Mother And Daughter Break Boards, Build Bonds

By Nancy K. Crevier

Some mothers and daughters bond over shopping. Some spend quality time walking, talking, going to lunch, or taking in movies. Terry Foehrenbach and her daughter, Kacy, 17, of Sandy Hook, get a kick out of their together-time.

Mother and daughter signed up in July for Thai kickboxing at Connecticut Martial Arts Institute in Danbury, an activity they say not only improves the quality of their relationship, but has given them an opportunity to give back to others not as fortunate as themselves.

Thai kickboxing is a form of exercise developed by Connecticut Martial Arts Institute six years ago that is based on Muay Thai kickboxing. It was designed for adults looking for a fun way to stay fit, with no fear of getting hurt or having to use dangerous moves, says Connecticut Martial Arts Institute owner, Master Steve Doyon. “There are 20 moves we master in Thai kickboxing, whereas in traditional martial arts, there are several hundred. It [having fewer moves] makes it more accessible to more people. Someone like Terry [Foehrenbach], who is looking for a fun way to stay fit, can do this.”

The students use arms, elbows, legs, and hands to aim martial arts blows at kick boards or bags. “There is contact, but only hitting inanimate objects,” Master Doyon stresses.

On October 2, Terry and Kacy Foehrenbach used their new skills to take part in a Breakathon to benefit the Hurricane Katrina disaster fund, sponsored by the center.

Several hundred students, including Mrs Foehrenbach and Kacy, solicited friends and families to donate $1 for each board they would break. The Foehrenbachs raised $320 of the more than $8,000 raised that day.

“There were boxes and boxes and boxes of boards,” exclaims Mrs Foehrenbach.

Depending on the experience level of the student, different body parts are used to crack the board. “Hands, palms, elbows, knees, they are all used,” she explains. Mrs Foehrenbach and Kacy are both at the yellow belt level, which allowed them to use a knee strike or forearm/elbow strike. Says Master Doyon, “They are breaking with the strongest parts of the body. No bones touch the boards. Only muscle touches the board. You can be a pianist, a doctor, a pharmacist and not be at risk [of injuring yourself.]”

When she and her daughter were not taking a crack at the boards themselves during the Breakathon, they worked holding boards for other participants. “Master Steve [Doyon] was very good,” says Mrs Foehrenbach. “He took time to train how to hold the boards.”

Says Kacy, “It was a lot of fun to see everyone help out, and to hold the boards for the little kids.”

The Foehrenbach women used to race BMX bikes together, but says Mrs Foehrenbach, “I always, always, always wanted to do this. What’s fun about it — you know how mothers and daughters can get a little cranky with each other — is that after beating up on the bag, we can have a nice conversation. There’s nothing like beating up a bag and getting rid of that stress. It puts the relationship in a better place.”

“Everyone is so nice here [at the martial arts center],” adds Kacy. “It started out as time to spend with my mom, but it’s good for my basketball. [Kacy is a senior this year and a member of the Newtown High School girls’ basketball team.] It’s made me stronger and faster. It gives you more confidence.”

Confidence, strength, fitness, and stress-busting: sounds like a winning combination in the complex parent-child arena. Fathers and sons, anyone?