Can my child get hurt during a Bushi Ban class?
Martial Art forms that involve light contact appear to have injury rates for children that are closer to that of baseball or soccer, and dramatically lower than the injury rate for ice hockey.

My child has ADHD. Will they benefit from a Bushi Ban program?
Absolutely! ADHD children need a very structured environment that has clear-cut boundaries and rules. Many leading doctors recommend Martial Arts classes as appropriate therapy for children diagnosed with ADHD. At Bushi Ban, we help these children develop confidence and concentration. Our program can also be a positive outlet for children with extra energy.

Will martial arts training make my child too aggressive?
Bushi Ban is founded on the defensive spirit, forbidding the initiation of assault and fostering humility and discipline. Through Martial Arts training, children can achieve mental and physical discipline, self-control, self-confidence, and the ability to defend themselves and their loved ones.  At Bush Ban, children are taught that they should channel aggression into assertiveness, which increases their self-esteem and builds discipline and character. Martial Art skill should never be used for violence. Instead, it should be used to handle problems without resorting to violence. Children quickly learn to value the skills that they are gaining, and realize that there is a right time and a wrong time to use their skills. We help the children understand the difference through our daily discussions on courtesy, respect, and discipline.

What should I do if my child wants to quit?
Parents are responsible for keeping their children's commitments and obligations, thereby providing structure and guidance to help their children to achieve goals. In this way, children learn to develop important habits such as responsibility, perseverance, and goal-setting habits that are essential in all aspects of their life. Children need their parents support in helping them to be accountable and to be committed to achieving their goals.

Children wouldn't go to school, do their homework, brush their teeth or clean their room if they weren't sometimes pushed to do so. Eventually as children mature, they develop their own good habits, which are formed through their parents commitment. We use a belt system to provide your child with short-term goals. Parents can agree with their children on a short-term goal, with the understanding that there will be no quitting until the goal is achieved. The real goal in the training should be the black belt, but until the child can fully comprehend what it takes to earn a black belt, it is best to set an initial short-term goal.

If your child wants to skip a Martial Arts lesson, it is often because they prefer to seek immediate enjoyment. Children often focus on the present, and are unable to project their thinking into the future and weigh the potential for future rewards. For example, a child may not want to stop playing video games (immediate gratification) to go to their Martial Arts lesson (delayed gratification). In this case, the child may really enjoy their Martial Arts training, but their current activity seems more attractive to them at the time. To remedy this situation, parents can set limits on activities ahead of time.

If a child is experiencing a plateau in his/her training, parents should work with the instructors to ensure that these feelings pass. This often leads to the child's attainment of higher goals. However, quitting can quickly become a bad habit. Facing these types of challenges is part of the training inherent in Martial Arts. With the parents in the driver's seat, children can fulfill their commitment to Martial Arts training and receive rewards and benefits as a result.

How can I motivate a child to continue?
It is extremely important for parents to instill the integral skill of working towards a goal without quitting. This is the very foundation of goal-setting and achievement. Quitting is the very foundation of under-performance and failure. The world is full of great starters! Children need to learn the importance of setting goals and seeing them through to completion.

How does my child get started?
All new students may try an introductory class for free. This class will introduce your child to basic techniques and skills and is designed to teach your child while providing fun and excitement. After the class, you and your instructor will discuss how the program can continue to help your child.