Dripping Springs boasts the Austin Karate Center (AKC), founded by black belt master Nelson Nathaniel. At a young age, Nathaniel discovered that he needed karate to regulate and grow his mind, body, and spirit. Now he shares his gift with the world to empower others.
Nathaniel started karate when he was four and was instructing karate classes by age 16. Through his dedication to the sport and by receiving mentorship from leading karate masters worldwide, he holds awards in sparring, weapons, kung fu, kickboxing, and kata. During the coronavirus pandemic, he competed 54 times and won first or second place consistently, including double grands at the grand championship. He also earned U.S. Hall of Fame recognition for kata and sparring.
Karate proved to be a tool to keep Nathaniel present while struggling with ADHD. “Anxiety keeps us fixated on the future. Depression keeps us focused on the past,” he comments. With karate as “the medium to keep people present in a chaotic world,” he’s seen success in his life and in the lives of his students.
Nathaniel is most proud of seeing his students succeed. “Watching their wheels turn and seeing it click drives me,” he says. “They understand one small part of a movement, then another, and eventually it all melds and they see the big picture.” His students continually win state and world championships.
AKC’s unique teaching methodology sets it apart from other centers. Nathaniel shares, “In teaching people of all backgrounds and as a musician, I applied these principles to karate—how do I learn this one movement, add another, and combine to build a harmony?” Similarly, karate highlights and teaches the foundational building blocks of the body, feet, and muscles.
AKC provides students with a large “toolbox” of movements so that, if they ever need to defend themselves, they can effectively apply the old ways of fighting to the new.
Nathaniel delights in seeing this tight-knit karate family, which includes people aged four to 80-plus, pour into each other. “I know I am changing the world through the next generation,” he says. “We’re building hard-working leaders who won’t quit in the face of difficulty … tenacious world-changers with attention to detail. It starts by setting the right foundation in their youth, and karate is an excellent way to achieve this. Keep your body young and functional, in community and on purpose. If you don’t use it, you will lose it.”
Nathaniel shares his greatest piece of advice: “Take one to two hours a week to work on yourself. If you’ve ever had an interest in martial arts, come try a class. You’re going to get stronger mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually.” AKC has beginner, intermediate, and advanced classes. Learn more at AustinKarateCenter.com and on Instagram @austin_karate_center.
We’re building hard-working leaders who won’t quit in the face of difficulty … tenacious world-changers with attention to detail.