Bittersweet best describes the vibe at Midwest Martial Arts on Saturday. Tears flowed. Hugs all around. There was even a cake to mark the occasion.

After 26 years in business, Charlie Foxman was closing the doors to his martial arts and kickboxing studio in Creve Coeur. The soon-to-be 71-year-old, lovingly referred to as the “Jack LaLanne of St. Louis,” was calling it quits. Not that he is retiring.

“I’m not retiring, I’m re-firing,” said the ever-energetic Foxman, explaining that he will be ramping up his “side business” of leading seminars for corporate groups and older adults in fitness, nutrition and personal safety.

 “This gives me an opportunity to still do what I love and what gets my juices flowing in morning,” Foxman continued. “I’m still going to impact people lives and hopefully make them better without having to teach classes all day, six days a week.”

Part of Foxman’s decision to close the studio had to do with his lease being up. But, he says, it was really about lifestyle. He plans to spend more time with his three grandchildren. He wants to start attending Saturday morning services at United Hebrew Congregation. And he’s looking forward to watching an entire Monday night football game on TV.

“In 26 years, I’ve never be able to see the start of one because I work until 9 every night,” he said. “When ‘Seinfeld’ was all the rage, I wasn’t able to see one program.”

Foxman’s students, young and old, say they can’t imagine their life without Charlie. “I’m going to need therapy,” said Susan Hearne of Ladue, who has been working out at Foxman’s studio for more than 10 years.

“His classes are like no other,” she said. “He takes a personal interest in people. He motivates us to work out hard, and push ourselves. 

Grace Fox lost 75 pounds under Foxman’s watch. “He changed my life completely,” said Fox, 21, a chiropractor’s assistant who has been coming to Foxman’s studio daily to work out for the past two years. “He never let me stop. He is an amazing person.”

Sam Klein would challenge anyone who spends just a little time with Foxman to think otherwise. Sam considers Foxman a best friend, explaining that he inspired Sam to start a not-for-profit recycling business three years ago.

Today, Sam, who is CEO and President of InkCycle Group, collects inkjets, laser toners, iPods, cell phones, tablets and laptops from local business, then ships them to manufacturers out of state, which pay him. So far, he’s made about $1,500, all of which he’s donated to charities such as the Ronald McDonald House and the Sandy Hook Elementary School Support Fund. 

He’s been featured on the “Making a Difference” segment of NBC’s “Nightly News” and in huffingtonpost.com. The website story described him as a “philanthropist.”

The thing is, Sam’s only 12 years old. 

“Charlie is my mentor,” said Sam, a personable Parkway Northeast Middle School seventh grader who became fascinated with garbage at the age of four. 

“That’s when we started visiting garbage companies as regular outings,” said Sam’s mother, Heidi. “They even threw him a birthday party.”

Heidi Klein describes Sam as a kid “who thinks out of the box.” When he was 6, she enrolled him in a taekwondo class at Foxman’s martial arts school. Within short order, the two became fast friends. 

“Charlie has had an unbelievable impact on my son in ways beyond measure,” said Heidi, who regularly takes kickboxing classes with Foxman. “Emotionally, what this man offers, I don’t think anyone else in St. Louis offers. In his classes, there’s always a lesson about self- discipline, bullying, self-esteem. He educates children and families on being the best they can be.”

Sam spent last summer with Foxman, going with him to the Hallmark and Gatesworth retirement centers where he teaches classes as well as to the Variety Club Kids Camp for disabled children.

“He teaches karate to them over the summer,” said Sam. “It is just amazing to watch. You walk in there to see those kids and you walk out and say, ‘I have no problems.’”

Sam says he was really sad when he found out Foxman was closing the studio, but understands the decision. “He needs this,” said Sam. “He wants to spend more time with his family and try some new things.”

Still, Sam felt that Foxman should be honored in a big way, so he reached out to Channel 5’s Mike Bush in the hopes he would feature Foxman on TV.

 “The reason for me writing you is that I wanted to tell you about a martial arts studio that is closing.  Charlie Foxman, an eighth degree black belt started Midwest Martial Arts back 26 years ago and has been serving thousands of families ever since.  We are one of those families.  I will tell you one thing.  If I didn’t have Charlie in my life, I would NOT be where I am today.  He has supported me ever since I came to his school back in 2006.”

So on behalf of Sam, and the hundreds of other lives you changed for the better Charlie, we wish you all the best as you refire in new directions. Congrats on a job well done.