The other kids in school picked on Luke Miller.

The 6-year-old suffered from confidence issues because of this.

That was when the Jefferson Elementary School student expressed an interest in martial arts.

Six months ago, Luke was enrolled at Snyder’s American Tae Kwon Do Association Black Belt Academy.

Since then, his mother Melissa has noticed a change.

“I’m glad he wanted to come,” Miller said. “It’s really helped with his self confidence.”

Such are the benefits that kids have found at Charleston’s two martial arts schools: Snyder’s and Karate USA.

For 11-year-old Spencer White, who is unable to run for long periods of time, classes at Karate USA served as an alternative to other sports.

“I hope a lot of other people join,” White said. “It’s helped me meet some new friends and some new people.”

Confidence is a common gain among young martial artists, many of whom learn to be more outgoing as lessons progress.

By getting students up in front of a group, working with others and even shouting while they execute maneuvers, their confidence and comfort around others begins to increase, said Mitch Saret, owner of Karate USA.

A martial artist since his teenage years, Shawn Snyder, owner of Snyder’s, has experienced the long-term benefits that martial arts can offer.

“I don’t have any problems whatsoever in front of a crowd of people,” he said.

Perhaps more importantly than self-defense, instructors at both Karate USA and Snyder’s aim to teach students social skills that they can use in their day-to-day lives.

“It’s teaches you respect, motivation, perseverance, and helps you make friends at school,” said 9-year-old Katie Miller, a student at Snyder’s.

While it is rare for a martial arts student to need to use their skills in a fight, when it happens on school grounds, any student involved is typically suspended. For this reason, Saret makes a point to find out exactly how the fight started.

“I will go to whatever lengths I have to, to see if my student was in the right, and they were just protecting themselves,” Saret said.

If the student in question did start the fight, Saret automatically demotes them back to white belt, the equivalent of a beginner.

Though both schools are located in Charleston, neither owner expressed concern about competition.

“I don’t really worry about competition,” Snyder said. “If people like me, then they like me. I just try and do my best.”

But Damon Walter, a 10-year-old student at Snyder’s, said students learn a lot more than just how to fight.

“You learn respect, and to respect everyone,” he said.

Matthew Smith of Charleston gives his sensei the “Knee of Vengance” technique Monday evening at the Karate U.S.A. dojo.

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