Karate Academy To Hold Fundraiser For Joey Eckler

By Kaaren Valenta

When Chris Ipacs heard about Joey Eckler, he knew he wanted to do something to help the family of the eight-year-old Sandy Hook boy who is battling a brain tumor.

Four of Joey’s cousins – Danielle, Nick, and Gina Cavaliere and Sarah Kowats – take lessons at Ipacs Karate Academy. So Master Ipacs, who is an instructor as well as owner of the school in the Clock Tower Plaza in Monroe, decided to hold a fundraiser – a day of introductory classes in traditional Korean martial arts including Tang Soo Do, Hapkido, Aikido, Judo, and kickboxing, for adults and children. Each class will be $10 with proceeds going to the Joey Eckler fund. Larger donations will be appreciated.

“The whole concept behind martial arts is about giving,” Master Ipacs said. “I wanted to give something to the Eckler family because the community has done so much for me. I couldn’t just sit back and do nothing.”

The karate school is Master Ipacs’ third location. He started in Fairfield, then moved to Monroe and within two years outgrew that location, so he moved across the street last month into the Clock Tower Plaza. His father, Sa-Bon-Nim David Ipacs, is the senior Hapkido instructor at the academy.

Chris Ipacs holds four national championships, a world championship title in 1999, and the New England heavy weight grappling championship title. He holds a fifth degree black belt in Tang Soo Do, third degree black belts in Hapkido and Aikido, a fourth degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do, and a first degree black belt in judo.

“I feel I can make a difference in people’s lives,” Master Ipacs said. “I like to say that I can make black belt champions every day out of everyday people. Being a black belt is something you should achieve in every aspect of your lives, not just in the martial arts.”

On October 21 there will be 10 hours of 45-minute classes beginning at 9:15 am with kids karate. At 10:15, adult karate will be taught. Then Aikido, 11:15;  Hapkido, 12:15; adult karate, 1:15; kids karate, 2:15; Aikido, 3:15; Hapkido, 4:15; adult karate; 5:15; Judo, 6:15; Aikido, 7:15. At 8:15, Chris Ipacs’ wife, Vicki, will teach a cardio-kickboxing class.