Ewa Beach Kempo Instills Morals, Builds Confidence

The Roberts family, founders of Hybrid Kempo Martial Arts School, were honored by the Honolulu City Council Nov. 12. Pictured are (back, from left) City Councilmen Joey Manahan and Stanley Chang, Councilwomen Ann Kobayashi and Carol Fukunaga, Councilmen Ikaika Anderson and Ernie Martin, (front) Councilwoman Kymberly Pine, Jocelyn Tecson-Roberts, James Anthony Roberts, son Noah Roberts and Councilman Ron Menor. Photo from Kymberly Pine’s office.

Pine’s View …City Councilwoman Kymberly Pine

“It takes only one mean person to break you.” — Jocelyn Tecson Roberts, Hybrid Kempo Martial Arts School co-instructor.

Among our neighbors in Ewa Beach lives a young and humble family of three kempo state champions, who are grounded in their faith and believers in community empowerment — one family at a time.

Back in 2010, the Roberts family opened up their self-defense school called Hybrid Kempo Martial Arts.

“Hybrid” simply means the blending of ancient principles of martial arts with modern psychological defense tactics.

The result was “smart” self-defense programs created by the Roberts ohana, which include Anti-Bullying and Stranger Awareness, and occasional community seminars, such as The ABCs of Conflict Avoidance and Women’s Self-defense.

Students from preschool to adults can study jiujitsu, kempo, mixed martial arts, kajukenbo or cross-training fitness at either their Ewa Beach or Waipio locations.

The Roberts family espouses the principles of what they teach — family values, self-sacrifice and community service — through their martial arts advancement program.

The program also emphasizes merit-based promotion, building self-confidence, maximizing the results of their performance and empowering others to achieve their full potential in martial arts and in life.

Oftentimes, trials and tribulations can be pivotal in a person’s life, and if guided correctly, can become a platform to help humanity.

Jocelyn Tecson Roberts, co-instructor with husband James, loved dancing in school but was bullied so much in high school to the point where she fought back.

“It only takes one mean person to break you,” she stated.

By her senior year, she had become a protector of the timid freshmen girls.

Ironically, Jocelyn found herself becoming the “bully”— an image she had long despised.

Her range of emotional experiences helped craft an effective anti-bullying program, which teaches kids to know “when to draw the line.”

Unique among the Roberts’ style of teaching is their enduring patience and individualized attention to each student.

A reflection of this special teaching quality can be found in one particular student with autism (who wished to remain anonymous).

Unable to fit in or look into someone’s eyes (an ASD attribute), he began training three years ago.

His mother said that her son’s transformation was astounding: He has been winning in martial arts tournaments.

And for the first time, he has the confidence to express himself fully and “makes eye contact with his peers and adults — that’s huge!”

City Councilwoman Kymberly Marcos Pine serves District 1 (Ewa to Makua). You can reach her by phone at 768-5001, via email at kmpine@honolulu.gov, or online by visiting councilmember-pine.com.