COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT: Middle school principal ready to add to kickboxing titles

MICHELLE NOLAN - THE BELLINGHAM HERALD

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When Darren Benson went looking for an activity from which his young son could benefit, Benson recalled his own fascination with watching Martial Arts on television as a kid.

Benson, the principal at Blaine Middle School, just didn't realize he also would find the perfect expression for his love of competition.

Four years later, Benson and his 9-year-old son, Marcus, are both red belts in Muay Thai kickboxing, ready to begin the journey to the various degrees involved with black-belt status.

| MARK MALIJAN THE BELLINGHAM HERALD

BATTLE OF BELLINGHAM III
What: Muay Thai kickboxing program. This is the third in a series sponsored by the International Muay Thai League.
When: 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 27
Where: Sporsplex, 1225 Civic Field Way, Bellingham.
Tickets: Go to www.tcma.biz. Cost is $35 for ringside and $25 for general admission.
Information: (360) 738-1290.
Official after-party: At The Royal Restaurant and Lounge

WATCH THE VIDEO
To watch an audio slideshow of Darren Benson in action, click here.

Father and son train at Total Confidence Martial Arts in Bellingham. Darren, who won championships in his first two competitions, is hoping to participate in the Battle of Bellingham III on Saturday, Sept. 27, at the Sportsplex.

"Four years ago, we were looking for something to help with structure, because you want any kid to have some structure," said Benson, a 39-year-old former Bellingham High football player.

"We got into it for all the great things martial arts has to offer. The Muay Thai community stresses focus, effort and respect, and those are wonderful things for a young person to learn. I wish I had had the opportunity to participate in Muay Thai when I was my son's age. I started Muay Thai, myself, so that I could be a role model for my son, and now I find I love it. I don't know how long I'll keep up with the competitive thing, but I always want to keep training in Muay Thai."

Benson said he wasn't shocked to win in the novice division in the Battle of Belllingham I last year or to prevail in the amateur division I in the Battle of Bellingham II last March.

"To be honest, when I first started training, awards like those were not even a thought for me," he said. "But Master David Brown at Total Confidence doesn't put us in competition until we're ready."

Benson is enthusiastic about the format of Muay Thai, the national sport of Thailand.

"You use your hands, elbows, knees and feet," he said. "They call it the eight points of contact."

He says "ego goes out the door" in Muay Thai training. "And at the end of competition, you hug the guy. One of the neatest things about Muay Thai is the respect you show your opponent."

Benson isn't your typical school principal in another way. People see him motoring to work on a Vespa when the weather cooperates.

"70 miles per gallon," he said with a grin.

Do many of the students at Blaine Middle School realize their motor-scooter riding principal is also a prize-winning kickboxer?

"The staff knows about it, but I don't think many of the kids do," he said.

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Wednesday, Sep. 24, 2008

COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT: Middle school principal ready to add to kickboxing titles

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