MOSES LAKE – On Monday, Freewind Martial Arts hosted a seminar for community members. One of three this week, Monday’s seminar was called Mat Monday. According to instructor Jacob Guertin, the goal was for people to take something from the seminar even if they do not sign up for classes.  

“I want to benefit people as a whole. If someone walks into a seminar and they learn something, then I've accomplished something, I want them to take something, no matter how small, for the rest of their life,” he said.  

Aside from having to sign a waiver, the seminars are open to anyone interested in checking out what martial arts are all about. Guertin, 16, led the instructions throughout the seminar, while his mom, Brandi, assisted him. They worked through different grappling techniques, takedowns and holds.  

The Guertins demonstrated the movement first before breaking into groups and working through them with the students. One interested student was Ethan Young, 13, who attended with his mom, Jessie Young. Jessie is a student at Freewind alongside her other son, Colin. She wanted Ethan to get a taste of the art without having to commit to it right away.  

“He liked the idea of doing a little bit of grappling. He's seen me do it a little bit from time to time. So, he knew what it was. He's super excited about Weapons Wednesday. That's the one he's most excited about. If at the end of the week he's all in, then I'll get him signed up,” Jessie said.  

When explaining the grappling, Guertin emphasized the technical aspects rather than trying to overpower someone, or as an example he used, a bully. He explained it’s more about using leverage and controlling someone in a controlled environment.  

Guertin takes a stoic approach to his teaching style. He said his goal is to not be intimidating and try to be approachable to his students. 

“I just hope that people that are not intimidated by it will come and join, try it out, and understand that it's not as intimidating as it seems. I want to be very direct, not too complicated, approachable, not intimidating. I want anybody to walk in and learn from me. That's my goal,” he said.  

Jessie sat back and watched Ethan work through the movements with Guertin. She praised Guertin’s approach to teaching and said he gives young students a good role model to look up to. She said while she can’t pick their friends, she can introduce them to mature, responsible and respectful teenagers.  

“He gives you good examples of how you can use it in your normal life,” Jessie said. “The goal here isn't to smash in faces. He's been very clear about that. This is if someone is pushing you on the playground, you don't want to get in a big fight, but you do want to get out of it and get control so that you're not getting hurt. These are great tools for that.”  

Guertin said he has been instructing since he was 11 years old. He does not get bothered by students older than him being thrown off by the age difference. He said it comes down to experience more than age when being an effective teacher.  

“Martial arts is not about age. It's about experience. What matters the most is, what have you experienced in your career,” he said.  

Two more seminars are scheduled Wednesday and Friday. First is Weapons Wednesday, where people will go through movements with weapons like nunchucks. On Friday, they will have open instruction in McCosh Park where anyone can attend. All seminars run from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. 

Guertin is optimistic for a larger turnout on Wednesday and Friday. He said his goal is not to get people to join the studio, but to look back and take something positive from it.  

“I care mostly about people learning martial arts. I think it's just one of the best things to do, because you look at other sports and stuff, they teach you team sports, (in martial arts), the biggest battle is you versus yourself. It's about helping the community, because martial arts has been my biggest outlet emotionally and physically. It's been the only thing that I've ever really done,” he said.  

    Ethan Young, behind, is led through a grapple movement involving a choke hold by Jacob Guertin, front, during Freewind Martial Arts Mat Monday seminar. Young was introduced to the sport through his mom Jessie, who has been a student at Freewind for a couple of years.
  

    Jacob and Brandi Guertin demonstrate a grapple movement during their Mat Monday seminar. The Guertins are instructors at Freewind Martial Arts in Moses Lake.
  

    Brandi Guertin, right, hoists Jacob Guertin, left, for a takedown movement. Anyone that attended the seminars at Freewind Martial Arts got to practice similar movements on the mats in the studio.
  

    Brandi Guertin, left, works with a young student, right, through grappling movements. Guertin is the manager and assistant instructor at Freewind Martial Arts.
  

    Brandi Guertin, left, guides a student, right, through a grappling movement during their Mat Monday seminar. Guertin said their hopes for the seminar were that anyone that attends has a positive takeaway, even if they do not sign up for classes.
  

    Jacob Guertin, far right, instructs two students through basic movements like rolls. Guertin is 16 and has been teaching at Freewind Martial Arts for five years.