While viewers of programs like the Ultimate Fighting Championship may believe today’s form of combat sports is only about physicality mixed with trash talk, Dowagiac’s Jerry Jacobs has a different outlook on the art form.

A lifelong practitioner of karate, boxing and other forms of martial arts, Jacobs believes the way of the fist is more about culture and mindset than mere strikes and grabs, he said.

“Martial arts is great for self-esteem and building character,” Jacobs said, cooling down from a demonstration to several local children Wednesday evening. “It teaches people things like honor, discipline and respect. It teaches you how to become a true warrior and a true leader.”

The veteran martial artist is hoping to impart these values to the young and old alike in Dowagiac through his recently opened school, Jacobs Martial Arts Academy. The business, located downtown at 104 Division St. , is open for classes five days week, with Jacobs providing lessons in karate, kickboxing and several other forms of martial arts for children and adults.

Jacobs, a native of Port Huron, was inspired from an early age to get involved with karate, beginning training after watching the films of famed martial artists like Bruce Lee, he said.

“The things they could do in those movies was superhero like,” he said. “When I was 10 I started learning Kenpo Karate and I just fell in love.”

Jacobs opened his own studio in Port Huron shortly after graduating high school, operating the business until 2008, where he closed the business to pursue as a career a fitness manager with a YMCA in Detroit, he said. He later transferred to Cleveland, where he was responsible for overseeing the fitness centers of several different YMCA locations, he said.

He recently decided to get out of management after moving to Dowagiac in order to be closer to family. He decided to open a new school in his new hometown after the move, finding the former storefront of Dowagiac IT3 to be the perfect spot to launch his new venture.

“I wanted to get back to what I really loved — teaching,” Jacobs said. “I wanted to get back to working one-on-one with students, to personally see the difference I was making instead of running back and forth between nine different places and managing hundreds of employees.”

In addition to martial arts and self defense instruction, Jacobs also teaches several fitness classes at the studio.

People interested in lessons can call Jacobs at (586) 764-5257 or visit his business’ website at www.pcksilat.com.