Students from PKSA Karate Oxford spent hours busting wooden boards at the new Legacy Center Nov. 19, so they could help fill stomachs on Thanksgiving Day.
It was all part of a unique fund-raising event dubbed the ‘Turkey Brigade.?
It was basically a break-a-thon.
Using their hands, feet, elbows and knees, about 40 PKSA students ranging from 4-year-old kids to adults in their 50s broke board after board after board.
Fifty 12-foot planks, each of them 1-inch thick, were purchased for the event, then cut into smaller boards, ranging in width from 2 to 10 inches.
‘That’s a lot of wood,? said PKSA Karate owner Rod Price.
Approximately $3,000 in donations were collected prior to and during the event to provide 12 local families in need with turkey dinners complete with all the trimmings.
‘I can teach these kids about kicking and punching all day long. But when it comes down to it, I want them to understand that it’s not just about martial arts,? said Price, a resident of Elba Township in Lapeer County.
‘It’s about giving back to your community. It’s about building character. It’s about being part of your community. This is a great way to do that and show what a true martial artist is all about.?
Price noted he spent less than $600 on the turkey dinners.
‘We got a really good deal through Kroger,? he said. ‘They helped us out tremendously.?
As for the remaining funds, Price plans to donate about $500 to Oxford-Orion FISH, about $500 to Love In the Name of Christ North Oakland County, then use the rest to play Santa Claus this holiday season.
‘The Den (Training Academy) and myself are going to team up this coming Christmas and adopt several families,? he said. ‘We’re going to supply them with Christmas dinner and hand out gifts.?
PKSA, currently located in downtown Oxford, is in the process of moving into the Legacy Center, located at 925 N. Lapeer Rd.
The karate studio has been part of this community since 2010.