WELCOME
Welcome to the Life Ki-do Martial Arts & Life Education program at Austin Martial Arts Academy. It is our joy and privilege to witness and support the growth and development of the children and teenagers in our community. Our staff is committed to doing everything we can to make your family’s experience at our Academy enjoyable, educational and fulfilling.
DOJO ENVIRONMENT
MEANING OF DOJO
Dojo is a Japanese term that refers to a training hall where you practice The Way of Personal Transformation. We honor our Dojo as a sacred space for learning and growing. Whether you are practicing martial arts on the mats or sitting in the observation area, the intention is for everyone to practice being mindful and supportive of the training that’s happening on the mats.
REMOVING YOUR SHOES
We ask that everyone, students and visitors, remove their shoes before entering the Dojo. This is an ancient practice that serves as a reminder to honor the Dojo as a place of transformation.
BOWING
Students are asked to do a martial arts bow upon entering the front door of the Dojo as well as before stepping onto the Dojo training mats. This is another symbolic gesture that reminds us that we are here to learn and grow by doing our best.
OBSERVATION AREA
The intention of the Observation Area is to have a space open to the dojo mats where parents can QUIETLY observe their child’s training. We have purposefully left the area open so that parents can watch as well as hear the classes. Noise level and activity in the observation area have a huge impact on the class in progress as well as on other parents who use the space for quiet time. Please do your part to honor the environment of the entire dojo by keeping all talking to a whisper, turning cell phones off, taking crying or fussy babies outside, and providing something quiet to occupy siblings.
RESPECT FOR OUR NEIGHBORS
Our Academy is located in an office complex with others nearby who are hard at work. We ask that you please respect our neighboring community by quietly entering and exiting our dojo. Please no running up and down in the office complex and no sliding down the banisters. The outside patio to the left of the Dojo is reserved for adults only per our lease agreement.
DROP OFF/PICK UP TIMES
We ask that you please do not drop off or pick up your child more than 5 minutes before or after his/her class. Arriving early is not only a distraction to the class in session, but it can also lessen your child’s attention span while they wait for their class to begin. We appreciate you picking up your child promptly at the end of class so that the instructors can get the dojo ready for the next class. The Academy door will be locked until 15 minutes before the first class of the day.
PARKING
We are allotted a limited amount of spaces in the parking lot and we only have enough for the class in session. We appreciate you not arriving early or lingering after class to allow parking to be available only for the class in session. There is a very small window of time between classes that allows for parking spots to become available for the next class. (This does not apply to classes on Saturdays).
DOJO POLICIES
ENROLLMENT & TUITION
Classes at our Academy are ongoing throughout the year including the summer with the exception of a few holiday breaks. Thus you do not have to re-enroll your child each year and you do not have to repay a registration fee. Your tuition will be drafted from your bank account or billed to your credit card monthly.
MOVING CLASSES
We look at each student individually for their specific needs and do not move students up to a new class merely on a semester system. When our instructors feel that your child is ready to move to the next class level, we will personally contact you to discuss class options and times. Many students make this move over the summer.
If you need to switch classes because of scheduling, please feel free to call or stop by the front desk. We realize that you are juggling busy family schedules and we will always do the best we can to work with you to find a class day/time that will accommodate your family’s needs.
CANCELLING
In order to provide the highest quality instruction and attention to each child, we strictly limit enrollment in each class. Once admitted to the Academy, your child is guaranteed a spot in that designated class and will receive all of the benefits as well as the financial responsibility. We do not require a long-term contract, as is the norm in the industry, as we want a positive learning experience and ongoing personal growth to be the motivation for continued training.
However, in order to maintain our operational requirements, we require a 30 day cancellation notice if you would like to give up your spot in the Academy. You can cancel at anytime, for any reason, provided you give us the 30 day notice.
FREEZING
During the months of June, July and/or August, you can freeze your child’s spot by paying a freeze fee per month. This will guarantee that your child doesn’t lose their spot in our Academy whether it’s in the same class or the next class level, if appropriate. We do not offer the freeze option during the school year.
