Mike Tarasenko was not planning to open a dojo.

The Barrington resident said he was just thinking about offering some outdoor martial arts classes in town … something for local kids who might be interested in trying it out. He was talking about the idea one day when a friend mentioned the idea of opening a dojo — she said a friend owned a space in town that might be available. 

So Tarasenko reached out to AJ Farina and the two hit it off. Before long, Tarasenko was making plans to open Barrington Martial Arts in the space at 306 County Road.

“The timing of it is incredible,” Tarasenko said. “This all happened in two months.”

Tarasenko has been training in Jeet Kune Do for nearly 15 years, having spent many years training at Derderian Academy of Martial Arts in Johnston. Martial arts is a passion for the father of three; he works full-time as a school psychologist. 

“I’ve been training adults for a long time,” Tarasenko said. “I was a personal trainer before I became a school psychologist.”

Barrington Martial Arts offers classes for adults and youngsters. In fact, Tarasenko is very excited about being able to share the Jeet Kune Do experience with area children. He said martial arts — this system was actually developed by Bruce Lee — offers a number of benefits to young and old alike. 

Involvement in activities, such as martial arts, offer an important outlet for young people, Tarasenko said. That is crucial, especially now where children and teens are struggling with the stress related to the pandemic. Tarasenko said he witnesses the realities of stress in the younger population each day in his role as a school psychologist. 

Tarasenko added that martial arts are good for people of all ages — Jeet Kune Do is unique in that it can be catered to each individual who trains in that discipline. 

“When you know all the elements that are taught to you, you really make it your own,” he said. “You’re not stuck in one box.

“The main focus is … the individual.”

Tarasenko is offering classes for different age groups — there’s a Kids Kung Fu for children ages 6 to 9, and Kids JKD (Jeet Kune Do) for ages 10 to 14. Barrington Martial Arts also has an adult class. Tarasenko said there is flexibility with the age groups and skill levels, and he encourages people to give it a try.

“Come in with an open mind and don’t feel intimidated,” he said. “You can adjust the curriculum. It’s flexible. It’s fun.”

Tarasenko said classes begin with an active warm-up — “It’s not like forms (in karate),” he said. “You’re always actively with me or with another person. Blocking counters. It’s a lot of moving parts. There’s not a lot of down-time.”

Tarasenko said Barrington Martial Arts is also offering “Night Owl Combat Club.” The class does not offer individuals an opportunity to be ranked in Jeet Kune Do, but it is a great way for people to get in shape and pick up helpful instruction, he said. 

“It’s like cardio kick-boxing,” Tarasenko said. “It’s like a boot camp.”

Tarasenko said his own journey with Jeet Kune Do has been very rewarding. He said when he first started, it was a very physical experience. About three-quarters of the way through it, however, the training focused heavily on confidence and calmness. 

“It becomes peaceful. You become peaceful with yourself,” Tarasenko said. “You become a lot more self-aware. You’re mindful, but you don’t overthink things.”

Tarasenko said he hopes others can find the same passion for martial arts as he has.

“I would love for whoever joins to get as much out of it as they can,” he said. 

For more information, write to barringtonjkd@gmail.com or call 401-309-4620.

Early reviews

Barrington Martial Arts has only been open for a few weeks, but already it has received some stellar reviews online.

“Barrington Martial Arts Class with Mike Tarasenko has truly made my shy daughter come out of her shell,” wrote one mom. “He truly gives his all to every single one of the students. You can see how much dedication he has and enjoys teaching the class as much as his students love to learn from him. My daughter and I both look forward to her classes every week. To watch his students grow with him is a wonderful experience. Mike is an inspiration to the children and they truly respect him as their teacher.

Richard Turilli wrote: “As a dad in town with little time to work on my own self and wellbeing, I find BMA as a super fun and engaging place to learn relevant skills while relieving stress. I'm smiling every week in class. It's great for all levels of experience and skill, and inviting for newcomers!”