1. Works Hard and Plays Later
2. Knows When to Listen and When to Speak
3. Has Humility, Even After Victory
4. Empathizes With and Cares About Others
5. Perseveres Through Frustration
6. Says "I'll Try" Before Saying "I Can't"
7. Exercises Control Over Their Emotions and Behaviors
8. Always Does Their Best
9. Follows Through on Their Commitments
10. Demonstrates Integrity In All Situations
The Beyond the Mat Character Development program is designed for Micro, Mini, Little, and Junior Ninjas and is a mandatory part of rank progression. Every month, our studio focuses on one of the specific character traits listed above. Students are required to exhibit this character trait outside of the Dojo on a monthly basis and turn in a written description of their action(s) with a parent's signature. The goal with this program is to encourage the student to take the things they are learning within the Dojo walls out to the world with them on a consistent basis. Additionally, the program is meant to encourage and facilitate parent/student interaction about these topics. Go Here to Download Monthly Beyond the Mat Forms
"Character development is very different from simple behavior modification. Our focus as instructors is to partner with parents to help develop a child's character by instilling character traits that lead to behavior modification, not just to modify a student's behavior. There are no shortcuts in this process. It takes time and perseverance on the part of the parent, the instructor, and the student. In the end, however, lives of today's youth are impacted in a positive and long-lasting way."– Soke Tafan Hong
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