If my child has problems focusing can
he/she still enroll in your karate program?
Martial arts classes teach focus as a skill, so they are
highly appropriate for children with focus problems. The
same is true of young people who exhibit some difficulty
with self-discipline.
Won't karate training make my
child aggressive?
Quite the contrary. By increasing your child's self-confidence,
and providing guidance in conflict avoidance and safety,
martial arts training will decrease the likelihood that
your son or daughter will feel the need to assert themselves
in an aggressive manner.
Will my child have to compete in tournaments?
Not unless s/he wants to. Champions are made on the practice
floor, not in tournaments. We believe in "creative
competition" in which everyone leads everyone else
to do their best. If your child does want the added learning
experience of formal competition, we will make certain that
s/he enters the tournament with a positive attitude and
is prepared for competing.
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What style of martial arts do you
teach?
Black Belt Leadership Academy teaches a form of Martial
Arts based on a combination of Okinawan Karate and
Korean Tae Kwon Do modified by recent discoveries
about learning styles.
From Karate we have taken our focus on balance and muscle
control, on posture and sharp stances, and on power through
breathing, timing, accuracy, and speed. Karate emphasizes
the use of the hips and abdominal muscles to develop a center
of power and focus. Humility and rootedness are attitudes
it promotes through practice. From Tae Kwon Do we have taken
our high kicking techniques, jumping and spinning moves,
and breaking practices. Like TKD, our style emphasizes speed,
agility, and control. We use sparring to promote these skills
as well as co-ordination, concentration, and responsiveness.
Courage and leadership are important attitudes. Both systems
emphasize community service, character development, and
respect of self and others.
Black Belt Leadership Academy is proud of the tradition
of the martial arts, and we are happy to maintain the discipline
that connects us with our past. At the same time we focus
on character, leadership, and life skills of students here
and now. As we learn more about how to best use martial
arts to help develop positive attitudes and productive behaviors
in our students, we will continue to grow and change, keeping
traditions alive and meaningful.
What kind of sparring do you do?
Our students practice their skills through "point sparring."
The activity is more akin to tag than to fighting. They
do not begin sparring until they have been training for
six months so that they and every one they partner with
has good control of their techniques. There is no head contact,
even though sparring partners all wear protective gear,
for children. THERE IS NEVER ANY HARD HITTING AT ANY AGE
OR BELT LEVEL at Black Belt Leadership Academy.
What is the best age to start karate?
Almost any! Our LITTLE NINJA program teaches martial arts
techniques at a pace appropriate to younger students through
activities which are designed to maximize the potential
of 4-5 year olds. At the same time, these activities promote
the development of leadership and life skills such as balance,
fitness, teamwork, safety awareness, listening, focus, perseverance,
self-confidence, and self-discipline. We start students
in our BASIC PROGRAM at 6 years old, and have several students
over 40 in our Teen and Adult program.
Classes are divided by age and experience level. New students
will train with beginners close to their own age.
I am out of shape. Will karate classes
help me get fit?
Most definitely! Classes are physically demanding. We
expect everyone to train at his or her personal best, so
you will be able to progress as your fitness and stamina
improve. The progression in our curriculum and the advancement
from belt to belt encourages effort and gives every student
the opportunity to succeed.
How long does it take to earn a Black
Belt?
Most students earn their Black Belts after 31/2 - 4 years
of training. Actual time will depend on individual effort
and development.
How often do students attend class?
Our tuition is for unlimited classes, but we suggest that
children begin taking two classes each week so that they
can develop physical and mental skills while they continue
to look forward to classes each week. Adults can attend
as often as they like. Students in our Black Belt Team program
often take 3 or more classes per week.
My child has been bullied in school.
Will your karate program help him/her deal with this problem?
The keys to self-defense include self-confidence, strength
without violence, and knowing how and where to seek appropriate
help. Through Black Belt Leadership Academy training, your
child will develop these skills so that physical self-defense
is rarely necessary. Your child will also learn physical
self-defense techniques that will enable him/her to protect
themselves and discourage any physical threat.
What time are your classes?
Classes are scheduled at various times in the evenings
and on Saturday to accommodate most families. Please check
our class schedule on this site
for specific times and days.
Does everyone train together?
Classes are divided by age and experience. 4 and 5 year
olds train in activity-based Little Ninja classes. Children
6-12 train with other students of their own age and belt
levels in our Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced classes.
Teens and adults of all levels work together in some classes,
but advanced students get additional training. Our Masters
Team program allows Black Belts to train together at a very
advanced level.
Who teaches the classes?
Sensei Weinberg is a full-time owner and instructor who
teaches 90% of the classes. He has been teaching karate
for over 10 years and has been a teacher for 35 years. There
is always at least one other instructor on the floor.
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