Strong showing for tae kwon do group

SALISBURY — The group of 14 people — two instructors and 12 students — lined up in three groups.On a signal from instructor Dylan Baker, they shuffled, sort of, dragging the back foot and jabbing with one arm, moving forward across the mat.It was a lot faster than it sounds — “it” being tae kwon do, a Korean martial art.Baker, Mark Schmidt and Kitty Visconti are the instructors, and the class had a mix of students — children, teens and adults. Baker said this class, which meets twice weekly, grew out of smaller groups run by Visconti and Baker. They began working together in 2007, moving from the North East Athletic Club in Millerton to the Grove recreation building in Lakeville and most recently to 15 Academy St., where they have been for about the past year.Several of the students competed recently as a team for the first time, and most brought home medals.During last Wednesday’s session, the group did a series of warm-up exercises that seemed rather intimidating to this reporter, but Baker explained later that tae kwon do is something anyone can do.“We’ve had 60-year-old students pick it up. It’s quite easy to get started — we bring students along quite slowly.”He described the activities the group was doing that day as of an intermediate level. “Mostly cardio and mental,” he said of the regimen. The overall goal of the sport is to develop strength, coordination, discipline — and respect.It is not about becoming a tough guy (or gal).Baker said that using tae kwon do in self-defense is “a last resort.”“We teach that you should not be in a situation where you have to close your fist.”The group now has about 33 students, male and female, ages 6 to 50. The cost is $55 per month, $135 for three months or $225 for six. Practice is Mondays and Wednesdays, 4:30 p.m., at 15 Academy St. For more information, call Baker at 860-248-5867.