The gym at Rainier Middle School resounds with the noise of martial artists at work.

On the wooden floor more than 25 gi-clad students go through their paces, a shout punctuating each punch, kick and move.

Senpai James Penor, of the Unified Shito-Ryu Academy, directs them, alternating commands and encouraging words with the occasional stern admonishments.

“We try to make it fun, but I try to be strict, also,” said Penor, a fifth-degree black belt in karate. “I don’t think you get that as much anymore. I don’t think they discipline them much anymore.”

Every Tuesday and Thursday, the class meets at Rainier to learn from Penor, who himself learned karate from legendary sensei Soke Kubota.

Penor started the Unified Academy in Bellevue in 1988. A few years later, he began teaching martial arts classes at Green River Community College. In the 25-plus years Penor has taught, his school has become known as the ‘School of Champions’ because of the success of its students, like black belt Charles Nguyen. Penor credits Nguyen, who recently traveled to Europe to compete internationally, with the idea to start up the class at Rainier.

“He wanted to start a school,” Penor said. “So I figured out how to do it. I had done some demonstrations here, and with the success of the Green River class, I guess my name was known. We started out with about 10 students two years ago, and we have about 30 in there now.”

Unlike many self-defense classes that focus solely on fighting moves, Penor presents a more holistic approach.

“They learn all the stuff they’re supposed to with discipline and confidence in themselves,” Penor said. “They learn to think for themselves without being led around. I think that’s the big thing.”

Additionally, Penor said, teaching kids martial arts and the proper use of what they’ve learned helps them defend against bullying at school.

“It’s really great to see,” Penor said. “When I was young, coming from an ethnic background, there seemed to be more picking on people and bullying. So I kind of wanted to make kids aware they can stand up for themselves and have more confidence as a person.”

Penor added that participation in martial arts is a bonus for athletes who compete in other sports.

“It’s the best supplement for any sport, I don’t care if it’s baseball, basketball, football, track, anything,” he said.

The Rainier classes are filled with adults and children of all ages.

“The best time to start is about age seven,” Penor said. “But I’ve had students as old as 77.”

In fact, said Penor, who is in his mid-70s, age is no barrier to participating in martial arts.

“I’ll never quit, I like to stay young,” Penor said. “Hanging around younger people helps. And I like to challenge myself and make sure I can still do it.”

The students at Rainier come for different reasons.

Eli Carson, 18, said his entrance was simply about having to earn a physical education credit at Green River.

After earning that credit, however, he decided to stick with it and joined the classes at Rainier.

“It was competitive, but also friendly,” he said. “It’s focused on control. Some martial arts don’t focus on the effectiveness of the attack. This is based on the effectiveness and the control of your own body. That’s what attracted me to karate, which gives you something to strive for and control.”

He added:

“There is a lot of great exercise, and it also helps with self confidence,” Carson said. “You learn to test the limits and get stronger.”

Carson said he applies the lessons he’s learned in karate class to all parts of his life.

“It’s a good way to exercise, but also the determination you have in karate can be applied in everything,” Carson said. “If you’re going to do good in karate, you have to push yourself, you have to get stronger. In other classes, if you’re going to do good, you have to push yourself. You can’t do just enough if you’re going to excel.”

Keagan Williams, 9, said the class is primarily for self defense.

“I’ve wanted to do karate for a while,” he said. “I wanted to learn self-defense and stuff.”

In addition to learning the basics of defending himself, Williams said, he’s learned when to use those skills.

“Karate is for self-defense, not just to go up to people and start punching them and being mean,” Williams said.

For more information, visit www.unifiedshitryu.org