It's easy in the United States to meet other Christians.

Connecting with martial artists? Depends on the state, but most every strip mall has a karate classroom.

Finding other Christian martial artists for fellowship, however, can be significantly more challenging, according to Michael Rhodes, founder of Blue Ridge Karate Club.

Rhodes, who has studied karate for 26 years, offered just that opportunity Saturday with a homecoming for members of Karate for Christ in the gym of Victory Baptist Church in Buena Vista.

A couple of dozen Christians from all over the state and North Carolina spent the day studying things such as Samurai Sword, street defense and the Bible.

Karate for Christ has more than 20,000 martial arts teachers as members, said member Mark Abraham of Portsmouth. More than 400,000 people have committed to Christ through the group's ministry, according to its Web site. It welcomes students from all disciplines. Rhodes will travel to Korea in March as a missionary for the organization.

Considering that martial arts originated in East Asia and that the Bible tells of Jesus turning the other cheek, karate and Christianity may strike some as an odd couple.

That's what Rhodes, 44, initially thought when he became a Christian. He almost gave up karate for good, until, six years ago, he found Karate for Christ on the Internet.

"They can work together," Rhodes said. "We try to show [that] Christians don't have to be a humble doormat for people."

Karate teaches discipline, self-sacrifice and honor, things Christians should know, said Tom Coburn of Lexington whose 16-year-old son, T.J., participated in Saturday's homecoming.

During laido, or sword class, instructor Michael Lewis, United States operations president of Karate for Christ, emphasized that Christian practitioners do have to approach some things differently than traditional students.

Christians must never bow to their swords, he said.

"This is a sword. It's made of metal, but it does not have a soul," he said. "The Japanese believe this is a soul of a Samurai. It becomes part of them. But it does not have a soul, so we do not treat it as such as Christians."

While some martial arts teachers discuss the yin-yang symbol, Lewis said it has no purpose to Christians who study karate.

"What's godly about it? Nothing," he said. "It has no purpose."

Karate for Christ member Elizabeth Conley assists teacher Mark Abraham with martial arts classes for inner-city youths in Portsmouth.

Many of the students, she said, haven't had the opportunity to attend church or learn about Jesus in their homes.

Karate appeals to many kids, Conley believes, because unlike school where they're frequently told to sit down and be quiet, they get an opportunity to stand up and shout. Along the way, they learn the Bible's message, she said.

Eight-year-old Tristan "Termite" Taylor delighted Saturday in using a cardboard paper-towel roll he found in the bathroom to practice sword moves.

"I've been looking forward to making new friends," he said.

The opportunity for fellowship also drove karate teacher Scott Catoe, 29, to make a five-hour trek from Raleigh for Saturday's homecoming. "It's a unique opportunity to train with people who know certain things," he said.

Catoe believes Karate for Christ events make him a better teacher. "You come back with added excitement and vigor when you teach your own class."