FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS.

Our children’s curriculum is designed to accommodate ages three-and-a-half and up. This allows children to successfully learn and perform their moves so that they will feel good about themselves. Our curriculum is challenging but never too difficult. All of our classes are highly supervised by our instructors and assistants. At Driftwood, our Black Belt instructors are required have: first aid certification, a clean police background check and Respect in Sport certification.

Motivation, excitement and fun are the essential tools we use to increase the learning and performance of our students. Martial arts is good, clean fun for kids. We offer various school events that teach children how to get along better with others. Learning creates a spirit of teamwork and a sense of belonging.

From the first class we emphasis the use of martial arts for peace. Compassion, gratitude and respect are 3 principles that we reinforce on a daily basis. When a child understands and practices these concepts they use the knowledge they have to resolve conflict in a peaceful manner. A strong value is placed on the training and art and the child is encouraged to treat that knowledge with respect.

We have had great success with children with ADD and ADHD. While character development is the foundation of our program the martial arts skills are the vehicle we use to deliver the message. By nature martial arts training develops concentration, focus and self-discipline. As a child works through a single technique he or she is developing the concentration and focus required to perfect the technique. This quickly works its way into the day-to-day life of the child. What this can mean for the child is improved school performance, reduction in disciplinary issues both at home and at school and improved self-esteem and confidence, which is often, lower in a child with ADD/ADHD.
Learn more about Karate and AD/HD.

Most bullying begins with low self-esteem and low self-respect. By working towards a goal of improved confidence the cycle of bullying is broken. Going back to our 3 principles of compassion, gratitude and respect we are able to bring the child out of that low self esteem rut and impress upon the student the importance of peaceful resolution.
Learn more about how karate helps bullying

A constant practice routine is crucial for the proper development of any skill or ability. Because our program is multifaceted, addressing character education, martial arts and safety, regular practice is vital. Through repetition, correction, praise and re-enforcement of the principles, a student will develop at a steady pace. When a student trains less than twice a week we will most often begin to see self-esteem issues reappear as fellow students advance quicker as a result of more frequent training. This in turn can cause the student to re-act with an apparent loss of interest while in truth they only want to be on par with their friends.

A child may often express loss of interest in an activity as a result of challenges being faced. Children can have difficultly expressing accurately how they feel so they communicate in a way we can understand: “I don’t like it, I don’t want to do it any more”. Our first task is to identify the reason why and address that. Is the training too challenging? Are social pressures affecting your child? Has there been an upset at home? Once we identify the obstacle we can overcome it. By removing the child from the program one removes the potential to overcome a specific obstacle. The child then learns to ignore challenges rather than work through them, which can be detrimental in later life, particularly during the pressures of adolescence.

You know the benefits of martial arts gives provides your child and like other things that are good for your children, it is important that they take part to benefit. Your child may also not like school, homework or eating vegetables and yet we do not give them the option when it comes to those things and why? Because we know it’s good for them.

Before withdrawing a children from a program it is important to ask yourself whether or not your child will be using those few hours a week in an activity which offers the same benefits. You know it’s good for them, you know the benefits. You don’t want to force them but if not you, then who? By not encouraging them in an activity that will teach the important skills to succeed in life and defeat any challenge we take away one of the important tools of teaching: example. As our children grow they are going to encounter teachers, leaders and employers who are going to make demands and expectations on them. A child needs to learn early how to take direction whether they like it or not. We, as parents, can help that process by directing them towards those things that will develop the important character skills needed for success.