By Will Gilson, Currier Times Staff///

Want to have a famous person teach you a new skill? Curry College students don’t have to look far. Curry’s club sport, Karate Club, has an unexpected teacher: former Linebacker for the New England Patriots and NFL Hall of Famer, Andre Tippett.

Tippett, a 7th-degree black belt says that he has connections with Curry and the surrounding area. “I’ve known a couple of the head coaches that have been here: Steve Nelson and Skip Bandini have been good friends of mine,” Tippett said. “We’ve run a few football camps here through the years.”

Tippett has also expressed a desire to teach Karate to students in higher education. “I’ve been wanting to start a Karate Club in a college environment,” Tippett said. “I reached out to the president at the time and the AD and they said yes.”

According to Tippett, he has practiced Karate throughout his life. “Karate is what I am. I’ve been in Karate for over 50 years, and it’s something that I’ve embodied my whole life.” 

Students have been surprised by having a former NFL Player teach them Karate. Alex Vincent, a sophomore Communications major, was shocked at who his instructor was.

“It’s definitely pretty random, at first glance,” Vincent said. “I didn’t actually recognize him at first, but then he gave us a packet of information which had this list of stuff about him, including [being] a pro football player, so I did some research. Turns out he’s been doing it since 1972.”

Tippett’s football career spanned eleven seasons, all with the New England Patriots, as a linebacker, from 1982 to 1993. He was voted into the Patriots Hall of Fame in 1999 and the NFL Hall of Fame in 2008. According to the Patriots website, he still holds the franchise record for sacks at 100.

As a Karate instructor, Tippett hopes students gain a better understanding of Karate and the values that come with it.

“I know the values of Karate: discipline, teaching you perseverance, resiliency, grit,” Tippett said. “You’re not just out here on the floor kicking and punching. But, you’re kicking and punching, and understanding what you’re learning and why you’re learning it.”

Curry’s Karate Club attracts students far and wide. First-year Criminal Justice major Kristen Gilbert says she has had prior experience with Karate, and that’s what drew her toward it.

“I did Karate for like six months when I was ten, and I realized that there was a Karate club here on campus, so I thought, why not take advantage of it,” Gibert said.

Curry’s Karate Club was established in the Fall of 2021 as a Club Sport and meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays of each week from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the Fitness Center. It requires no prior experience. All skill levels are welcome.

And, as for Tippett, mention him to your parents. They may just remember him playing on the football field!