About

Over 35 years ago, I was a shy 14-year-old boy with a stutter. Fortunately, my parents allowed me to join a local Martial Arts school even though they were nervous about the “fighting” it entailed – something they soon came to realize was a radical misconception. As soon as I walked in to my first class, I felt something that I had never experienced before.

Acceptance.

It didn’t matter where I was from, what clothes I wore or even what my parents did for a living. All that mattered was that I was hungry to learn.

At that time, what is now considered ‘bullying’ was simply a rite of passage and, due to my differences, I bore the brunt of much of it. Before Martial Arts, I recall my home being the only safe space where I could escape my peers’ harassment, scrutiny and judgement. In today’s world, the effects of bullying are only heightened as children and teens are subjected to social media 24/7/365, often causing inescapable social anxiety. As more kids are building their self-esteem on the size of their social media following, they face uncertainty, lack of socialization, lack of organization and an almost impenetrable lack of connection. For many children, there is no longer a safe space into which they can retreat as the social scrutiny, now perfectly portable, follows them into the home.

As I made it into the middle ranks of my Martial Arts training, all the while creating friends who were outside the normal social structures of a teenager, I yearned to share this environment, community and culture with other families and their children who might be feeling like they don’t belong. I wanted to share the experience of an place where everyone is accepted as long as they want to train in the Martial Arts and grow into the person they were born to become. I eventually realized my goal and opened a family-owned, all-inclusive Martial Arts academy in the heart of Algonquin, Illinois where it doesn’t matter where you live, what you wear or the model of your cell phone. All that we focus on is building the drive to improve – one kick, strike or block at a time.

For the past 13 years, Kyuki-Do Martial Arts has been helping to shape children into confident, outgoing and ambitious young people. As kids walk through the door, unsure of what to expect, they are equipped with the necessary tools to build confidence through understanding, learning and a ‘yes I can’ attitude. It is this attitude that is the most powerful tool of the Martial Arts. Children are given small challenges in the beginning belt levels and as long as they try their best, they’re sure to be successful. As their belt level increases, their mental and physical challenges intensify. We focus on building their confidence and self-esteem through cycles of
challenges where they experience what success feels like and learn that failure is only ever temporary. As in most Martial Arts, the belt system helps children learn how to set short-term goals by striving to achieving the next belt, kick or new technique. In the same vein, it allows them to look to the future with the ultimate long-term goal of becoming a black belt, not only in the Academy but in life as a whole.

When you enroll your child into a program at Kyuki-Do Martial Arts, you can look forward to the following results:

• A child who no longer doubts themselves and applies a ‘yes I can’ attitude to challenging situations
• A child who is has a strong moral backbone and is able to stand up for what they believe in
• A child with high self-esteem who exudes confidence and isn’t afraid to make eye contact when communicating
• A child who verbalizes their expectations, needs and beliefs clearly
• A child who puts their best effort into everything they do and knows that failure isn’t forever
• An open and giving child who helps others for genuine reasons, not for what they might receive in return

You can connect with us by calling (224) 209-8991 to talk with our friendly staff who will walk you through our offering and advise you on any questions you might have.

You can also Click Here to see if Kyuki-Do Martial Arts is going to be a good fit for you and your family.

If you’ve been looking for a way to help your child learn how to stand tall as they face life’s challenges, build their physical and mental strength to look their fears in the eye without hesitation and develop a respectful and strong voice when sharing their beliefs and convictions then Kyuki-Do Martial Arts is the perfect place for your family!

Call us at (224) 209-8991 to start your journey today.