Robert Ellis uses martial arts to instill confidence in kids in Tigard

By Kristen Forbes

The Times, Oct 29, 2009, Updated Oct 30, 2009

Robert Ellis runs Karate on Main in Tigard in an authentically designed dojo.

Kristen Forbes / The Times

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With a Ph.D. in Japanese history, Robert Ellis approaches his role as chief instructor at Karate on Main in Tigard from an academic angle.

A teacher of Asian history once explained to Ellis that if he wanted to understand the culture, he had to immerse himself in a cultural activity, whether it was flower arranging or martial arts. He gravitated to karate school in New York, where he grew up. He went on to undergraduate school, then the Marine Corps, then attended graduate school at the University of Oregon.

Ellis worked as the CEO of a high-tech company that grew to national prominence and started several other companies before starting Karate on Main three years ago. One evening he had a conversation with his wife over a glass of wine and it occurred to him that what he really wants to do is give back to young people.

“In my opinion, there is a lack of character education and development during the formative years,” Ellis says. “Also, there is a crisis of obesity among juveniles.”

Through martial arts, Ellis strives to guide children (and adults, as well) through a “journey of self-discovery” that teaches them how to be better and more peaceful through strength. Unlike in traditional sports, the competition in martial arts comes from oneself.

“The process is one of first learning discipline. Physical discipline always comes before mental or spiritual discipline,” Ellis says. “Physical discipline leads to the ability to concentrate. The ability to concentrate then leads to the development of skill. As skill development occurs, it leads to confidence. Confidence leads to more concentration, more skilled development, and eventually what we have is kids with self-esteem.”

Ellis teaches value-based life skills: respect, perseverance and work ethic among them. These skills are obtained once the physical training takes hold. Mental discipline follows physical discipline, which then leads to philosophical, or spiritual, discipline.

“The understanding of true humility is only realized eventually,” Ellis says.

The lessons at Karate on Main are always age-appropriate, he says. Community is developed during the process, which Ellis builds on by offering movie nights, picnics and other activities for kids and parents to share.

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