Husband-wife karate instructors play to national audience

Vernon - MA Success Magazine is the bible for the martial arts industry. So when it began scouring the U.S. for an accomplished husband-and-wife business team to profile on the cover of their September issue, it was fitting that the editors selected Michael and Barbara Pace, the co-owners of the Pace Institute of Karate in Vernon. The Paces have taught hundreds of children and adults from their school at Vernon Crossing Road and Route 517 over the past 13 years. For Michael and Barbara, it’s much more than just teaching kids their own brand of streetwise self-defense. It’s about providing them with essential life skills. “Each month we focus on a different area like courtesy, honesty and self-control,” says Shihan Michael Pace, an 8th degree black belt and master instructor. “Personal development of life skills are the types of things that will stick with them through life,” he added. Michael and Barbara take different approaches to teaching kids, including the use of stuffed animals to tell stories and convey lessons to younger children. “Mike’s really good at writing stories for kids,” says Barbara, who has achieved the martial arts rank of sensei. “I keep telling him he should put these stories in a book and get it published.” The Paces have taken additional steps to differentiate themselves from other martial arts instructors. For instance, the school provides a free mentoring program if a child needs extra help from an older or more experienced student. The mentoring program goes beyond martial arts instruction, including help with math and other studies. “The older kids certainly know the ‘New Math’ better than I do,” says Michael. And unlike some martial arts programs that require newcomers to pay full tuition for a multi-week program, “we don’t, and I think that’s one of the reasons for our success,” says Barbara. This Saturday, Sept. 23, the school is holding an open house from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. to introduce its new Karate Kids Zone, an age-specific, tightly-focused program. The open house will include face painting, demonstrations, games of skill and free hot dogs and snacks. In addition, attendees will receive keys that they can use to try to open a special three-lock treasure chest. Prizes will include free karate lessons, Apple iPods and Nintendo dual screen portable game players. The Paces have their own approach to making a working marriage succeed. For instance, they each maintain separate offices at home. Barbara is responsible for merchandising and the redecorating that’s currently taking place at the studio while Michael teaches all introductory lessons and helps people get started with the school. That separation of duties extends to their home life, too. “Barbara takes care of the housework, laundry and decorating. I do the technical repairs and she pays the bills,” says Michael. It’s a disciplined approach that works well for this husband-and-wife team.