Childrens program expert, Consultant and Martial Arts Champion Melody Shuman has especially designed our children's program with age appropriate material which will guarantee your child's progress in developing successful life skills and Martial Arts proficiency.

Melody Shuman and Charles Chí

Ask yourself Honestly!

Have I done Everything I Possibly Can to Give My Child A Fighting Chance Against A Predator?

If Not Start Now!

The greatest virtues are those which are most useful to other persons.

Those who educate children well are more to be honored than parents, for these only gave life, those the art of living well.

               Aristotle

EZ Defense for children uses playful scenarios to teach children to effectively deal with situations ranging from schoolyard bullies to stranger abduction. This program will provide a powerful and necessary resource that has been proven to train children to protect themselves.

The tasks are:

1. Respect: 50 acts of courtesy, kindness and respect.

2. Teamwork: 50 home chores.

3. Perseverance: 1000 repetitions.

4. Self-discipline: Five days of healthy eating.

5. Leadership: Ten mentoring sessions w/another student(s).

6. Knowledge: Read two books, write ten letters.

"It is one thing to think or talk about doing something, but it is another to actually do it. Likewise, it is one thing to talk about martial arts philosophy, and it is another to turn that talk into real-time, real-life lessons. The Six Tasks Character Development Program turns philosophy into action. Six Tasks helps martial arts teachers teach --by influencing, directing and changing their student's behavior. What better way to teach someone about respect than having him or her practice respectful acts? What better way to teach perseverance, self-discipline and leadership than to have someone practice and apply it? The time has come to use our influence to inspire people to take action on the concepts we martial artists hold so dearly. "

Tom Callos, Six Tasks Designer

Children's Programs                       

There are many concerns with how our children are growing up in today's world. The pressures on our youth today are very different from when we were growing up. Children don't only have to worry about getting good grades and behaving, they have the constant battle of avoiding drugs, gangs, violence, bullying, peer pressure and are under the constant threat of being abducted by an adult or another child.

The dangers our children face today are unbelievable. We don't want to be paranoid, but we do want them to be safe. The best way to accomplish this is to have a set plan both at home and away from home. At Chí's Martial Arts, we realize that in order to give a child a head start in life, they must possess certain skills. Although the need for self defense both Mentally and Physically are important, we cannot ignore the Life Skills and Mental Benefits that we must teach our children.

Children between the ages of 3 & 4-years old are in a very distinct growing stage. They are embarking on new discoveries everyday and learning how to cope with all of the challenges. Their intellect, emotions, physical capabilities, and social competence all are growing at a rapid rate. So fast, that they often overlook what’s important and can hardly tell the difference between right and wrong.

That’s where the Future Kidz Prep Course Program comes into play. Our program was specially designed for the stages of development of 3 & 4-year olds. We collected scientific and psychological resources regarding this age group, and used that information to ensure that our program meets each child’s characteristics and capabilities.

In the Future Kidz Prep Course Program, each child will experience training that targets the skills that they are all currently developing; skills such as large and gross motor skills, behavior development, and character development. These skills have been broken down into age-specific exercises, games, activities, and drills that compliment their stage of development.

We use the martial arts approach to building their skills through these drills. The approach includes reinforcing good discipline, displaying confidence, and maintaining a positive attitude. Technical martial arts training is very limited when it comes to traditional moves and techniques. We reserve that portion of development for the older children who have set a clear foundation of what we consider the preliminary requirements to martial arts training.

With this in mind, we want to reinforce that martial arts training extends way beyond kicking and punching. That’s why it may appear that your child is not learning enough martial arts in class, but the fact is they really are. The customary discipline protocol is martial arts. This includes standing at attention when commanded, responding with respect by saying “yes sir” and “yes ma’am”, bowing to the flags and each other, and maintaining a positive attitude. With professional Martial Artist as the role-model instructors, and the mixture of fun games and activities with basic kicks, strikes, and blocks during class, your child’s first exposure to martial arts training will generate results!

