By Wandoo Makurdi Cisco Arnold has been immersed in the martial arts culture since his father introduced it to him when he was 10. Now Arnold is trying to introduce the art to as many students as possible, hoping to keep the program on base alive.

Arnold was introduced to martial arts by his father Randall ‘‘Cisco” Arnold, who picked up the art in 1970 while serving in the Vietnam War.

‘‘I was attached to the Korean Marines in Vietnam, and I would watch them do their thing, and mimic their moves,” Randall said of his early beginnings in martial arts. ‘‘I knew another Marine who had studied with them extensively, and I trained with him when time permitted.”

Two years later, Randall, who was recognized almost three years ago as the last active enlisted Marine who served in Vietnam to retire, returned to the United States and took up Taekwondo with another Marine on the base.

It was while training on the base that Randall decided to enroll his children in the class to help them defend themselves against bullies and predators. According to Randall, Arnold had no desire to partake in the program initially, but gradually became interested with each class he attended.

Now, at just 25, and in his sixth year as head instructor, Arnold is doing what he can, with some help from his parents, to ensure the continuity of the program. His dad now helps out as an assistant instructor in the class, while mom, Kim, performs the administrative duties of the program.

Both parents said after watching their son grow and benefit from the program, they were more than happy to help him help others gain similar benefits.

‘‘What’s motivating is seeing the kids and how they advance,” Kim said. ‘‘I personally like to see girls come...and be able to protect themselves, and with helping with the program, we are really helping our son. And that’s what we want to do, help him in anyway we can.”

Arnold holds a third-degree black belt in Motobu Ha Shito Ryu Karate Do and second-degree black belts in Ryukyu Hon Kenpo Kobujyutsu and Matsukazi-Ryu Jujitsu, among other belts. He dedicates one day of the week to each technique he teaches. On Monday, he teaches his students Kempo, which is a more standard form of Karate. Wednesdays are dedicated to the judo wrestling and joint locking style of jujitsu. And on Fridays, it is a combination of both classes, with use of weapons and other techniques acquired from other styles he’s trained in. His classes are divided into three age groups of 5-7, 8-14 and 15 and over.

Arnold said he would like to have as many students as possible, but he really just wants to pass on the skills he learned onto others, even if he only touches one person.

‘‘I’d like to get just one of them to really understand what I’m saying,” Arnold said. ‘‘And as you’re teaching, you have to be able to take what you’re trying to explain ... and change it in such a way that they’re able to readily take it in.”

Arnold thinks he may have gotten at least one student disciple in the form of 17-year-old Roylando Toliver, who’s been taking classes for five years. Toliver, a brown belt, said he loves the communication Arnold shares with the students and hopes he can ‘‘...teach one day and pass it onto someone.”

Arnold spoke about the benefits of the program besides the obvious defensive skills you develop saying, mentally, it helps in understanding how the body works and helps most develop a faster reaction to actions. Joshua and Annmarie Phillips, one of many parents who show up to watch their children practice, said they enrolled son Austin into the class to help improve his balance and coordination in other sports.

Parents like the Phillips have been influential in the program’s continuity, Arnold said. The program has relied on word of mouth recommendations from parents with children enrolled. Most of the students currently enrolled have one or more relatives—siblings, cousins and even parents—also taking the class.

‘‘I wish more people know about it,” Kim said, before suggesting that the location and no promotion has contributed to the low enrollment.

Ultimately, the Arnold family is happier about the positive reviews they get from all their students and parents than of the actual number of students they have. And to hear them tell the story of a stranger who recognized Arnold because a student of his had walked into her salon asking for the same hair cut he wears, you can tell they are genuinely pleased with the lives they touch, even if it’s just by a hair cut.

For information on the Martial Arts Program, contact Kim or Cisco Arnold at (703) 432-8850 or (540) 720-2176.