New Martial Arts Classes Inspire and Educate

Over the past two weeks, Youth Development United has brought a new form of martial arts to the children of Chester.

“Krav Maga helps build confidence in every day interactions and an overall sense of well being knowing that you know how to defend yourself in an extreme situation,” explained instructor Eduardo Maisonet, who runs the SchoolofLifeDefense in Elkton, Maryland and has traveled twice to Chester so far in 2024 to share his skills.

“This class was easily one of the best programs we’ve seen,” commented Whitney Wright, Director of Education at Chester Eastside, inc., who partnered with YDU to provide a safe space for the families of Chester to attend the first Krav Maga class. YDU arranged for the second class to take place on the campus of Widener University. Thanks to the generosity of its supporters, YDU was also able to provide a free dinner at the Widener dining hall for participants where they could eat among role models and envision themselves as college students in the future.

Ed was impressed by the children of Chester. “I’m very proud of them. We talked about safety and communication, we practiced and we did some breathing exercises. They were engaging and happy to participate.”

YDU is working with Ed to identify additional dates when he can return to Chester to provide more opportunities for instruction and mentorship.

Meanwhile, YDU has been working with Sow Good Now to secure the opportunity for the children of Greater Chester to attend a karate lesson and free lunch at East Coast Karate in Glen Mills this coming weekend. Sow Good Now pairs athletes with underserved communities, teaching philanthropy while inspiring impact. Founder Mary Fischer-Nassib created the organization in hopes of encouraging athletes to recognize their own personal gifts and use them for the common good. 

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