Cañon City news

Role Model

The Daily Record

DARE Officer Neal Tyler, left, answers a question for Mckinley Elementary School fifth-grader Chrissy Martin, who had a question about the dangers of drugs.

Neal Tyler’s entire existence revolves around children, exactly the way he has designed it.

“They are our future,” said Tyler.

In his dual roles as Drug Abuse Resistance Education Officer and owner/instructor of Nova Defense Systems Kenpo Karate, Tyler works with children both in the school system and at his martial arts facility.

“I make acquaintances in class, and build relationships outside of class,” Tyler said. “The karate school is neutral grounds; it’s not home, it’s not school.”

Tyler, who holds a ninth-degree black belt, said he believes there are two life skills every child should be taught: swimming and the martial arts.

“Martial arts go far beyond the traditional thinking that one can protect him or herself in a dangerous situation,” Tyler said. “Training in Kenpo includes development of a person’s inner strength, which benefits us in every stage of our lives.”

Facing and overcoming fears, building confidence, increasing self-esteem and taking steps to succeed in life are just a few of the life lessons Tyler teaches.

“Teaching is a joy,” Tyler said. “Seeing that light go on and knowing a child thinks, ‘Hey, I can be something,’ is incredible.”

Tyler is humble about the lives he has touched through both the D.A.R.E. program and Kenpo Karate.

“We have been so blessed,” Tyler said. “The key is, we get to help people help themselves.”

As D.A.R.E. officer, Tyler works with fifth and seventh-graders in the Cañon City School District to provide them with the skills they need to avoid involvement in drugs, gangs and violence.

In that role, Tyler leads a series of classroom lessons that teaches children how to resist peer pressure and live productively, free of drugs and violence.

“We teach life skills versus science and math,” Tyler said. “Schools don’t always see the big picture because they’re more focused on CSAPs and other things.”

Tyler, who was instrumental in starting the D.A.R.E. program in Cañon City, will present a program on the local D.A.R.E. Role Model program at an international conference next July in Nashville, Tenn.

Tyler has spearheaded the D.A.R.E program for the past 14 years and is celebrating his 25th year this month at Nova Defense Systems Kenpo Karate.

Tyler’s facility is more than a martial arts school. It also is a police training facility where Tyler teaches basic and advance police defense tactics. His wife of 14 years, Tammy, co-owns the school and instructs alongside Tyler.

“She has been doing this for 18 years,” Tyler said. “She helps me in everything I do.”

Which proves Tyler actually lives the lessons he teaches.

“Family comes first,” Tyler said. “That’s the message in both D.A.R.E. and martial arts.

“Probably 75 percent of our (martial arts) students are family groups,” Tyler said. “We’re actually seeing second and third generations coming in now.”

Tyler’s past prepared him well for his dual roles in martial arts and D.A.R.E.

Now 52, Tyler began studying martial arts 38 years ago while he was living back East. He has a military background and has experienced the harsh effects of organized crime first hand.

He was shot, stabbed and suffered four fractured vertebrae in intimidation and retaliation related to a murder case in which he testified against the mob.

Tyler said his martial arts skills gave him the strength and courage to survive that time in his life, but soon he realized he needed a change in scenery and lifestyle, so he ended up in Colorado.

And he has been touching and changing lives since.

Tyler said martial arts teaches how to set goals, a lesson he knows well.

“I want to be a 10th degree (black belt) by the time I’m 55,” Tyler said. “I want to keep working with people. I have a great job and a great life, and I want it all to continue.”

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