Many people have heard of “Fight Club” that takes place in the New Science Building every Thursday.
Many people have heard of “Fight Club” that takes place in the New Science Building every Thursday.
But many people do not know that there is an actual fight club. Martial Arts club that is.
What started off as a well-known and respected club of self-discipline and control has now become unknown amongst many Aggies.
Many students are unaware that N.C. A&T holds a martial arts class every Monday and Wednesday in Campbell Hall.
Sensei Marquita Casterlow, is the only female Sensei and one of the very few who attend the class.
“Karate is a family tradition starting from my father who started this program in 1968,” she said.
Marquita is the daughter of the martial arts club founder Dr. Gilbert Casterlow.
Gilbert was a math professor at A&T.
“Karate is a great way for me to workout, [and] it forces me to eat healthy,” said Marquita.
“It has been apart of my life since I was three.”
Sensei Samuel Casterlow, brother of Gilbert, who started martial arts in the 1970s is also a professor at A&T.
“I was always interested in Martial arts. I wasn’t really interested in other sports because other sports didn’t really fit me well. I was small but had a lot of strength which made me an target, but I was in shape.”
Sophomore Aaron Neal is one of the students who atteneds the class regularly.
“My reason in taking the class was for discipline, to get a good workout, and it also has a lot to say about my work ethic.
The Martial Arts club has quite an interesting background.
People even in their sixties attend the class.
Sensei James Lacewell who has been a correctional officer for 29 years is a veteran of A&T’s martial arts club.
“I started in the 70’s when I was in my mid twenties,” said Lacewell.
He continued to say he wanted to get in shape and to learn self defense.
“Martial arts has helped me because I learned discipline for my everyday life,” Lacewell said.
“I learned how to respond in panic situations.”
Interestingly enough, Ronald McNair, the astronaut killed in the launch of the Space Shuttle Challenger in 1986, also participated in the martial arts club as a student at A&T with Gilbert.
“Martial arts is a great way to work with one another and learn the art of karate,” said Sensei Samuel Casterlow who has been partaking in Martial arts since 1976 and is also a professor at A&T.
Martial arts is also a healthy practice and limits cardiovascular problems.
Martial arts is about “fighting aggression not fighting with aggression,” said Samuel.
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- Meagan Jordan, Register Reporter