Bradenton martial arts instructor reflects on 50 years of teaching

Bob Xavier held history on his lap Tuesday afternoon inside the Calvary Baptist Church gym in Bradenton. In the martial arts instructor’s hands was a manila folder filled with yellowed newsletters and promotional materials from his school, Grace Martial Arts. On the front of the folder read: “It is easier to build a child than to repair an adult.”

“It’s like one day at a time and, when you look back and you see the whole picture, it’s overwhelming – wow,” the 74-year-old said as he looked down at the papers before him. “In the process, it’s one day at a time, one challenge at a time, one student at a time, one black belt at a time.”

It’s been decades since Xavier, nicknamed Mr. Bob, began his role as a martial arts instructor – 50 years, to be exact. The Palmetto resident who instills Christian values in students through classes and summer camps at Grace Martial Arts, was celebrated for his milestone Tuesday evening in a special ceremony. The event included a demonstration by students of skills they’ve learned, a video presentation with vintage photos of Xavier and a presentation of scrapbooks containing photographs of classes and students.

Though officially a spring student belt promotion ceremony for 75 students and their families, Xavier had his shining moment when he was presented with a Japanese katana -- a sword characterized by a long, curved, single-edged blade.

“It’s alive,” a stunned Xavier said as he studied it in his hands. Students, including a dozen black belts, crowded around the longtime instructor.

A chorus of people began telling Xavier to remove the sword cover.

“Open it!” several children cried eagerly.

After putting on his eyeglasses, Xavier was able to see on the steel sword the engraved names of all his black belt students through the years. It was a gift from the small group and his other students.

“Wow. ... that’s over the top guys,” Xavier said, looking out at them. “It’s really amazing.”

He then recited Hebrews 4:12, a Bible verse that says the word of God is sharper than any double-edged sword.

Hours before the ceremony, Xavier reflected on his passion as the gym buzzed with the chatter of his daughter, Rebecca Wells, and her children. Some students, a few who are now instructors themselves, began shuffling in to prepare for the ceremony. One was Parrish resident Ben Dodson, who Xavier pointed out in a fall 2015 newsletter. On the newsletter were two photos – one of an 8-year-old Dodson in his martial arts uniform, and another of him years later giving a promotion certificate and handshake to one of Xavier’s grandchildren, Josh Wells.

The now 19-year-old Dodson said martial arts gave him confidence.

“When I was going through my beginning teen years, I was so quiet and introverted,” he recalled. “Going through martial arts helped me meet other Christians and other people and helped me get a little more social and extroverted and allowed me to start talking to a lot of new people.”

According to the Grace Martial Arts website, the school’s goal is to support, encourage and equip martial arts students and teachers by freely providing Christian evangelistic ministry tools that includes self-defense instruction to provide compassionate alternatives. Xavier considers himself a nondenominational Christian and often shares Bible verses with students during class.

Karrie Drendel, another instructor at Grace Martial Arts, said she really likes what the school does for children.

“It made a big difference in my life to be able to do something physical and enjoy movement,” the 22-year-old Bradenton resident said. “Learning about God is a big part of it and having positive influences from Mr. Bob ... now, I also enjoy that I can do the same for the younger kids.”

Though he loves teaching martial arts, it hasn’t always been smooth for Xavier. One of the greatest difficulties for him while teaching can be summed up in two words: “Don’t” and “Quit.”

“When they quit, when they really have potential,” Xavier explained. “We use those two words, ‘quit’ and ‘don’t’ together — ‘don’t quit.’ Those are powerful words and that’s what we want our children to think about. If you’ve been here for three years, four years, don’t quit. Finish.”

Rebecca Wells said martial arts is more than a passion for her father, and for the children he teaches and the families he works with. Growing up, she recalled her father and mother, Beth Xavier, doing a lot of outreach and missionary work in the community.

“Even when he was doing all those other things full time, martial arts would always come into it,” she said. “He would use it. It was a tool because it was a passion and a talent that he had, and an ability that he had.”

This story was originally published May 24, 2016 at 9:42 PM with the headline "Bradenton martial arts instructor reflects on 50 years of teaching."