Smith says "I'll help"

Taekwondo and Mixed Martial Arts fighter Anthony Smith is a champion on the mat, and for the last three years he's been bringing that winning attitude to his dojo to reach out to those around him, with hopes of making his community a better place.

Smith opened his dojo in 2010 and has been providing taekwondo and MMA training in Blytheville since then, but lower than expected student numbers made it hard for him to reach out and help the community. But with the help of organizations such as Challenge Athlete Operation Rebound and Mission Continue in 2010 and 2011 he was able to providing lessons to disadvantaged kids at no charge.

"I know a lot of these parents can't afford to pay me. So I tell them don't worry about it, just to bring the kids to training," Smith said.

While Smith takes pride in his own abilities to compete, as well as the two undefeated fighters he trains, his main focus is helping those around him. Whether it's his Little Ninjas group of 3-5 year-olds or his taekwondo students, who range in age from six years old to 60-plus years old, Smith said he likes being able to impact peoples lives in a positive way.

"I get the biggest kick out of watching the change," he said, "Like, if a parent comes in and says they've got a kid and he has ADHD and they just can't control him and then now the kid's a black belt and they can't believe that's their kid. Stuff like that excites me.

"Sometimes when I bring kids in from the juvenile detection center and they leave out of here and never get in trouble again because of the martial arts -- you know I love it when they win, but I'd rather see them change their lives. That's the biggest part. They could lose every tournament if they want to, but if I found out they were and F and D student and now they're an A and B student then that makes it worth it for me."

Smith won the Arkansas, Missouri and Arizona taekwando championship titles in 2011 and was picked up to be a part of the Karate for Christ, Int., team allowing him to start competing internationally. In September he won the national board breaking competition which was held in Arizona. Of all the titles he has earned though, Smith said the most important one to him is his being a champion for change.

"Before I leave I want to make a difference to the point where people know it can be better than it is," Smith said.

cpinkard@blythevillecourier.com