Best Taekwondo school in the area!
My son has been going here since they opened over 2 1/2 years ago. He has grown stronger not just physically, but mentally. Which has helped him to handle the few times he's dealt with bullies, and I don't mean physically handling. He's now a black belt, on the leadership team, the demo team, and of all the sports he plays he loves taekwondo the best. They encourage parents to join and even have family classes. I just recently joined, and my son think it's awesome because we both takes classes and he helps me out too!
They have an afterschool program that is open 5 days a week, and opens during school holidays with no extra charge unlike most daycares, which is a big help for a single mom like me that works during the week. They also have a summer camp program that is open all summer, and they get to do fun activities, go to splash down every week, go on adventure hikes, learn tae kwon do, learn self defense, and have fun.
It was definitely worth signing him up here, he actually looks forward to going to UMAC and has fun. Before this he was going to a daycare after school and was barely even being watched by some teenagers that clearly didn't want to be there either. I also tried a trial program at another martial arts school in the area, and they were more about the money then the dedication the Master's and instructors have at UMAC for their students. They are almost like a second family, they care about the kids, and a few times in the afterschool program I've seen them stop misbehavior from a child by talking with them and having them apologize to another child if they were hurt. In the daycares you may not get that, sometimes they will look the other way, or ignore the child that got hurt so they don't have to deal with it, or because they are lazy. Even the students in the afterschool program act like a second family, if they see another student has gotten hurt, they comfort them, or get them some ice if needed.
UMAC also has some incentive programs, one that encourages reading with their MARP (Martial Arts Reading Program), after the child has read 10 books they get a reading patch they get to put on their uniform. Starting from yellow all the way to black. Once they reached black belt in their reading program, they've read 100 books. Another incentive program they have is the Martial Arts Citizenship Reward Program, that is done for the month, and encourages the child to be responsible with doing their chores, picking up after themselves, helping the family, doing all their homework, and cooperating with their siblings. After they complete the month they earn a red star that goes on their uniform. Another incentive program, just like the last one is done for the month, and this one is called Martial Arts Power Program. This encourages the child to be grateful, be healthy, and do a short meditation. Some of what they do is to close their eyes and vision a positive day ahead, say their "I AM" statements, such as "I am confident" 'I am focused", I am grateful for my family". When they complete the sheet for the month, they turn it in and receive a Blue star for their uniform. The last incentive program they have is the Powerful Word of the month, each month a different powerful word is chosen such as Confidence, Accountability, Courage, Courtesy, Discipline, Cooperation, Citizenship, Self-esteem, Empathy, Anger Management, Manners, Friendship, and so on. They have an easy definition for the kids, some examples, and then situations on the paper that show that good example of the word, or they ask questions that child fills out. When they are done they turn it into the Master's/Instructors and receive a Yellow star for their uniform. Every month when my son finishes any of these sheets he gets so excited to turn them in, because they call up at the end of class to award his achievements. Then as soon as we get home he's asking me when I will iron them onto his uniform.
This is the best afterschool program and martial arts school in this area. If you don't believe me just look at the environment and who's on the floor teaching the children anytime you walk into a martial arts school. Are the Master's or Instructor's in the dojang/floor with the students? Are they taking the time to teach your child? Do they show the dedication they have for their students? Are they motivating? Are the children or adults happy while in class, or after they finished a class do you see those smiles on their faces from the fun they just had? Just look and you can see it for yourself!
-A satisfied mom read more
