Martial Arts Studio or Family Activity Center?

When asked to describe River Valley Tang Soo Do Academy would you choose – martial arts studio or family activity center? The simple answer is: it is both.

On the surface River Valley is a martial arts studio of the highest caliber. We utilize kick and punch to transmit the knowledge of the traditional martial art called Tang Soo Do. With the transmission of this knowledge come the changes that Tang Soo Do creates in all students. The changes that alter the way we look at the world; the way we look at ourselves, and our role in the world.

At a deeper level we are a Family Activity Center. Whether you are the only member of your family who trains or one of many in your family that trains, the impact is the same. We are a Family Activity Center.

For the families that take the opportunity to train together the studio becomes an avenue of shared interest and mutual excitement. How many activities are available today that the entire family (child, parents, grand parents, aunts, uncles, siblings, cousins) can take an active part in? This is not the family watching a son or daughter compete in sporting event. This is families training side by side learning the same techniques and enjoying the benefits of training together. What better way to strengthen the bonds that make a family strong.

For the individual this is an opportunity to make new life long friends. Tang Soo Do provides the individual the opportunity to not only improve themselves mentally, physically and spiritually but to enjoy in the camaraderie that is inherent in the training. Tang Soo Do teaches the individual how to trust in their own abilities and the importance of putting your trust in others. It would be impossible to train in Tang Soo Do if you did not trust the instructors who teach you and the students with whom you will practice. The trust that you develop in those with whom you train leads you to feel that they are like family members. You take pride in their achievements, you go out of your way to be there when they need a helping hand, you feel honor in their willingness to do the same for you.

Students come to River Valley for many different reasons. Regardless of the initial reason we all go through a transformation. We continue to train because we want to learn more of this wonderful martial art, which leads us to continue training because this is the place where we feel we belong – participating in a great activity with our extended family.

Tang Soo!

Master Scott C. Homschek

Originally published on www.rvtsda.com April 2003

Pre School Karate Really?

So your preschooler wants to learn karate – now what.  As the parent you of course have lots of questions:

“Is this an appropriate exercise for my preschooler?”

“ What are they going to learn?”

“How will this help them?”

“Will this turn them into a bully?”

“Are there other kids in their age group doing this?”

Of course there are many additional questions that can be asked, but these are the most common we experience when someone inquires about our Little Dragons program.

As a martial arts instructor for over 25 years, including close to 15 years working with Preschoolers,  I can put your mind at ease.  Age appropriate martial arts instruction is fantastic for preschoolers.  Children in these programs gain by learning: improved muscle coordination, better balance, patience, focus, proper listening skills, respect and self control.  All this is accomplished in a manner that is fun and exciting for the child while laying the foundational building block for a lifetime of learning. These skills not only will improve their overall health they will help them be better prepared to enter into school and be a focused positive learner.
 

A good preschool martial arts program will use the basic techniques of the martial arts in a way that develops gross and fine motor skills while programming muscle memory that will carry over as the child get older and enters into a more advanced martial arts class. In a well formatted program the basic martial arts skills are also supported by other activities to build stronger bodies and sharper minds. This includes other coordination and strength building activities as well as learning the language and protocols of the traditional martial arts.
 

Parents are often hesitant to start a child in a karate program for fear that this will teach them how to be a bully and start fights. The exact opposite is the truth.  Preschool martial arts will teach them when it is appropriate to use their self defense skills and when it is inappropriate.  The goals of the program is self improvement while also giving them the skills necessary to resist a bully’s advances and later on the ability to do the right thing when peer pressure wants to lead them down the wrong path.
 

We have literally taught hundreds of preschoolers in our Little Dragons program.  Many of our teen age Black Belts started as Little Dragons. I see them now as leaders not only in their karate classes but as leaders within their peer groups and communities.  Their academic records demonstrate that they have learned the importance of cultivating the mind as well as the body.  

As our first Little Dragons are getting ready to move onto college now we are eager to see how they will continue to excel academically, and later in their professions and the communities where they will someday decide to establish their own families.
 

To see some of our Little Dragons in action please visit http://www.rvtsda.com/little-dragons.html

Master Scott C. Homschek is the owner and Chief Instructor of River Valley Tang Soo Do Academy.  His journey in the martial arts began at age 11. Today he brings more than 30 years of experience to his students of all ages. The Little Dragons, preschool martial arts, program at his studio has been used as a model for many other martial arts studios around the country.  For more information about his programs please visit: www.rvtsda.com