayor Ralph Suozzi. 

"My son, Alex has been attending classes at Gold Martial Arts under the supervision and expertise of Sensei Hender Alvarado for the past several months," Suozzi said in a statement. "It is precisely because of Sensei Hender's ability to teach in a safe and fun environment that has motivated my son to look forward to attending each time. Professionally speaking, in my role as mayor, it is my pleasure to have a business such as Gold Martial Arts as a part of my community and personally I am privileged to have it be an integral a part of our lives."

For more information on this school, call (516) 801-2622 or go to glencovekarate.com.