"Karate is the best thing you can do for your child."
-Chuck Norris
Dear Parent,
Welcome to Eastside Martial Arts (EMA) and Westside Martial Arts (WMA).
In this section, we will provide you with important information about our programs and answer some of the more common questions that parents tend to have about our procedures in the "Dojo" (training hall).
Academy Procedures
1. Please arrive 5-10 minutes early for each class to allow your child to mentally prepare themself before each class. Each student should be stretching quietly on their own until the instructor calls the class to begin. Note: Late students disrupt the flow of class and cause the instructor to have to re-explain what the class is working on. If you are running late, please consider attending another class.
2. We greatly encourage all parents to watch class as often as possible, especially for the last 5 minutes of each class. This is when we have our "Character Chats". These lessons can then be reinforced at home during the week. To encourage parents to sit in on our discussions, we give Karate "Kicks". At the conclusion of each class, only the parents who sat in on our Character Chat that day will be permitted to use their smart phones to scan the QR code in the Dojo to earn one Kick. Four Kicks equal one "Karate Buck". Each Karate Buck can be redeemed for $1 towards the purchase of Century Martial Arts merchandise. See the merchandise section for more details.
3. Perhaps our most important program at EMA is our "Character Development Program." Many of the principles discussed in our Character Chats are reinforced through our "Star Achievement Awards." These "Stars" are rewarded as patches, as the student learns and demonstrates each character trait in their life at home, at school and in their community. Each star may only be earned once, by you, as the parent "nominating" your child. Please describe in writing which achievements you would like your child to be considered for and email it to us. We will review the request, and if the star has been accurately earned, your child will receive the star at the end of their class. In some cases, we may read the request to the entire class as an example to the other students!
4. Another important program at EMA is our "Physical Coordination Program." These stars are rewarded also as patches, as the student learns and practices each physical trait in the Dojo. Each star may only be earned once. Testing is done in class about every 3-4 months. Parents and students alike should set a goal of earning at least one new character star and one new physical star every few months,. Watch as both parent and child develop a depth to their character together, as well as a highly new developed level of coordination to excel in sports!
5. Students should execute a respectful bow upon entering and leaving EMA, as well as on and off the Dojo floor, and throughout class to the "Sensei" (teacher), "Sempai" (assistant teacher) and fellow "Karateka" (Karate students). The bow in the Dojo ultimately symbolizes the importance of developing a deeper level of respect for others (parents, teachers, siblings, etc), the family home, personal belongings, school classroom, etc.
6. There are 14 belts leading up to black belt, each having six (6) stripes that are earned as a student attends 12 classes, with a minimum number of 48 classes required for each belt. Each belt is rewarded when a student has reached their maximum potential in the Dojo, and requires a written evaluation from both parent and teacher, stating that the student's behavior at home and at school is progressively developing from belt to belt. Typically we begin to closely evaluate a student more in class for their next belt when they reach their 4th stripe. Of course there are other factors, like a student's natural ability, their level of passion for the martial arts, their motivation for diligent training outside of the Dojo and most importantly, their attitude, behavior and depth of character as it is at home and in school. These are just a few of the factors that determine the length of time that is required to reach each new belt. Stripes are not used to determine when a student will test for their belt. Rather, they are used as a gauge by which both student and instructor are able to set goals in earning a belt.
-Chuck Norris
Dear Parent,
Welcome to Eastside Martial Arts (EMA) and Westside Martial Arts (WMA).
In this section, we will provide you with important information about our programs and answer some of the more common questions that parents tend to have about our procedures in the "Dojo" (training hall).
Academy Procedures
1. Please arrive 5-10 minutes early for each class to allow your child to mentally prepare themself before each class. Each student should be stretching quietly on their own until the instructor calls the class to begin. Note: Late students disrupt the flow of class and cause the instructor to have to re-explain what the class is working on. If you are running late, please consider attending another class.
2. We greatly encourage all parents to watch class as often as possible, especially for the last 5 minutes of each class. This is when we have our "Character Chats". These lessons can then be reinforced at home during the week. To encourage parents to sit in on our discussions, we give Karate "Kicks". At the conclusion of each class, only the parents who sat in on our Character Chat that day will be permitted to use their smart phones to scan the QR code in the Dojo to earn one Kick. Four Kicks equal one "Karate Buck". Each Karate Buck can be redeemed for $1 towards the purchase of Century Martial Arts merchandise. See the merchandise section for more details.
3. Perhaps our most important program at EMA is our "Character Development Program." Many of the principles discussed in our Character Chats are reinforced through our "Star Achievement Awards." These "Stars" are rewarded as patches, as the student learns and demonstrates each character trait in their life at home, at school and in their community. Each star may only be earned once, by you, as the parent "nominating" your child. Please describe in writing which achievements you would like your child to be considered for and email it to us. We will review the request, and if the star has been accurately earned, your child will receive the star at the end of their class. In some cases, we may read the request to the entire class as an example to the other students!
4. Another important program at EMA is our "Physical Coordination Program." These stars are rewarded also as patches, as the student learns and practices each physical trait in the Dojo. Each star may only be earned once. Testing is done in class about every 3-4 months. Parents and students alike should set a goal of earning at least one new character star and one new physical star every few months,. Watch as both parent and child develop a depth to their character together, as well as a highly new developed level of coordination to excel in sports!
5. Students should execute a respectful bow upon entering and leaving EMA, as well as on and off the Dojo floor, and throughout class to the "Sensei" (teacher), "Sempai" (assistant teacher) and fellow "Karateka" (Karate students). The bow in the Dojo ultimately symbolizes the importance of developing a deeper level of respect for others (parents, teachers, siblings, etc), the family home, personal belongings, school classroom, etc.
6. There are 14 belts leading up to black belt, each having six (6) stripes that are earned as a student attends 12 classes, with a minimum number of 48 classes required for each belt. Each belt is rewarded when a student has reached their maximum potential in the Dojo, and requires a written evaluation from both parent and teacher, stating that the student's behavior at home and at school is progressively developing from belt to belt. Typically we begin to closely evaluate a student more in class for their next belt when they reach their 4th stripe. Of course there are other factors, like a student's natural ability, their level of passion for the martial arts, their motivation for diligent training outside of the Dojo and most importantly, their attitude, behavior and depth of character as it is at home and in school. These are just a few of the factors that determine the length of time that is required to reach each new belt. Stripes are not used to determine when a student will test for their belt. Rather, they are used as a gauge by which both student and instructor are able to set goals in earning a belt.