Bankens Martial Arts Keeps Students Moving, Connected

Submitted by Carol A. Clark
on May 15, 2020
- 7:33 am

Students learning Bankens Mountain Martial Arts Academy from home. Courtesy photo

BMMAA News:

For Los Alamosans who enjoy going to the gym and group fitness classes, the pandemic has meant a major change to how they work out.

But for students at Bankens Mountain Martial Arts Academy, the pandemic also has meant a major change to how they sustain their community.

The academy was founded in 2005 by Professor Kevin Bankens to teach a range of martial arts and fitness classes with a strong self-defense focus. Since relocating to Los Alamos in 2015, the academy has grown to offer 14 weekly hours of classes to students age 5 and up.

The decision to temporarily close the academy was a hard one, and one that Professor Bankens made before stay-at-home orders went into place. However, he wasted no time in hunting down ways to stay connected to their students.

Professor Bankens’ wife and business partner Evelyn first had the idea of offering online classes because of her experience using Zoom to talk to family. Student, friend, and web designer Andrew Lyon was quick to offer technical support. He helped them purchase the right equipment, set it up, and carry out test calls.

Professor Bankens made his online teaching debut at the end of March and hasn’t looked back, offering short online sessions Monday-Thursday in BJJ, kickboxing, and core and body sculpting.

This high-tech, long-distance approach hasn’t always been easy. During one early class, Professor Bankens laughed as he shared with students, “I just now learned to turn on a laptop!” And both adults and kids find it more challenging to master new techniques without in person instruction and using a BJJ “buddy” instead of their normal training partners.

However, during the week, students eagerly await the chance to log on and connect both with their professor and each other. Not only does it incorporate some physical activity into their routine, it keeps them connected to their martial arts family and to the important lessons of discipline, integrity, and self-respect that Professor Bankens includes in every class.

To learn more, visit www.bankensmma.com.