MAKE-UP CLASSES
Student/teacher ratio is very important to us and thus each class has a limited number of students. To honor the training environment and to maintain our student/teacher ratios, we only offer make-up classes for children in the Power Ninja 3 - Samurai Advanced levels. We only allow 3 students at a time to make-up the same class so you must call ahead to schedule a make-up class for your child.
However, for the months of June, July and August (and around the winter holidays) we offer a flexible schedule that offers you several options for class days/times as well as the opportunity to make-up missed classes at your convenience. This schedule is available to all student levels. A schedule is provided in May for the summer months, and November for the holidays.
STUDENT INFORMATION
STUDENT UNIFORM
Your registration fee includes a full gi uniform and Life Ki-do t-shirt. The gi includes a jacket, however, wearing it is optional. We ask that all students wear a clean uniform that includes the white gi pants & belt with their Life Ki-do t-shirt tucked in. All students start off with the white belt and will progress through our belt system. Any of our instructors or staff members can show you how to tie the belt.
STUDENT HYGIENE
We ask that parents help children respect themselves, their training partners and their practice by encouraging good hygiene including deodorant for pre-teens and teens as well as clean and short fingernails and toenails for all students. Long and/or sharp nails can very easily cut or scratch the student or his/her training partners.
LABELING
Please use a Sharpie permanent marker to write your child’s first and last name on their belt as well as every piece of their sparring gear and their gear bag. This will help your child find and keep all of their belongings together. Remember that all belts and gear look the same!
STUDENT BELONGINGS
Please help your child remember to leave the dojo with all of their belongings including their belt and gear bag. We have limited storage in the dojo for gear bags, so it’s important for everyone to remember to take theirs home.
LOST AND FOUND
For miscellaneous items that have been left behind, we do have a Lost & Found box in the observation area. We clear out this box periodically so please check it as soon as you realize you are missing something.
PURCHASES
Now that you have a membership account set up, you can purchase gear, t-shirts, pants, water bottles etc. by simply signing for it. Please see the front desk for assistance.
DOJO EVENTS & ACTIVITIES
NEWS & INFORMATION
As part of our Dojo community, it’s important to us that we communicate with you regarding upcoming events as well as important information for your child. We send out communication via email. If you are not receiving our email newsletters, please make sure that we have your most updated email address.
PARENT PARTICIPATION WEEK
We usually offer a Parent Participation Week three to four times per year. In addition, to being a great bonding experience for students and their parents, it’s also a confidence builder for the student to show parents his/her new skills. AND it’s lots of fun for everyone!
TOURNAMENTS
Life Ki-do Focus Tournaments are a wonderful complement to regular classes and give the students an opportunity to practice their focus and martial arts skills as well as to develop their social skills and confidence. Our tournaments nurture the art of learning to do one’s personal best rather than emphasizing competition.
We offer three tournaments during the school year usually on a Saturday afternoon – Fall Tournament (October or November), Winter Tournament (January or February) and Spring Tournament (April or May). The Focus Tournaments are open to all current students Kindergarten level and above.
We usually hold one tournament for the younger children and a separate one for the older children. We invite and welcome parents to the tournaments – they are a wonderful dojo community experience.
CAMP
Our Senseis teach Life Ki-do Summer Camps. They are always off-site at facilities that are larger and can provide an outdoor space for the children. Camps are usually one week long from 9am-12noon and are open to current students and new friends ages 5-11. Life Ki-do camps include fun, nurturing and age appropriate games and training in martial arts, life skills, bully and stranger safety, and team building.
BIRTHDAY PARTIES
Looking for a unique birthday party idea? How about a birthday party at the dojo with Sensei Doug! Sensei Doug along with your child as the class leader will host a fun karate class for your child’s friends. Available days need to be coordinated with the dojo, but generally birthday parties are held on Saturday afternoons.
HOLIDAY & EVENT SCHEDULE
ACADEMY BREAKS
Our classes are year round with the following breaks. We will always send out advance notice of exact dates that the Academy will be closed.
Spring Break - coinciding with school Spring Break holidays
Summer Break - around the 4th of July
Thanksgiving Break – Wednesday through Saturday of Thanksgiving week
Winter Break - around Christmas and New Years
We are also closed on Memorial Day and Labor Day.
