South Coast Community Youth Cultural Center

Tony Becerra
Martial Arts Transformer

Tony Becerra began learning karate at Koei-Kan on Santa Barbara’s Westside in 1985, and more than 30 years later, he now runs the dojo, training hundreds of kids every year in the martial arts.

At Koei-Kan, and as head of the South Coast Youth Community Cultural Center, Becerra understands the importance of affordability in lower-income communities. Classes for the youth center are as low as $10 a month, and at the karate academy, Becerra works with families in need to provide discounts for training. Kids need a physical and mental outlet, Becerra said, and martial arts was the perfect fit for children who were pent up at home during the pandemic.

“They can have a true sense of themselves, build confidence,” Becerra said. “They experience all the different emotions: anger, fear, and stress. Being exposed to these emotions helps them get a grip on them.”

Becerra said living in the Westside neighborhood has exposed him to the dangers and temptations a lot of youth in the area face, and that providing a space for them to learn and just being a supportive adult has helped change a lot of lives.

“I’ve seen a lot of kids fall by the wayside,” Becerra said. He takes pride in reaching the kids who have come in with behavioral issues, and after working together have turned it around and earned praise from parents and teachers. “It’s an amazing transformation,” he said.

During the past two years, Becerra has made a priority to maintain the access and affordability of his classes, holding outdoor classes in local parks. Often, these park days would be the only times the children would have an opportunity to play face-to-face with their peers.

Becerra also serves as president at Page Youth Center; has chaired several nonprofit organizations, including the Santa Barbara Junior Chamber Jaycees; established the South Coast Wrestling Club; and has been the co-chair of the Santa Barbara Easter Relays Committee for many years.

From:Local Heroes 2021
The Santa Barbara Independent‘s Annual Nod to Our Incredible Neighbors
By Nick Welsh, Matt Kettmann, Tyler Hayden, Jean Yamamura, Charles Donelan,
Ryan P. Cruz, Jun Starkey, and Caleb Rodriguez | Images by Erick Madrid