Do: Always, always compliment your child after each class. (Find something they did well) This is also a great time to give out a hug or kiss (these are free so be generous) High 5’s work great too! Kids should immediately associate Karate with a feeling of success and pride.
Don’t: Criticize your child during or immediately after class. Use the PCP (Praise/Correct/Praise) principle and discuss concerns at an appropriate time. Be careful not to upset your child. Even small criticisms can be devastating to small children. Do: Attend as many classes as possible and even better join in and participate in them. Get involved, be your child’s # 1 fan and cheerleader. Studies and years of experience have shown us that students who have the FULL support of their parents are much more successful in achieving their goals and sticking with it until the full benefits of the program are realized. Don’t: Be a drop off parent…we miss you when you are not here…and so does your child! It’s a known fact that kids who drop out of Karate typically have parents who don’t take the time to get involved. Do: Tell your child how proud you are of them (any time is a great time), especially before and after class. No one ever gets tired of hearing sincere compliments. Don’t: Complain about traffic, your busy schedule or money in front of children. They can begin to feel guilty and before you know it…your child will tell you they want to quit. Do: Get into a regular schedule of attendance as much as possible so your child will create a success habit so necessary to achieving large and valuable goals. If possible, try to get your child to class at least 10 minutes before it starts. This way your child can mentally prepare for class. Don’t: Threaten to take away Karate or testing/Graduations when your child is misbehaving at home or at school. This is a recipe for disaster. Karate is where we learn to behave better and to always try our best. Taking away Karate to improve behavior just doesn’t make sense. The same goes for testing and graduations. If they miss their testing/graduations, they will fall behind and want to quit. It’s like taking away dinner because your child doesn’t eat his or her greens. After awhile, the child becomes malnourished and performance suffers. Special Note: You can set up a meeting with your child and the instructor if the problem persists. We are here to help!!! Remember that good habits are hard to form and yet easy to live with. Conversely, bad habits are easy to form and yet very hard to live with. For this reason, we highly suggest reinforcing the positive by not taking it away!!! Do: Take advantage of the teams and specialty programs/classes we offer. Remember, involvement leads to commitment. Our Black Belt Training Courses and especially our Leadership Program will keep your child excited and interested so that they become a Black Belt Leader not just at the academy, but at home, school, and in the community. Do: Lead by example. Eat healthy, drink plenty of water, and most importantly have a positive mental attitude. Deal with stress and challenges in the same way you would like your child to. Our kids learn from us how to respond to the crisis and challenges by watching us. Do: Give your child the thing they want more than anything in the world…your time! Get involved and make becoming a Black Belt Leader a MUST and a TEAM EFFORT!
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Orange Sash "The sun is beginning to rise. As with the morning's dawn, only the beauty of the sunrise is seen rather than the immense power." The beginner student sees the beauty of the art of Martial Arts but has not yet experienced the power of the technique. Orange is found among the many colors of the sunrise. 
Yellow Sash
Green Sash "The pine tree is beginning to develop and grow in strength." The student's technique is developing power. The components of the basic techniques are beginning to work in unison. As the pine tree develops, it sprouts green pine needles.
Blue Sash "The tree reaches for the sky toward new heights." Having passed the mid-way point, the student focuses his/her energy upward toward black belt. The sky appears as blue. 
Red Sash "The sun is setting. The first phase of growth has been accomplished." The first day (the period of time from white belt to red belt) of growth is coming to an end. The physical skill has been developed but lacks control; therefore, physical and mental discipline must now be achieved. Variations of red are found among the many colors of the sunset. 
Red/Black Sash 
Black Sash
