Martial arts do not make us moral experts. As instructors, it is not our job to teach your child right from wrong. That is YOUR job.

However, kids often look up to their teachers. Parents have often told me that their child listens to ME more than anyone. In fact, when I was young, I was willing to do almost anything my instructor requested. That is an enormous position of influence that teachers should take very seriously.

So yes, we will encourage your child to behave better and do well in school (it often helps). We will try to be role models and give the occasional “man to man” talk. We will inspire fairness by practicing it and earn respect by giving it.

Above all, we will teach that skill comes with responsibility. Martial arts techniques can hurt people and it does not make sense to teach these techniques without urging restraint.