About Super Kids Karate, Inc.
Later, after Master Langdon was appointed the Nevada director of the AAU taekwondo program, the group expanded their efforts. They pooled resources to support members of the Las Vegas community who were hit by disasters and then expanded to help students who were in crisis, including those who came from homelessness, from foster kid programs, or students who were in financial stress.
In 2003, Master Langdon applied for nonprofit status for Super Kids Karate, Inc. to be recognized as a a national 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Since then, the organization has continuee to sponsor students from at-risk households who want to take martial arts classes at Lone Mountain Taekwondo. Financially, students who want to train at Lone Mountain Taekwondo through the Super Kids program are asked only to provide what they or their family can afford. All other costs (including belt testing fees, uniforms, travel expenses, etc.) are funded by Super Kids Karate. Inc.
Student who receive support from Super Kids Karate are expected to support the school in the following ways. They:
- assist with classes for the younger students;
- are required to maintain excellent behavior in the school and best efforts in their academic studies;
- are expected to live with courtesy, honesty, hard work, self discipline, and concern for others;
- are expected to welcome new students and share their knowledge of how we do things;
- are asked to help in set up, management, and take down of special school events.
By participating in these efforts, students get a picture of the effort it takes to support others.
Class prices at Lone Mountain Taekwondo are deliberately kept low to encourage students with limited means an opportunity to train in a discipline that will increase the development of respect for others, honesty, a ‘hard work builds higher success’ mentality, regular daily consistency creating discipline to reach goals, and pride in themselves.
Benefits of Kids Martial Arts Classes
CONFIDENCE
Earning a black belt in martial arts isn’t about winning; it’s about about mastering skills at your own pace and exceeding your own expectations. Kids build confidence as they move up the taekwondo ranks and earn a new color belt for each level of training. This system rewards them for hard work and builds self esteem and confidence.
FOCUS
Focus is a required skill in martial arts for kids. As they learn new techniques in their taekwondo classes, they’ll have to memorize a series of movements and then repeat and add additional movements. This step-by-step approach teaches focus and memorization skills they can apply to school and other areas of life.
SELF DEFENSE
Resolving conflict without violence is an essential part of taekwondo. But if the situation ever arises, kids who have taken martial arts self defense classes will have the skills to fight back. Students learn how to kick, punch, and attack in the most effective and safe ways to defend themselves.
RESPECT
Respect is an inherent part of kids martial arts classes. Kids learn to show respect not only to the instructor and other adults, but to other students as well. This includes bowing to the instructor and senior students and answering, “Yes, Ma’am” or “Yes, Sir” when called upon. These skills of being respectful, humble, and polite to others in their taekwondo classes are skills that kids can apply to all aspects of life.
FITNESS
Taekwondo is a year-round activity, so martial arts classes keeps kids active in all seasons. And it makes exercise fun! Students do basic warm-up activities before moving into the taekwondo curriculum that teaches not only punches, kicks, and self defense manuevers, but also balance, coordination, and strength. These skills can help them in other sports, too.
CONFLICT RESOLUTION
Bullying is all too common in our society, but kids taekwondo classes can teach them how to respond to bullying and other types of conflicts they might encounter. Through the emphasis on courtesy, respect, and self control, kids martial arts classes teach kids how to work with others to resolve conflicts without resorting to violence.