Butler resident Ron Freeze punched left and right and kicked as he made his way across the hardwood floor.

“It's good exercise mostly and the meditation, relaxing,” said the 68-year old Air Force veteran. “I really enjoy it.”

Freeze is legally blind in his right eye, which, he said, made it difficult to balance during his first experience in the martial arts.

However, he said he keeps going.

Freeze is one of the veterans who attends martial arts class at VA Butler Healthcare's Wellness Center.

Volunteer Kevin Chagnon, 65, led six attendees in a kata, a Japanese word meaning form, which is a detailed choreographed pattern of movements, at last week's class.

Freeze arrives an hour early for extra lessons from Chagnon because he is a beginner, he said.

His brother-in-law, Gary Geibel of Butler, also attends the class.

“I wanted to get more active and try and bring down my sugar and other numbers,” said the 70-year old Air Force veteran.

Chagnon's approach allows Geibel to get exercise, while learning martial arts, he said.

The skills in kata can be practiced alone but are also used within groups and in unison when training, Chagnon said.

“It's really the heart of martial arts,” he said of kata. “That's really how they perfect the form, just like dancers.”

Chagnon has instructed martial arts classes as a volunteer for a year and a half. He also teaches a meditation course.

“I give back, plus I love doing this, so it's not even like work for me,” he said. “It gets me out of the house and keeps me in shape.”

At 14, Chagnon began martial arts and earned his first-degree black belt at 17.

“I was drawn to it by Bruce Lee when he was in 'The Green Hornet,'” he said. “I just wanted to learn.”

He practiced until he was 25. Later, he opened his own martial arts school, but closed it.

Three years ago, Chagnon started training again.

His journey began when he joined MOVE!, a weight- management program for veterans where he lost 85 pounds in a year and a half.

“I don't like lifting weights, I don't like walking on the treadmill,” he said about the alternative workout martial arts offers. “I look forward to doing this because I enjoy it.”

Chagnon got two artificial knees 15 years ago and has arthritis in his shoulder, he said. He modifies the course for himself and based on the veterans who may have injuries or prosthetics.

“I'm all about let's try this or let's try that,” he said. “We are easygoing.”

The benefits of martial arts are holistic, he said.

“It's about mind, body, soul,” he said. “Our minds, brains and body are connected.”

For people who may be embarrassed to try martial arts because they think they cannot do it, Chagnon said give it a try.

“I'm constantly telling them take it at your own pace,” he said. “If you get up and you say, 'Ugh I got to work out,' it's not going to last. Something like this you can see your progress and there's always something new to learn ... it keeps you coming back.”

“Find something you like,” Chagnon said. “If you liked to play basketball when you were younger, just grab a basketball and shoot hoops. Just something you enjoy doing that you're going to do 2-3 times a week.”

Although the class is designed for veterans who are 60 and older, younger veterans are welcome, Chagnon said.

Another person stepping and kicking to the kata was Oakland Township resident Brad Edwards, who has taken the class for about a year.

“He worked us harder today than he normally does. It was good,” said the 66-year old Army veteran. “He's a really good guy and has patience like you wouldn't believe.”

Edwards found out about the class after the class he was taking at the time did not work out, he said. Previously, he had taken three years of Krav Maga, an Israeli fighting system.

The group environment is one enjoyable aspect of the class, he said.

“Whenever I started, I didn't know anything about it,” he said. “It makes me think about stuff I've never done, so I'm learning.”

WHAT: Martial arts classWHEN: 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, 11 a.m. to noon SaturdaysWHERE: VA Butler Healthcare Health Care Center Wellness Center, 353 N. Duffy RoadWHAT: Meditation classWHEN: 2 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, noon to 12:30 p.m. SaturdaysWHERE: VA Butler Healthcare Health Care Center Room 1MH005, 353 N. Duffy Road