by Andre Clayton
Reporter
Twinsburg -- Third-degree black belt Reggie Brown is ready to kick-off his new karate school at 9224 Darrow Road May 10.
The 3,000-square-foot building is where Brown said he will teach karate to children and adults, as well as self-defense classes for women.
Since 2000, Brown has taught karate at the Twinsburg Fitness Center.
"When I first started, I had two students, now I have 60," Brown said, adding his membership has outgrown the 1,200-square-foot room at the fitness center.
Brown said he spent $30,000 on renovating the Darrow Road facility by installing a changing area, 30 feet of mirror and 1,500 square feet of floor mat.
"I made it a real safe environment for families," Brown said.
The peewee group, ages 4 to 6, is the "most fun group" and takes the most energy to teach, Brown said.
Brown teaches a novice juvenile group for ages 7 to 12, in which students can attain a white, orange and yellow belt before graduating to an advanced juvenile group.
Adults also can begin with a white belt and work their way up through the ranks, according to Brown.
Brown will offer self-defense classes to women, which will teach them how to fight back and break holds in case of an emergency, Brown said.
Brown said he will be the only instructor, but plans to hire another if the school is successful.
Classes will be from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays.
Brown, who also works as an on-scene coordinator at the Twinsburg Environmental Protection Agency office, said he wants his business to do well so he can teach karate full-time.
"I think I have a good location ... Twinsburg is a great community," Brown said.
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