ZONE DEFENSE TO SELF DEFENSE; LITTLEROCK'S BERKLEY MIXES BASKETBALL AND MARTIAL ARTS.

Byline: Chris Cocoles Daily News Staff Writer

Justin Berkley admits he has to sell himself to the parents of the aspiring martial arts students he teaches.

The 17-year-old is a junior at Littlerock High and plays basketball for the Lobos. He's also a second-degree black belt in tae kwon do and runs his own school at Jackie Robinson Park in Littlerock.

``It's hard to trust a teen-ager who teaches something that can save their children's lives someday,'' Berkley said of some of the skepticism he encounters.

Berkley puts in a full day of school and basketball practice, and on Monday and Wednesday nights he teaches his two-hour classes, attracting young children and adults.

``Maybe at first . . . I would have to sit back and watch,'' said Jeff Perry, Berkley's tae kwon do teacher who handed down his class to his protege in September. ``But after you watch him for the first five or 10 minutes you can see that he teaches them so well.''

To earn his second-degree black belt, Berkley had to spend a year assisting Perry's classes.

``I've been teaching for 10 years and I tested six kids for their black belts,'' said Perry, himself a third-degree black belt. ``Most kids will get their black belts and then quit. But Justin is so dedicated to teaching the other kids and the adults in his class.

``You never really master (tae kwon do). I feel Justin has it. He has that little glimmer.''

Motivated by watching the movies of Bruce Lee as a 10-year-old, Berkley quickly caught onto the Korean-based art. He moved through the color-coded belt ladder, earning first his white belt, then yellow, orange, purple, green, brown and black.

The progression to second-degree black belt included multiple broken noses and broken bones in each of his fingers and in his feet.

``I was getting hurt all the time,'' Berkley said. ``Once I got my white belt, I was going to be the best.''

Berkley is passing along his knowledge, not only in his classes but to his assistant, Jess Lozano, a Paraclete High student who might someday earn his black belt under the tutelage of Berkley, just as Berkley did under Perry, who learned under Master John Alarcon, a sixth-degree black belt who was required to travel to Korea to earn his last two belts.

``I once fought (Alarcon), this 80-year-old man,'' Berkley said. ``I just said to myself, `I'm going to kick this old man's butt.' He had me on the ground before I could blink.''

The lesson here convinced Berkley that tae kwon do is not about youth or strength but desire.

``You could do anything if you put your mind to it. I've seen little kids break through four boards and then a body builder that can't break one,'' Berkley said. ``It's wonderful to see a kid achieve because of something I taught them.''

Berkley has achieved a great deal himself. He has aspirations of attending the United States Naval Academy and then pursuing a career with the U.S. Navy Seals.

Two summers ago, Berkley got a taste of the life he wants to live. He attended a 10-day boot camp for youths known as Devil Pups at Camp Pendleton Marine Base near Oceanside.

It was a grueling experience, mentally just as much as physically.

By week's end, he was one of the select few to be chosen from his platoon to spend time drilling with a Navy Seals unit.

``You learn to appreciate a lot more of your life like . . . having someone to hug,'' Berkley said.

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PHOTO Justin Berkley, who plays basketball for Littlerock High, also teaches tae kwon do. The 17-year-old junior is a second-degree black belt.

Jeff Goldwater/Daily News