CORPUS CHRISTI, Tx. — Downtown Corpus Christi is quiet right now. With restaurants, bars and other businesses closed due to the COVID-19 outbreak, there is not much going on in the area.
Corpus Christi Downtown Karate, has stopped hosting classes in their dojo, but has found a new way for its students to get their lessons. And like the rest of the world, they have gone the virtual route.
"I really wanted to make sure that the students were still able to do the karate," Instructor and 7th degree black belt Jeff Ghee said.
The dojo hosts students ranging from children to adults who are all having to make adjustments and transform parts of their homes into their own personal karate studio.
"I either do it upstairs or in the garage," student Miles Parker said.
Others move their couches around in their living rooms and set up there.
For Ghee, he is able to teach the classes but he misses the environment of a full studio, he thrives on interacting with the students first hand.
"I miss talking to them giving them high fives, asking about their days," he said.
Students are also having a hard time on the other end of the camera lens. Between glitches on their computer or a bad internet connection, learning their karate is much tougher, but it is the best they can do for right now.
"It is kind of hard to learn," couple and students Jeanie and Clinton Evans said. "It's basically just reviewing the basics."
Everyone is going through the same thing right now as people are asked to stay in their homes. When speaking to Ghee and some of his students, they said they'll make sure to appeciate the little things about regular life and going to their dojo.
"I miss the dojo floor," Parker said.
"I miss the comradery and being around people," Clinton Evans said.
For now the classes will be held via Zoom, and hopefully sooner rather than later, the doors will be open to the students once again.
