ANDERSON — Pete McCoy was in the midst of raising two teenage stepsons when he experienced firsthand the positive effects of martial arts.

“The first thing we noticed was a change of attitude due to respect,” McCoy said of his stepsons’ training.

Last year, 22 years after his family first became involved in martial arts and at the age of 70, McCoy earned his own black belt from the Larry Davenport Karate Studio in Alexandria, while his stepsons have gone on to become a doctor and a sheriff’s deputy with second and third-degree black belts.

McCoy credits much of his family’s success in martial arts — his wife also is a first-degree black belt — to Davenport, who stresses respect, discipline and control in his sport, a form of karate called Okinawan Goju-Ryu (pronounced “go-ju-roo”).

Davenport, 67, had been operating in Alexandria on and off since 1975 before moving his studio to Anderson in January. Although many of his Alexandria students followed him to his new practice, Davenport is eager to find more students in Anderson.

“My idea when I went to Alexandria was to establish a karate school and be some type of positive force in the community,” he said. “I would say we have accomplished that goal.”

Student Matt Hill, 47, said besides teaching students the art of Goju-Ryu — which means “strong yet gentle” — Davenport had helped children and adults become more confident and comfortable in their ability to defend themselves.

“One of the reasons I joined was the respect Mr. Davenport showed to my daughter (when she was in his class),” said Hill, a first-degree black belt. “That felt like something I would want to be involved in. To see those kids come out of their shells and become future leaders, it’s amazing.”

The Larry Davenport Karate Studio, which those in the martial arts world refer to as the dojo (training hall), is at 10 W. Eighth St. in the former site of U.S. Rep. Mike Pence’s office. Although the building is smaller than his studio in Alexandria, Davenport and many of his students renovated the building and put every square inch to use. His first class there on Jan. 24 had 26 students, including 11 black belts.

Most importantly to Davenport, his students practice his three cornerstones of respect, discipline and control from their sensei, or “honorable instructor.”

“When I look at it, the way we do it is the best self-development program all around that I have ever seen,” said Davenport, who is an eighth-degree black belt himself. “I want to enhance the lives of a lot of people that, right now, don’t even know my name. This year there are people who will walk through this door who know nothing about karate, and their lives will be changed forever, and that’s real exciting to me.

“I want to be as active in the Anderson community as I was in Alexandria.”

McCoy said there is a common misperception that karate is all about fighting.

“That’s probably the furthest thing from the truth,” he said. “No one here is taught how to fight. They are taught to avoid confrontation.”

Davenport hopes to start a comprehensive women’s self-defense class at the studio in the coming months.

“I can’t guarantee anybody’s safety, but if you come in here and you work out and train, you’ve got options that would not have been feasibly possible before,” he said. “What happens if you could just save your life one time?”

The studio offers classes for anyone over 4 years old during the week, and Davenport plans to start a Saturday family class soon. He plans to work with students with scheduling and financial issues.

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Larry Davenport Karate Studio classes

— Children 4-6: 4 p.m. Monday and Wednesday

— Children 7-12: 5 p.m. Monday and Wednesday

— Adults (13 and up): 6 p.m. Monday and Wednesday

— All students: 10 a.m. Tuesday and Thursday

— Saturday family class starting soon

To sign up, visit the studio at 10 W. Eighth St. or call (765) 649-4955