Students at Gardnerville and Piñon Hills elementary schools in Doug Odell's physical education classes received a visit from Nyls Rothfusz, a fifth-degree black belt and owner of Northwest Martial Arts in Gardnerville.
Rothfusz presented martial arts lessons to students from kindergarten through sixth grade.
They were given instruction on the basic elements of martial arts: self-defense, respect and courtesy.
Students were led through a series of moves that included kicking and blocking.
Interwoven into the lesson were talking points about the value of restraint and respecting authority.
Odell said the purpose of the training was two-fold.
Martial arts fit into local and state standards requiring students to be exposed to healthy and active lifetime pursuits.
Martial arts also provide a more contemporary viewpoint of school-based physical education, which calls for a balance between competitive and non-competitive sports.
Odell said his students loved the experience and asked him when Rothfusz was coming back.
