"...she took on leadership qualities"

Thank you for all you do for your students and community. Our experience with USA Martial Arts: I’d like to start by saying that Gaby has always been a great kid. She expressed an interest in the martial arts around the age of six. When she was eight, we enrolled her in the trial program at USA Martial Arts, which was conveniently located within the same facility that Gaby’s twin sister took gymnastics. Being a part of this organization improve Gaby’s discipline, her self esteem, her physical ability, she took on and developed leadership qualities, and has acquired an enormous amount of respect for herself and others. She has since acquired her Black Belt at the tender age of eleven. She has always been a kind person, but within the Leadership Program at USA Martial Arts, Gaby has really been able to display her ability to empathize and mentor the younger students. Watching her succeed has stimulated both my wife and I to set and achieve fitness goals for ourselves. In most cases, children learn from their parents, but in our case, we have learned about goal setting from Gaby. In closing, we feel as though Mr. Bravo, Master Nottingham and the whole USA Martial Arts family has more than delivered on all of their promises. We are a part of their family and we feel honored and blessed to say that they are a part of ours.

-Arturo Gonzalez, M.D. Pediatrician, Father of Gaby Gonzalez and IMPACT program member, Scottsdale

"The Tenets keep him on track."

Martial Arts has become a way of life now for Harrison as he has been a student for 2-1/2 years. He exudes confidence and has a tremendous willingness to learn. Our main goal for him was to improve confidence and coordination. He was not athletic when he began, but has definitely built up both strength and coordination. I believe strongly that it is from training.

The tenets of Taekwondo keep him on track. When he “falls off the path”, I remind him of a tenet and he thinks about it and is able to apply it. For example, I may remind him to practice “modesty” or “self-control” in a given situation.

Mr. Bravo is an enthusiastic instructor and is a great example for our kids. He offers great information and shows respect for both the parent and student. He knows how to talk to children and keep them interested.

The school offers lots of extra classes and fun events to participate in, but the downside is that it can get costly, thus prevent our participation.

Sincerely,

Stacey Ambrose, Mother of Harrison, Scottsdale

"She is achieving good grades anyone would be proud of."

As Malinda’s Grandfather, I have been very impressed with the progress that Malinda has made since she began her martial arts training in June. Not only in her physical abilities that I see demonstrated here in class, but also in other areas as well. Last school year, Malinda’s grades were such that the school thought she should have gone to summer school. Now, she is achieving good grades that anyone would be proud of.

Malinda has also demonstrated that her level of confidence in herself has risen. A few weeks ago, at her sister’s roller skating birthday party, I was impressed that she had the confidence to race against 4 or 5 boys, who were her age or older.

Now Malinda is busy composing a speech that she will be giving at school to run for an office on the student council. There are not words that can properly express how proud that I am of Malinda, or how glad that I am that I chose to enroll her at USA Martial Arts.

-Thank you for your faithful teaching, John Hughes, Malinda’s Grandpa, Glendale

"When I was approached about the Leadership Program, I thought that Ms. Templeman and the rest of the staff had lost their minds."

I was thinking to myself (although I would never say it out loud), what are they thinking? My son, Troy, is 6 years old, what does he know about leadership? Then as I heard more… I really thought Ms. Templeman was losing it. And what could my son possibly learn from this?

Let me give you a little background on Troy. He started karate when he was 4. At that time I was seriously wondering what would calm my child down. And once again, after speaking with Ms Lambries, I thought the school was crazy. There was no way karate would help. Boy was I wrong.

So my husband and I decided to try Leadership, what could it hurt? The first class I spent cringing, thinking Troy has no idea what is going on. After that class, he decided he was going to start taking a book and being like the “big guys”. Well, being in first grade, writing is a new world to him. So I let him try – to my amazement he took notes, not notes like adults take, but de did it on his own. Then he did the homework assignment and turned it in. Although Ms. Templeman did have some “challenges” reading it, he did it.

About three weeks after Troy started in Leadership, I went to his teacher at school to see how he was doing. His teacher asked what we had done to Troy, she noticed in the last few weeks he had stopped acting like the class clown and straightened himself out. When I told her it was the Leadership Program at his karate class, she was so impressed that she immediately asked for the schedule so she could come and see what Troy was doing.

I explained a bit of the program to her and about the lead by example philosophy and she told me certainly was keeping up with the philosophy. So for those of you like us and not sure and questioning about how this could help, here is a true story of not only what karate has done for us, but what the Leadership Program has done for a 6 year old boy who spent many days in trouble.

-Angela Mone, Mother of 6yo Troy Glendale

"...confidence has improved-overcame fears."

