MOSES LAKE — On Friday, Freewind Martial Arts and Joni’s Angels partnered together to award a scholarship to 9-year-old Elias Rustin. His thoughts on being named the first recipient were simple.   

“Really excited,” he said.   

Freewind Martial Arts was selected as the flagship location for California nonprofit Jonie’s Angels' new scholarship program in June. The dojang will be able to provide qualifying youths in Moses Lake with an all-expenses-paid year of classes.  

Joni’s Angels is a nonprofit organization based in Huntington Beach, Calif. The scholarship covers up to $2,400 to pay for classes and other needs related to martial arts. Whatever the scholarship can’t cover, the instructors will pick up the cost for the scholarship recipient.  

Joni’s Angels Ambassador and COO Charlie Hicks said he wanted to create a scholarship that aimed to help families facing financial hardship have access to the martial arts.  

“I can't tell you how blessed I feel,” Hicks said. “To have this take off the way it has is amazing. We've got great donor support. We've had a lot of good turnout at our fundraising. We do fundraising seminars that's been going really well, and just right at the end, right during the holiday season, we got hit with some corporate donors that were just amazing.”  

Rustin’s mom, Krista West, called the scholarship a blessing. Rustin originally checked out Freewind to see if he would like it and ended up falling in love with it, she said.   

“This year was going to be pretty tough, but Taekwondo is his thing,” West said. “He's got some natural talent, but just loved it from day one and so to be able to continue without stressing about (cost). It's a real blessing to feel like he's just covered.”   

Takedowns are Rustin’s favorite part of learning Taekwondo, he said.   

The caring environment that Freewind provides has become a meaningful factor to West since joining the studio. Even when Rustin is not feeling up to trying something, the instructors at Freewind work with him to make him feel comfortable.   

“They just fold him in, ‘It's okay, Elias, you know we're here for you if you need to talk,’ and then just showing up for him,” West said. “They hold a high standard for martial arts, but they also care. It's not just about, get in here and do the work, it is that, but also because we care about you and it's OK to be where you're at ... they've just folded them in, and I feel like this is a safe place for them.”  

Brandi Guertin, an instructor at Freewind, spoke openly during the presentation about the inclusive environment they try to cultivate for people of all ages. She said it’s important for the studio to be a safe place to be yourself. Whatever is happening in their daily lives can be left outside and students can put their minds on something else for a while.   

When they first started to think about who to award the scholarship to, Guertin said she almost knew right away that Elias was the perfect recipient.   

“They're just a real family going through struggles like everybody else,” Guertin said. “When you can see the community come together and support and show that support for individuals and families alike, it just really shows that people do care.”  

Hicks said he saw that from the studio right away when watching the youth classes. He was moved by their emphasis on working on yourself and how the instructors set an example.    

They do a great job of not making the art about winning or beating someone, but instead emphasize being good people in society, he said. This is something Hicks said he admires most when people approach martial arts in this way.    

Hicks also spoke during the presentation about how martial arts saved his life when he was younger. It kept him off the streets, gave him good role models, and sometimes a roof over his head when necessary. He hopes this scholarship impacts him just like martial arts did for him.   

“I fell in love with the art when I started practicing it, and from that point on, it became a focal point for me. When things got tough in my life, I'd go train; when there were problems at home, I'd forget about them and I'd go train. Martial arts have helped me in my life in so many ways and this is what I'm hoping it will do for these kids,” Hicks said.   

Guertin shares similar sentiments of the scholarship being a blessing. She said one of her passions is helping children and this scholarship allows her to continue doing that.

“It's something I really feel that the family needed,” she said. “With the struggles, when you get that award or something, that just gives you that inspiration and fire to keep going and to know that it's not always going to be a struggle, and that people do care. That's what really made me emotional, is just to see it all come together.”  

After an evening of celebration, Guertin has an optimistic outlook on the future at Freewind Martial Arts. She is encouraged by the event to keep making a positive impact in the community. 

“I'm encouraged that the future is bright, that martial arts is here to stay, and it's going to just continue into the future. Freewind is a branch of martial arts, and we just hope that that branch grows and flourishes and blossoms into a great piece and with that being said, I really feel that the roots are strong,” Guertin said.   

    Brandi Guertin, right, receives a check funding their new scholarship from Steve Altfillisch, left. Freewind Martial Arts partnered with nonprofit Joni’s Angels to fund a years' worth of classes for a student.
  

    Joni’s Angels Ambassador and COO Charlie Hicks gives opening remarks at the Freewind Martial Arts studio. Hicks said martial arts saved his life, and he hopes the Joni’s Angels scholarship will have a similar impact on future students.