The community spirit kicks in

WARWICK — Grand Master Edmund Ciarfella Jr. says his United Martial Arts Centers plan to hit the holiday season hard and to give back in a big way.

“When you think of most martial arts schools you think of punching, kicking and fighting,” Ciarfella said in his press release announcing his plans. “You don’t normally think about selflessness, charity and community. United Martial Arts Centers embodies compassion, goodwill and generosity.

“When my wife Teresa and I opened the doors to UMAC 18 years ago,” Ciarfella added, “we made a decision to give back to the community we live in.”

United Martial Arts Center first goal is for its students to do 1,000 acts of kindness between now and Jan. 1.

“Every time a student does something kind for another person we will put a red or green helping hand on the wall of the school,” the grand master said. “Our goal is to have 1,000 red and green hands on the wall by the end of the year.”

The center’s second program will be what Ciarfella described as a “Nerf Gun War” at UMAC on Friday, Dec. 7. Admission is a donation to the Warwick Food Pantry.

Lastly, UMAC is offering a special holiday gift, a “Belt in a Bag,” that includes two weeks of martial arts of kick boxing classes, a white belt and a drawstring equipment bag for a $5 donation. The money will go toward buying a local family in need a holiday dinner and gifts.

Essential information

For additional information, call 845-987-1853, e-mail umac50@optonline.net or visit www.umacenters.com or Facebook fan page www.facebook.com/UMACfans.