Nathen’s self-confidence has improved a great deal and he is overcoming his social fears. Just last weekend he climbed a wall over 60 feet tall on our family rock climbing day. He has never reached the top before. He was very proud but not boastful.

-Ms. Penny Medlock, mother of Nathen

"The young people who have studied Martial Arts under Master Nottingham have so much to offer the world."

I made the commitment to bring my son to USA Martial Arts because he was young and exhibiting problems with self-confidence, but I continued the commitment because of the young adults that were involved with this program. The young people who have studied Martial Arts under Master Nottingham have so much to offer the world. They know what it is to work for something and then obtain the goal. They have confidence in themselves, but more importantly, these young people have compassion for others, and are modest about their skills. They have the ability to face fears and overcome them and tend to become leaders in school and work. As parents, we work diligently to provide our children with the best education possible, but what USA Martial Arts offers is an education in life skills. For anyone considering martial arts for their children or themselves, I would challenge them to come view a class and pay attention to the kind of people involved with this program. These people continue to grow and succeed in martial arts and in life.

-JoAnne Ramirez, mom and USA Martial Arts student, Mesa

"She has demonstrated the perseverance and integrity she has learned through Black Belt Training"

Jamie has had some difficult decision to make regarding her friends and some of their behaviors. She’s thought a lot about right and wrong and has shown a great deal of patience in making some very important decisions. I’m so proud of her maturity and her ability to discuss her feelings with her friends. She has demonstrated the perseverance and integrity she has learned through her Black Belt Training. I’m so thankful to everyone at USA Martial Arts and so grateful to share my life with such a wonderful daughter.

-Jackie Jacobsen, Mother of Jamie, Mesa

"...she did what was right in spite of the peer pressure..."

There is a new student in Kayla’s 2nd grade class who was passing hurtful note about another student. When Kayla saw it, she wadded it up and didn’t want to have anything to do with it because she knew it was wrong, and that it would hurt his feelings. She did this even though the other students were laughing and making a game of it.

With this action, Kayla demonstrated integrity and self control, as she did what was right in spite of the peer pressure to join in.

Also, Kayla had 21 merits in her first week, by far the most in her class! She is setting the example in her class for being focused and getting all her work done.

-Eric Ballard – Father of Kayla, USA Martial Arts Student & Professional Pilot, Mesa

"...we are met with such enthusiasm and encouragement!"

This letter is for ALL Instructors and Students in the Tuesday and Thursday class that my family and I have had the opportunity to work with. We, the Fox Family, want to thank EACH of you for making this one of the best experiences we have had – individually & together. You all exude with “Black Belt” pride and attitude and have made us feel at home here. (And being new to this area – you have helped to make our transition a very positive one!) At every class – from fellow lower belts to the many helpful upper belts that assist in class – we are met with such enthusiasm and encouragement! We thank you all so much and hope this letter will server as one big “Blue” stripe on each deserving belt!

With much gratitude,

-April, Chris and Ashley, “The Fox Family”, Mesa

Black Belt looks back and
sees, "...the support has
always been there."

Now that I am a Black Belt at USA Martial Arts, I often look back on my training and realize how much my martial arts “family” and skills have positively impacted my life. I have been at USA Martial Arts for six years and have seen many friends come and go, yet the support has always been there. When I was struggling with my training and unmotivated to attend classes, my instructors and fellow classmates encouraged me to push myself farther than I thought possible. From my training throughout the last six years, I have gained so much that it is hard to explain with words. I’ve become stronger mentally and physically, continue to strive beyond my expectations, devise goal plans and structured schedules to achieve such goals, established myself as a person, as well as realized the friendships I have made through my martial arts “family”.

-Lianne Russo, high school student, Glendale

"...makes bed without complaining."

Brian has improved very much since starting the program. He now makes his bed, brushes his teeth, and goes to bed on time without complaining. He even helps out around the house. Yes Ma’am and Yes Sir are a new part of his vocabulary. Thank you very much!"

-Mr. & Mrs. Leggett, Mother of Brian, Mesa

"...does his chores after asking him only once."

Since Daniel has been in your program, he has been a changed young man. He listens to his Mom and Dad, and he does his chores after asking him only once. He keeps his room in order, as well….He is a great student and was Student of The Month in September. He loves to come to Karate class and his mother and I still have a hard time getting used to being called Yes Sir and Yes Ma’am. We are very proud of him and we appreciate everything and everyone here who has touched his life for the positive.

-Mr. & Mrs. Mariotti, parents of Daniel

"USA Martial Arts is the best thing you can do for your child to prepare for school and life."