CLOSURES DUE TO WEATHER
In extreme weather conditions, we will follow Eanes Independent School District for school closures. You can also check the Student Announcements page of our website for closure dates due to weather conditions or general academy breaks: http://www.austinmartialarts.com/youth_student_announcements.php.
INSTRUCTORS
Sensei Jonathan Hewitt is the founder of Life Ki-do Martial Arts & Life Education. Sensei Jonathan has a B.A. in Psychology and has been working with children in different mediums over a 27 year period. He and Sensei Tristan Truscott, Adult Program Owner & Director, co-founded Austin Martial Arts Academy in Westlake over 18 years ago where Sensei Jonathan has been teaching and directing the Youth/Teen Program.
Sensei Jonathan’s great joy comes from sharing ancient, universal life skills to inspire students to discover and live from their own natural inner strength and spirit. He developed Life Ki-do after many years of study in human development and martial arts, and through his never ending curiosity into the human mind/body/spirit connection. His background in martial arts includes Tang Soo Do, Tae Kwon Do, Kickboxing, JKD, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Street Self-Defense, Wrestling and Systema. He is currently a certified instructor of Systema under world renowned chief instructor Vladimir Vasiliev. Sensei Jonathan still teaches youth/teen classes and is always working on the Life Ki-do curriculum as well as focusing on the expansion of the Life Ki-do program.
Sensei Doug Diamond holds a black belt in Nisei Goju Ryu Karate and is the Director of the Youth Program. In high school he competed regularly and was ranked first in the state in forms, weapons, and sparring by the Florida Black Belt Association. After winning his championships, Sensei Doug pursued a career in Montessori education.
While teaching at Parkside Community Montessori School, Sensei Doug came across Life Ki-do. He immediately knew that this would be the medium that would combine his love of martial arts with his passion for nurturing and supporting the natural growth of children. He has a rare talent and genuine love for working with children.
Sensei Gene Smithson teaches Life Ki-do at hisschool in Northwest Hills, Austin Systema & Tai Chi as well at different adjunct Life Ki-do Programs in Austin as well as sometimes at Austin Matial Arts Academy . He has 35 years of reality based martial arts training along with extensive training in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Kickboxing, JKD, Systema and in the internal arts of Tai Chi, Qigong and meditation. He is currently a certified Systema instructor under Vladimir Vasiliev. His real world experience combined with his internal martial arts training gives him a rare perception and ability to help students learn practical martial arts and life skills.
Sempai Tommy Schultz brings a deep love and passion for the martial arts and life skills to our Youth/Teen program. He has also been a student and assistant instructor in the Adult Program at AMAA for the past 5 years where he currently holds a black belt. In addition, he holds a blue belt in Relson Gracie Jiu Jitsu and has previously trained in three styles of Kung Fu for a period of ten years.
Sempai Bruno Lepore is a licensed psychotherapist and a very experienced martial artist holding a black belt in Aikido, a blue belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and years of training in Systema. He is a co-instructor in our Youth/Teen program and helped to develop our Life Ki-do Teaching Methodology, Life Skills and Martial Arts Curriculum. He is available for individual and family counseling – see the contact page for more information.
AVAILABILITY
Please feel free to contact us at any time with any questions regarding your child’s training, class schedule, billing or any other concerns. The front desk can be reached at 327-2900.
INSTRUCTOR/PARENT COMMUNICATION
Instructor/parent communication is very important to us. Sensei Doug is happy to speak with you regarding any questions or concerns you have about your child. You are welcome to contact him directly by email at doug@lifekido.com. If you would like to speak with Sensei Doug by phone, please send him an email with the best available time to reach you.
During class time, please give messages for any of the instructors to the front desk. Speaking to the instructors during or between classes takes their focus and attention away from the students and adversely affects the quality of the class.
LIFE KI-DO FAMILY PSYCHOTHERAPIST
Bruno Lepore in an instructor in the teen program and he is a psychotherapist with a Masters degree in Clinical Psychology. He is available for counseling to our Life Ki-do students and their families. His main goals are to help people deepen their quality of life through improving their coping resources and to foster a nurturing environment in which people can learn about themselves. He has worked in a variety of settings with adults, children and families. You can read more at www.brunolepore.com or contact Bruno at (832) 646-8795.