BY Shirley Hatch, Branford News Publisher

Timothy Walker is offering Karate classes to children, teens, and adults in the Suwannee River Valley. He is certified from American Kenpo Karate University and he and his family are making their home in the area. Walker said, “I am offering Karate classes to 4, 5, 6 year olds; ages 7-12; teens and adults.”



Walker said there are mental benefits as well as physical benefits to learning Karate. The mental benefits are: improve your confidence, strengthen your attitude, increase your concentration, gain peace of mind, help reduce stress, keeps your interest and enjoy new friends.



The physical benefits are: improve your flexibility, strengthen your muscles, increase your coordination, gain self-defense skills, help increase endurance, keeps you agile and enjoy new challenges.



Moving to Suwannee County to be closer to family members, Walker retired from his job of 24 years in retail sales and retail theft/loss prevention. He has been married for over 17 years having two children, Rachel and Joshua, Tim is currently employed in Lafayette and Suwannee Counties as a substitute school teacher. With over 20 years Martial Arts experience, Walker touches lives while conducting fun, positive, and educational classes that are enriched with positive motivation and praise.



Walker was first introduced to the Martial Art of Kung Fu through the parks and recreation department in the late 70s. He started his formal martial arts training in 1980 when he joined a Korean karate school. Ironically, this school was teaching Kenpo Karate self-defense techniques.

Two and one half years later while searching for a school who’s priority was teaching techniques geared for street encounters, Walker enrolled in a Kenpo Karate school in 1983. 1985 saw Walker start teaching children and adult classes as a Brown belt and in January 1986, he was awarded 1st Degree Black Belt. Almost two years later in December 1987, he was promoted to 2nd Degree Black Belt. Then in June of 1989, he was promoted to the full instructor rank of 3rd Degree Black Belt.



For more information and to enroll in classes Walker can be reached at (386) 935-3777.