Bringing Our Love for Karate to GiGi’s
by Brody and Luke Bouziotis
About three years ago, we began volunteering at GiGi’s Playhouse because we needed to complete community service hours for Boy Scouts. Since we had just earned our Black Belts in Tae Kwon Do, we decided to sign up to volunteer at the program named Karate Kickers. The program leader at that time was Chase.
From that first day we volunteered at GiGi’s, we felt right at home and also felt like it was a place where our talents could be used to help others. We had spent years working towards earning our Black Belts, and now, we could help individuals with special needs experience the many benefits of martial arts. We felt so lucky to be able to volunteer at such a place.
Now, here we are three years later, still volunteering and still feeling very lucky to do so. Only now, we are the program leaders of Karate Kickers since Chase went off to college. Before COVID, we taught in person, and since COVID, we run the program virtually. Our program starts with a warm up, then we practice punches, kicks, and form combinations. We always end with a cool down and stretch. We try to cheer on our participants while coaching them in proper form. Our favorite parts about it are seeing the participants feel proud when they learn a move and also to know that maybe we gave the participants a good workout and a fun time as well.
We have also brought other Boy Scouts in to volunteer when they need service hours, so it’s like it has come full circle. A great thing about GiGi’s is that they will find a way to use your skills and talents to help others.
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