As a kid, Robert Armstrong Jr. was enthralled with martial arts movies such as those starring the legendary Bruce Lee.

Though he could not read Chinese characters, called hanzi in Mandarin, Armstrong procured and subsequently devoured a book on the art of kung fu.

“I was not a rich kid, but I found a book on kung fu and I wanted to be like the guy in there. I wanted to be like Bruce Lee,” said Amstrong, recalling countless days over two years spent in his backyard attempting to replicate the moves.

“I just got worse, I didn’t get better,” Armstrong said with a chuckle.

Eventually, he said, his dad loaded him into the truck for a trip to a Do Jahng (taekwondo studio) near his home in Redhook, N.Y., the only martial arts studio in the area.

“I put the uniform on, got onto the mat and never looked back,” Armstrong said. “The first day I was completely sold on it. I loved it.”

Thirty years later, Armstrong holds a fourth degree black belt in taekwondo from the American taekwondo Association, a black belt with the World taekwondo Federation and a black belt in the United States Marine Corps Combat Mixed Martial Arts.

Armstrong opened the Do Jahng at Ken’s Korner in August when he and his family relocated from California to Clinton at the end of his over 20-year career in the U.S. Marine Corps. Amstrong’s taekwondo is the only Do Jahng on South Whidbey and one of two on the island.

“I’ve been teaching taekwondo for over 20 years,” he said. “And since South Whidbey doesn’t have a taekwondo school, it was just a great opportunity to open one up and bring it to our community.”

Recently, Armstrong approached the South Whidbey Parks and Recreation District program coordinator Carrie Monforte and discussed his desire to share more of his programs with the community by offering additional self-defense and taekwondo classes with the parks and recreation district, which will begin in January.

“I can’t teach someone how to defend themselves in one to two [sessions],” he said. “But I can give them the basics. The big thing is practicing again and again and again.”

Armstrong explained that self-defense techniques largely come down to muscle memory, though in his lengthier taekwondo classes he takes it a step further by having students do drills and cardio work prior to self- defense practice at the end of the session.

“You need to be able to do self-defense when you’re stressed out,” he explained. “Hopefully you don’t ever have to use it, but if you do have to one day, you’ll be equipped with the basics.”

In addition to self-defense practice and a healthy dose of exercise, students at Armstrong’s Do Jahng learn about Korean culture and ways in which to incorporate elements of taekwondo philosophy into everyday life.

Words like “integrity” and “self control” line the walls of the studio to remind students of the principles. Armstrong said it provides a good reinforcement for the lessons younger students learn in school and at home.

In addition, students earn victory patches for accomplishments in and outside of class, and earn stars by doing things such as earning an “A” on a spelling test or demonstrating the core values.

“It reinforces positive behavior outside of the Do Jahng,” said Armstrong.

All of the lessons and exercises, he added, are designed to be enjoyable. For beginners, belt levels are associated with animals like the tiger and turtle, each of which has its own accompanying storybook. For older students, the courses continue to contain plenty of energy and fun.

“They’re learning through fun,” said Armstrong. “If they’re not having fun, there’s something wrong.”

Current students range from the age of three to 61 and join at various skill levels.

Michaela Terrell, age 10, has already obtained a black belt from another organization, though with the American Taekwondo Association she is a yellow belt.

Both she and fellow student Dane Saxton, also a yellow belt, say their initial attraction to the art form was inspired largely by films like “The Karate Kid.”

Through participation in the classes, both students said they’ve noticed changes in themselves outside of the Do Jahng as well as increased skill levels within, and enjoy “pretty much everything” about the art form.

Classes through the South Whidbey Parks and Recreation District will be offered from 6-7 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays Jan. 12 through Feb. 11 and from 9:30-10:30 a.m. Tuesdays and Fridays Jan. 13-Feb. 13. Each class series costs $50 and are open to adults and youth ages 13 and older. A self-defense-only class for adults and youth 15 and older will be held from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 9 and costs $35. All classes will be held at Armstrong’s Taekwondo at 11042 Highway 525 Suite 114 at Ken’s Korner.

For more information about Armstrong’s Taekwondo and classes, visit armstrongstaekwondo.com.