Here is a brief list of what your child will learn:

1. Motor skill development
1. Throwing and executing
2. Pulling and retracting
3. Stepping (forward, backward, and side)
4. Running
5. Jumping
6. Balancing
7. Rolling
2. Behavior development
1. Learning how to take turns
2. Learn how to manage frustration
3. Learn how to be respectful when others are speaking
3. Character development
1. Learn how to make friends
2. Learn how to tell the truth
3. Learn how to share
4. Learn how to maintain good manners

How the Future Kidz Prep Course Program works

Sometimes parent’s question why all their children seem to do is play. To a child, play is their work. It is essential to teach children how to learn though play. In the Future Kidz Prep Course Program, we use activities that they play in class as our way to teach them and build skill. The children learn important social skills and will begin to recognize their own emotions as well as others. They also learn how to think through play, and come out with better physical capabilities in the process.

Through play, your child will learn how to master the skills incorporated in the age-appropriate activities. While participating in these activities, they will discover things that normally would not make sense to them. Participating in these activities, or playing, will help them make the adjustments necessary in their skill development and bring them to a higher level of thinking, making play very educational and beneficial.

About our Future Kidz Instructors

Learning is a process. Our instructors understand the importance of the steps involved in learning and are capable to encourage and instruct a child while reinforcing the benefits to learning. Our instructors are trained to meet the needs of each individual, and how to reinforce proper development and behavior with little or no disciplinary action. We have established a positive learning atmosphere that makes learning and growing fun.

Where will the Future Kidz Prep Course take my child’s training

The Future Kidz Program provides consistency in each child’s developmental process. Through consistency in their training, they will properly develop the skills mentioned in this handbook and prepare them for the next program: The Future Kidz (ages 5 & 6). The foundation set through the Prep Course Program will enable them to successfully transfer to the next program with the proper abilities and mindset they need. Once they enter the Future Kidz Program, you will notice that they enter a new stage of development, which is the next phase of their growing process.

Your role as a parent

Self-esteem is very important in a child’s everyday life. Self-esteem refers to how a person feels about themselves. To a 3 & 4-year old, self-esteem is something that they personally do not understand, but experience crossroads with everyday. As a child, self-esteem plays an important role in how well they learn and grow. Studies have shown that children who think very little of themselves may do inadequately socially, emotionally, at school, and in extracurricular activities. At the same token, those children who truly believe in themselves can really excel.

With this in mind, your role as a parent is to consistently encourage your child to stay focused, never give up, and always look for positive solutions. Now this may seem like a difficult task to do with a 3 & 4-year old, especially with their limited vocabulary. But self-esteem is a learned attitude, and the sooner you begin to teach your child about self-esteem, the better chance you have of it sticking with them.

Here are 3 easy steps to help your child “learn” self-esteem:

1.    Avoid using the word “can’t”. When a child uses the word can’t, he or she is expressing that they “don’t know how to” or “they don’t want to”. Once they say the word “I can’t” they usually do not put any effort into the task at hand. Showing the child how to work through challenge’s, or showing the positive out of doing something will prove to be a very important lesson that they will need throughout their life.

2.    Always have positive expectations for your child. If you express to your child that you believe they can do something, then they will probably think so too. Keep in mind that your positive expectations need to be age-appropriate and attainable. You must also back up your support by working with them to achieve their goals. Avoid giving up on your encouragement and efforts to help them. By showing consistency in your support, you will create consistency in their effort and attitude.

3.    Teach your child how to see the positive side of his or her inadequacy. When your child is unsuccessful, help him or her discover from errors. Ask thought provoking questions such as “what would you do differently next time?” or “what do you think you need to work on to do even better?” Also let them know that you are proud of their efforts by saying things such as “you are already successful because you are showing courage by trying”. Reinforcement like this can make a big difference in how your child perceives challenges.

With these steps in action, you will teach your child how to have high self-esteem, and reinforce the value that the Future Kidz Prep Course Program provides.

Little Ninja Training Course                                                     |Back|

This program was specifically designed to target the stages of development of 5 & 6-year olds. The curriculum in the Little Ninja Program includes years of research and development proven effective for this age group. Our goal for the Little Ninja Program is to maximize the effectiveness of each participants training with valuable lessons that will enhance their life.

What is the Little Ninja Program?

The Little Ninja Program is a preliminary martial arts training course that focuses on building 5 & 6-year olds capabilities; physically, emotionally, socially, and intellectually. We call our program “Little Ninja” because it will help shape each student’s life in a way that will positively enhance their future. We are confident in what our program can do for your child.

