I've never been a fan of Jackie Chan movies nor have Jean-Claude Van Damme's fight scenes captured my heart.

The Matrix was good, but without a character played by Keanu Reeves it probably wouldn't have made my list of favorites. I figured the whole kick and punch thing was not exactly my scene.

However, last Thursday night I attended the Penn State Martial Arts Group demonstration and realized what I've seen in the movies is completely different from most martial art forms, which focus on the individual and a sound mind and body.

A registered Penn State club sport for 19 years, the Martial Arts Group is a certified studio of the World Tang Soo Do Association. The members of the club practice traditional Korean karate, which focuses more on self-defense techniques than on fighting. Tang Soo Do has Chinese influences and is an art of empty hand and foot techniques.

"Tang Soo Do has more of a stepping-back philosophy. We don't start things, but are prepared if somebody else does," said Master Michael Kaye, a fourth degree black belt and chief instructor of the club.

Kaye has trained in martial arts for nearly 30 years and he, like many of his fellow black belts, continuously learns and improves techniques in the 2,000-year-old tradition of Tang Soo Do. He said that even the best fighters constantly build upon their strategies.

Tang Soo Do is a useful form of self-defense and teaches the scientific use of the body, such as pressure points and tendon reflexes. These techniques are useful when an attacker is larger and stronger, but not necessarily more skilled.

The demonstration was in the form of typical class sessions that are held from 8:30 to 10:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays in the wrestling room of the Intramural Building. Students and instructors demonstrated basic blocks and attacks, then proceeded to more difficult kicks, turns and combinations. I watched in awe as the students simulated sparring matches and actually broke wooden boards.

The instructors explained to the audience that anything they do in practice has significance in a fighting situation. The breaking of the boards, although a crowd-pleaser, serves as an exercise to successfully disable an attacker. The force that is emitted on the boards is capable of breaking several bones when executed properly.

Tang Soo Do truly seems like the epitome of sport and art combined. Even the simplest moves require a great deal of coordination, balance and extreme concentration. The result of consistent practice is a stronger, more toned body and a better sense of well being.

"In many levels (Tang Soo Do) is a form of meditation. It affects how you feel and how you interact with the world around you," said Patrick Parsons, an instructor.

The art of Tang Soo Do can strongly influence participants' lives outside the art form. It thrives on five codes that are recited in each class: loyalty to country, obedience to parents, honor friendship, no retreat in battle, and in fighting, choose with sense and honor.

The class structure also seemed formal, almost ceremonial — a feature that I think is hard to find in our overly casual culture. The lower-level belts bowed to their superiors and each other before each segment, demonstrating respect that is such a large part of traditional Korean cultures but is diminishing in ours.

I had a first hand account of what a real martial arts class is like, and I have a whole new appreciation for what Tang Soo Do is all about.

And as for the high paced so-called martial arts movies, all I can say is, "Sorry Jean-Claude."