Musher turns skills to martial arts

May 4, 2007

By Jodi Snyder

For the Frontiersman

WILLOW - Six years ago, at 20, Jeff Hemann moved to Alaska. Three years ago, he began offering tae kwon do lessons in Willow.

In small communities, it can be difficult to find activities to keep a family fit and mentally stimulated during the winter months. So when Hemann offered to teach a martial arts class, he figured he was filling a need in the community.

The community filled a need for Hemann, too. With a whole team of sled dog puppies to raise, the young musher needed money for dog food.

Hemann makes a lot of comparisons between his young dog team and his karate students, and he likes the fact that the dog team and his martial arts business are growing up together.

&#8220It's gone hand in hand, and it's great because they use the same fundamentals,” he said. &#8220I can walk into the class, or out to the dog lot, and I can see the students, excited to be there. ‘Are you ready to go?' I ask them. And you can tell they are. There are so many similarities.”

Hemann offers traditional tae kwon do instruction in Talkeetna, Willow and Sutton, traveling between the three communities during the week, teaching the skills he has been learning for 20 years.

&#8220The style we teach is a very traditional, old-school style,” said Hemann. &#8220Our forms are the oldest forms in tae kwon do.”

Hemann grew up in Iowa, and learned tae kwon do from his father, Paul Hemann, a sixth-degree black belt who ran a karate school for 35 years. Hemann started teaching a class under his father at 14, and began running his own class at 16. It sounds a little extreme, but Hemann said he welcomed the responsibility.

In 1998, Hemann transitioned from a more Olympic or full-contact style karate into the more traditional style he teaches today - but not before placing second in the state of Iowa. He was 18 years old, and ranked 16th in the nation at the time.

&#8220Having that pressure helped me do well,” he said.

Last year, Hemann moved from the northern Valley to Chickaloon, and added the Sutton class. Now he spends even more of his time on the road.

&#8220Some days, an hour-long class fills up an eight-hour day,” he said. &#8220But I gave my word when I set up these classes that I was here to stay. I don't mind the driving, but we are out there on the road a lot.”

The increased travel costs make it more difficult for Hemann to make his business profitable, but he said his focus has never been on the money. In fact, when students struggle to pay the monthly fees, Hemann tells them just to pay what they can.

Hemann credits a sponsorship by the Willow Health Organization, which allows him to use the Willow Community Center for no charge, with helping him afford to keep the class going.

Last month, Hemann held his first tournament, with 35 students from the three different classes competing. After being in dozens of tournaments growing up, Hemann knew he could host one. But he was surprised at his worry over pulling it off. Still, he said, it was time.

&#8220Competing gives the students the ability to take guard against people they don't know,” he said.

&#8220You can train them, tell them to keep their guard up. But you really can't teach that. When they are competing, just watching these kids, you can see it in their eyes. They trained and worked, and they were ready. I saw the same camaraderie that I see among them in class. It was such a success,” Hemann said.

Riley Hansen is 10. Hansen wasn't interested when his mother suggested the class three years ago. But once he started it, Hansen said he got hooked. Today he is a brown belt.

&#8220Jeff is nicer than other instructors probably would be,” he said. &#8220He doesn't rush you. He wants you to take your time and get it right.”

Hansen's mother, Cindy, said she has enjoyed watching her son increase his abilities over the past three winters, and that karate has made a positive impact on her son.

&#8220He was real timid at first. But it's building his confidence, and he handles things better,” Cindy Hansen said. &#8220He definitely follows directions better.

&#8220But he is always chopping at stuff. I worry about the TV,” she laughed.

Hemann says what students are learning in his class can stick with them forever.

&#8220It teaches them respect,” he said. &#8220It teaches them to practice control, and to use it as an advantage.”

Next month, Hemann and his fiancé, Heather Goosey, will head to Seward to run dogs tours on Exit Glacier. He is planning to resume the classes in all three locations again in October.

Jodi Snyder is the Frontiersman's Willow correspondent.