After roughly 20 years of teaching martial arts in Syracuse, Vinson Grace decided to open his own school for people unable to afford traditional classes. The school – initially a converted daycare with opponent bags, karate gloves and shields – became a martial arts haven for children in the community. An eighth degree black belt, he also taught martial...
Vinson Grace, of Grace Martial Arts Academy in Syracuse, practices with Lorenzo Thomas, 3, while Camille Denson, 10, Chanel Brown, 10 and other students wait their turn. A tribute will be held Saturday for Grace who died in 2007. After roughly 20 years of teaching martial arts in Syracuse, Vinson Grace decided to open his own school for people unable to afford traditional classes.
The school – initially a converted daycare with opponent bags, karate gloves and shields – became a martial arts haven for children in the community. An eighth degree black belt, he also taught martial arts for adults and children with disabilities.
“He never turned people away,” said Keith Muhammad, one of Grace’s students who worked at the community center. “ I remember once he had almost 40 kids in his class who weren’t paying.”
This weekend community organizers and martial arts students will honor Grace with an “Amazing Grace” tribute Saturday at the Southwest Community Center. Grace – known to many as “Sensei” or teacher – died in 2007. The event will feature martial arts performances, a poetry reading, and a proclamation in his memory.
Saturday – which would have been Grace’s 60th birthday – marks Make a Difference Day, a national day celebrating community service.
“We decided to do this on Make a Difference Day because of the difference he made in people’s lives,” Muhammad said.
Grace, who was born on Syracuse’s Southwest Side, began studying martial arts when he was 16. He played football and wrestled for Corcoran High School.
After graduating from high school, he studied early childhood development at Syracuse University and later worked for the Syracuse Developmental Center.
“There were just so many aspects to Sensei,” Muhammad said. “He did martial arts but he also was a photographer and community activist.”
For some he was even Santa Claus. At 54, Grace first played Santa for his three granddaughters and delivered gifts at Pioneer homes. He also played Santa at the Southwest Community Center and the Southern Missionary Baptist Church. Even after his second heart attack in December 2004, Grace still arrived at the community center the following week to hear Christmas wishes.
He started the Grace Martial Arts Academy at the South West Community Center in 1983 with money he saved from two part-time jobs.
John Giles, who started martial arts classes with Grace at 12, remembers that it was “never just karate with Sensei.” He said Grace often acted as a father figure.
“He’d always ask about school and our grades,” Giles said. “Even though he had kids, he always treated us like his own.” During one of his first martial arts lessons, Giles overcame his childhood fear of competing with chronic asthma when Grace kicked him in the stomach.
“He knocked the wind out of me” said Giles who recalls collapsing moments after the blow. “But he didn’t let me quit... I remember him picking me up, carrying me to the fountain. He gave me a drink and I finished the class. That was it.”
Now a second-degree brown belt, Giles said Grace helped him gain the confidence to complete without immediately grabbing an inhaler.
Giles will be among several students to perform martial arts at this weekend’s event. Tribute organizers will also hold open mic reflections on Grace, unveil a portrait of Grace, and proclaim October 23 as an official Vinson “Sensei” Grace day.
State assembly candidate Sam Roberts, who Grace often called his toughest fighting opponent, will also attend the event.
“If there’s anything people take away from this I hope it’s the power of self giving,” Giles said. “He gave his own financial and physical well being to help the South Side and he taught us so much more than karate.”
Contact Lyndra Vassar at 315-470-2259 or lvassar@syracuse.com.