Lil' Dragons

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    The Lil' Dragon program is an age and ability appropriate specially designed training program that teaches more than just martial arts. It teaches youngsters to be good citizens and prepares them for life, or at least school. This program includes lessons in safety and life skills as well as teaching physical martial arts. These skills help the students become well rounded by promoting the child's social, emotional, physical, and intellectual growth.

    Over eight hundred martial arts schools across America are catching kids early and teaching children from ages four to eight how to respect their bodies as well as their parents and teachers. They learn how to kick out calories while learning important life skills such as stranger awareness, anti-drugs, health, nutrition, and exercise.

    According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, "one in three children is overweight." The Lil' Dragon program addresses this issue head-on (and stomach) by providing children with a whole life approach to making choices that affect both their mental and physical health.

    The best part is no one sits on the bench. Everyone is included. The Lil' Dragon program catches all kids early and helps them develop terrific life skills that will make them not only a better citizen, but a healthier one as well.

    We approach the physical portion of this class as a martial arts/focused physical education class. All skills and promotions are based on participation and course completion. Our primary objective is to get the students involved, giving 100% effort, while having fun and "playing."

    Of course, this Lil' Dragon curriculum is age and ability appropriate so that their "play" is actually their training. The primary focus in Lil' Dragon classes is to develop fundamental basics and creating a solid foundation to build upon once they get older. Therefore, we teach very few of the martial arts skills that you will see in older children's programs and instead focus on the skills they need BEFORE entering the older classes.

    The Lil' Dragon program is tailor made for this young age group and will therefore meet their needs better than a traditional martial arts class targeted for an older clientele.

The Lil' Dragon program will help your child:

• develop a sense of independence	• learn to share	• take turns
• encourage socialization	• follow directions and problem solve	• understand goal setting
• develop self-esteem	• promote physical strength	• promote coordination and stamina
• build fundamental motor skills	• increase situational awareness	• develop speech and language
• develop a love for learning	• demonstrate responsibility	• show self control

    Unlike other sports, martial arts is lifestyle training focused on whole child development - mentally, physically, socially, and emotionally. although students can compete with their skills, it isn't recommended for this young age group yet as more focus is placed on doing their personal best and not being "better" than others.

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