Children this age are in a unique growth period in their life. They are refined in their gross motor skills, while establishing a foundation in basic fundamental skills. These basic fundamental skills include: focus, teamwork, control, balance, memory, discipline, fitness, and coordination. In any other sport of activity, all of these 8 skills are important to have. The more exposure to proper development in each of these skills, the better your child will be. For this reason, we have tailored a 9-level training course that increases the intensity of each skill at every level.

In the Little Ninja Program, your child will train in an environment that is just right for them. They will train with other children in their age group, and not have to be limited or overwhelmed by younger and older children. Each class will accommodate every student’s skills and abilities in a way that is not overly demanding or intimidating. That means more age-specific instruction with better results. We guarantee it!

Again, welcome to the Little Ninja Program! Congratulations on making the decision to significantly enhance your child’s growth and development. Not only do we guarantee that your child will benefit from their training, we also guarantee that will have a lot of fun in the process!

 Here’s how the program works

The 8 fundamental skills selected for the Little Ninja Program were broken down into specific requirements that each student must tackle at every belt level. There are 9 belt levels total, which means that your child will dramatically progress through all 8 skills. This means your child will be sharper, more focused, and better developed physically, mentally, emotionally, and socially than a child who does not participate in a program strategically designed like the Little Ninja program.

Here are the 8 fundamental skills in order:

1.     Focus

2.     Teamwork

3.     Control

4.     Balance

5.     Memory

6.     Discipline

7.     Fitness

8.     Coordination

 The following section will provide you with a comprehensive breakdown of each skill and what your child will learn and develop throughout the entire program.

Skill Breakdown Section

Focus

The purpose of the focus curriculum is to teach the child how to focus with their mind and body. The beginner level introduces the child to the basic concept of keeping their eyes on the target. The intermediate level takes their skills a little further by having the child focus not only on the target, but on their technique of each kick and strike. The advanced level further enhances the child’s focus skills by having the child execute techniques where the child takes his/ her eyes off of the target for a second and then requiring the same focus on technique while maintaining hand-eye and foot-eye coordination.

Benefits to having good focus skills:

·        Hitting and kicking a ball with accuracy

·        Catching a ball

·        Throwing a ball or object with good technique

·        More capable of focusing on the teacher when they talk

·        Better focus when playing near the street and near potentially dangerous obstacles

·        Better focus at home near breakables and potentially dangerous areas

Teamwork

The purpose of the teamwork curriculum is to teach the child how to cooperate with others on various tasks. The beginner level introduces the child to good working habits with other people. The intermediate level introduces the child how to perform with a team. The advanced level teaches the child how to train with others while following the rules and maintaining good sportsmanship.

Teamwork benefits:

·        Cooperation with teammates in other sports and activities

·        Better sportsmanship during games and competitions

·        Cooperation with classmates during group projects and activities

·        The child will play better with friends and siblings

·        Cooperation during with family at home, during family gatherings, and on family vacations

Control

The purpose of the control curriculum is to teach the child how to have control of their mind and body. The beginner level introduces the child to having control of their mind and body by responding to quickly to commands while in motion. The intermediate level introduces the child to having control of their body when they are kicking and punching towards each other. The advance level teaches the child how to have control of their strength when practicing their self-defense techniques.

Benefit to having good control:

·        Capable of practicing various sports without hurting themselves or others around them

·        Better awareness of how to properly use their strength when participating on other sports

·        Better response time when the teacher gives out directions

·        Better behavior during class when necessary

·        Better control at home with siblings

·        Better control when playing with friends

·        Better response time when parents give directions

Balance

The purpose of the balance curriculum is to help the child master the skill of balance through increments of balance training that increases in intensity at each belt level. The beginner level introduces the child to the components of balance and how to have balance using various kicks. The intermediate level increases in repetitions of each kick by double the amount from the beginner level. The advance level challenges the students balance skills by making them do 10x the balance requirements then that of the beginners.

Benefits to having good balance skills:

• Increase in speed and agility

• Less risk of injury during sports and physical activities

• Better grades in the phys-ed class

• Less risk of injury at home or during play

Memory

The purpose of the memory curriculum is to get the child familiar with remembering the basic martial arts techniques and how perform the techniques appropriately. The beginner level introduces the child to the names and mechanics of the basic strikes, blocks, kicks, and stances. The intermediate level begins to test the child’s memory by requiring the child to perform random combinations. The advanced level challenges the child’s memory by requiring the child to perform a structured combination of martial arts techniques known as a form, or kata.

