A Portage Life in the Spotlight: Brent Messmer

Master Brent Messmer owns Rising Star Martial Arts in Portage. Messmer named the business after the school of martial arts, which is now located in Illinois, that he attended as a child.

“I founded the studio in 2008,” Messmer said. “I asked my instructor if I could use the name.”

As a child, martial arts made a significant impact on Messmer. It’s not only where he grasped the strength, skill, and values of martial arts, but also where he met mentors that often filled the role of his father after his parents divorced.

“The love and the respect that these guys shared is something I’ve never forgotten, and I’ve integrated those values into our business today,” Messmer said.

As the owner of Rising Star Martial Arts, also referred to as Rising Star Martial Arts II since the original was founded by his childhood teacher Grandmaster Dexter Grove, Messmer considers it a duty to mentor his students just like he was mentored by his martial arts instructors.

“I had many role models as I was coming up, and now I get to be one for them,” he said.

Messmer’s martial arts academy teaches both the sport side and art side of martial arts. The art side of martial arts focuses more on its self-defense component. The sports side focuses more on the competitive component of martial arts.

Less than half of students in martial arts end up earning their black belt. Few have the commitment to dedicate 3 or 4 years to the training required. After earning one’s first degree black belt, a student may continue to study and earn higher black belt ranking. After receiving the fourth degree black belt, a practitioner is then considered a master, It can take about a 10-12 years to earn a fourth degree in a black belt. Those very few that dedicate their lives to the martial arts and earn their seventh degree black belt or higher earn the title of grandmaster. 

“Once a student completes all of the colored belt tests, then they test for their black belt last,” Messmer said. “On average, the number of students that end up earning their black belt is probably between 20%-30%. Maybe half of those students end up achieving additional black belt rank.”

One of Messmer’s favorite aspects of his work is watching his students grow in concentration, strength, focus, and coordination.

“You mold and shape them, and it makes the whole thing worthwhile,” Messmer said.

For Messmer, martial arts has become a family affair in multiple ways since so many of his direct family members take martial arts. His school offers family discounts, as he believes that martial arts is a great family activity. Messmer additionally met his wife, Amy, in martial arts, and both of their children are black belts. On top of that, his mother-in-law and father-in-law are black belts in a Korean form of martial arts called Hapkido.

Martial arts is certainly integrated into much of Messmer’s life. He incorporates it into his family, work, and leisure.