Ethics

In this class, we believe in many things: respect, honor, integrity, and so much more. Our instructors aim to instill these values through example and instruction. No matter what background our students come from, these ethics will help them overcome obstacles - not only in class but also in life.

Respect

We do our best to teach our students Respect. Many young students struggle with Respect, as they just want to have fun. We do our best to teach Respect by teaching students to respect themselves. 

"How can you respect others if you can't respect yourself?" -Marlow Jones- 

We teach our students that the best way to start respecting themselves is to do their best in everything they do and to never give up on the things they want. When they do their best, they show respect to themselves, their peers, and everyone in their life. 

Honor

We tell our students to make the right decisions no matter the consequences. Making the right decisions can be difficult, especially at a young age. Kids can make decisions based on who their friends are and what is considered "cool" instead of considering the ethical and moral implications of the choice.  We try to teach our students that they should always do what they believe is right, no matter the consequences.

Integrity

We tell our students to make the right decisions based on their moral compass, regardless of what others say. At times, this may mean acting in a different manner than friends in order to uphold their integrity. We teach that they are responsible for their integrity, which also includes accepting the consequences of their decisions and actions.

Determination

While we encourage our students to always do their best and to never give up, we also understand that determination wavers sometimes. We aim to teach them how to stay determined by using encouragement and tangible rewards for high achievement: things like patches and belts. Additionally, we encourage students to set a goal and push them to work through any difficulties they encounter on the road to achieving that goal.

"Push through the pain." -Haley Jones-

Passion

Choosing to do karate comes with sacrifices, whether because of the opportunity cost which means they do not have time for a different activity, or whether it is the sore muscles they deal with in the days after class. We teach our students to follow the things about which they are passionate and to have the heart to make sacrifices for it.

Willpower

We know everyone fails at some point. We teach our students that it's okay to fail but that they need to get back up, dust off, and try again until they get the results they want. Our students are encouraged to embrace failure. 

"Embrace the suck." -Haley Jones-

Our students learn to do their best, work through the failures, and stand up every single time they are knocked to the ground.

Focus

Kids struggle with focus. There are so many things for them to see and experience, so it's hard for them to maintain their concentration. Our team of instructors keeps our students engaged with games and learning activities during class, but we also teach strategies and provide practice opportunities to help them learn to stay focused without attention-grabbing games. In class, we challenge students to stay focused no matter where they are.

Control

We don't just teach martial control - the type we use when sparring to keep from hurting our sparring partners - we also teach our students to take control of their lives. We teach our students to control their emotions and reactions. We know they can't control their environment, but they can control the way it affects them. This is one of the most essential lessons we teach because it will change the way they respond to the challenges in their lives.

Balance

There are many times students need balance: when they perform kicks, when they attempt difficult techniques, etc. They also need balance in their lives. Our students go to school and sit in chairs learning new things, but they also need an equal amount of time for exercise. We teach balance in every aspect of their lives - from choosing to play outside instead of sitting at a computer all day, to making balanced decisions with time, diet, and lifestyle. We encourage our students to balance their lives to make healthy decisions.