Benefits to having memory skills:

·        Better recollection of how to perform various physical movements

·        Better response time in sports and physical activities

·        Better overall participants due to their capability of remembering important details

·        Better grades due to capability of remembering material

·        Better students due to confidence that memory brings out

·        More cooperative at home due to the child remembering chores, important rules, dates, etc.

Discipline

The purpose of the discipline curriculum is to positively reinforce the importance of following rules, maintaining good behavior, and performing at high standards. The beginner level introduces the child to basic commands and how to respond to those commands with good discipline. The intermediate level teaches the child how to maintain good discipline without being distracted. The advanced level curriculum challenges the child to perform at high standards by displaying discipline of the mind and body.

Benefits to having good discipline skills:

·        Better athletes because they have the discipline to pay attention, train hard, and perform with high standards

·        Better teammates because they have the discipline to maintain good behavior

·        Better students because they have the discipline to behave, participate without being distracted, and study hard

·        Better children because they have the discipline to follow the rules, complete their chores, and maintain good behavior

·        Better friends because they have the discipline to avoid fighting

Fitness

The purpose of the fitness curriculum is to expose the child to exercises and activities that build strength and cardiovascular endurance. The beginner level teaches the child how to run through basic exercise routines with the appropriate technique. The intermediate level exposes the child to intensity in their exercises. The advanced level challenges the child to demonstrate advance muscular strength and endurance in their regular exercises.

Benefits to having good fitness skills:

·        Capable of performing at higher levels due to their good physical fitness

·        Faster runners, stronger throwers and hitters.

·        More alert due to their healthy bodies

·        Better sleeping habits due to their healthy bodies

·        More confident because of their physical capabilities

Coordination

The purpose of the coordination curriculum is to teach the child their left from right and how to perform multiple physical tasks while maintaining good technique. The beginner level introduces the student to basic coordination of jumping and moving in rhythm. The intermediate level teaches the child how to perform various combinations using both their left and right hands and feet. The advanced level challenges the child to perform various techniques without loosing coordination.

Benefits to having good coordination skills:

• Better overall athletes who can achieve results in any sport or physical activities

• Capable of following multiple tasks and directions

• Less chance of injury because of good coordination

  Here’s how your child will advance through the Little Ninja Program

First, it is necessary to understand the importance of consistency in your child’s training. If your child misses classes on the regular basis, it will affect their progress throughout the ranks, and your child will fall behind. To ensure proper development and a high level of motivation, make sure your child attends classes regularly.

Here’s a brief overview of how your child will advanced to each rank and graduate from the Little Ninja Program:

1.     There are 8 skills covered in the Little Ninja Program. At each belt level, your child will have to meet specific requirements for each skill in order to advance to the next level.

2.     A new skill will be covered each day. As your child meets each skill requirement, they’ll earn a skill stripe. There are a total of 8 skill stripes.

3.     Your child must earn all 8-skill stripes in order to qualify to test for their next rank. As you can see, missing a lot of classes will prevent your child from earning their skill stripes in a timely manner and may require make-up sessions.

4.     At each testing, your child will have to perform each of the 8 skill stripe requirements for their rank in front of a panel of judges and audience. It takes the average child 8 weeks to earn all 8 skill stripes.

5.     There are 9 belt levels total that your child will pass through before graduating into the Prep Course program, making the total duration of training approximately 18 months.

How to make the most out of your child’s Little Ninja training

Each and every child who participates in the Little Ninja Program walks away with knowledge and education that will influence their life for years to come. It is our commitment to teach your child in the best, most positive environment possible. At home, it is up to you to encourage them and support them the best you can.

Here are some tips for you to review with your child to help make the most out of their training:

1.     Reinforce training at home- it is only when a child practices more than usual that they appreciate and recognize their hard work.

2.     Attend their classes regularly- when you support their effort and motivation, they try harder.

3.     Don’t allow them to be tardy to class- tardiness will make them feel uncomfortable, and teaches bad manners.

4.     Discourage consistent absences- consistency and commitment will be one of the best lessons your child learns.

5.     Reward their achievements- when you recognize their accomplishmen