KFMA Teaches Life Skills

KFMA teaches Life Skills to students of all ages by using the physical training of the traditional martial arts. During the course of a year, students at KFMA will focus on one particular life skill each month, while continually working on all of them. These life skills include goal-setting, perseverance, integrity, courtesy, self-discipline, respect, focus and self-control. While not considered traditional life skills, we also spend time focusing on friendship (how to make new friends), gratitude and education/knowledge.

KFMA Teaches Life Skills that are Traditional

Goal Setting and Respect

As students progress through the ranks of the martial arts, they are continually learning to focus on the requirements for the next rank ahead, which provides them with the skills needed for successfully setting and achieving goals. Goal setting is a vital life skill, not only in the academic world, but also in most professions. Even everyday situations like saving to buy a new car, or working towards a new work certification, will benefit from this skill.

Due to the amount of work required to earn each new rank (KFMA uses a merit-based promotion system, not automatic graduations), students develop a natural respect for their new ranks, while also building their self-esteem and confidence. Students also learn from their first day how to show proper respect for their classmates and their instructors, and are frequently reminded of showing respect for their family members.

Perseverance and Self-Discipline

KFMA students will progress through nine different colors of belts on their way to their first major goal of Black Belt, which generally takes several years to achieve. This develops perseverance and requires the development of self-discipline to continually improve upon the martial arts techniques taught, and to instill muscle memory in the techniques.  Students learn to embrace correction from their instructors, and many routinely ask for correction and additional challenges to improve their performance. This makes a student ‘coachable,’ which is a prized attribute for any future employer!

Courtesy and Self-control

During the mid-ranks of the color belts, students will begin to free spar with full safety gear, just like NFL pros practice with pads so they can practice harder while maintaining safety. As students work with partners, they develop courtesy and self-control, as this maintains a safe atmosphere that allows everyone to learn at their own pace. Rather than trying to impress or compete with their juniors, the Black Belts in our school serve as mentors with the lower ranks, encouraging them on their path to the upper levels.

KFMA Teaches Life Skills that Promote Harmony

Friendship

Every year at KFMA, we spend an entire month focusing on friendship. In our fast-paced digital world there is a real danger of individuals feeling isolated or unnoticed by others. Students of any age can become introverted and can find it difficult to make new friends. During this special month, our students interview each other before and after class, and they learn how to talk to others to find out what their interests are, and to share what they have in common. This is the essence of making friends, learning to listen to others, to share what you have in common, and to recognize the beauty of this world’s diversity.

Gratitude

Gratitude is an often-overlooked life skill that can make all the difference in one’s outlook on life. Like the classic song from the movie ‘White Christmas’… ”We count our blessings instead of sheep.” God has given us so much to be thankful for, and because most of the people we associate with are in a similar socio-economic class, it’s easy to take these blessings for granted as all of our friends have them as well. KFMA students spend time every November reflecting on their gifts and talents using a special worksheet, and this helps to remind all of us (instructors included) to recognize what is truly important in life. Very few people will spend their final days on earth wishing for more things, but they will wish for more time with their loved ones, enjoying the beauty of nature and sharing a good laugh with friends.

Education/Knowledge

At KFMA, our entire atmosphere promotes the concept of continuing education. Every Summer, our students will make a list of their favorite books and authors, and these will be posted on our bulletin board for all to see. This allows students to explore new authors and to see what reading materials their friends enjoy. Our school-age students bring in their report cards every semester, and we celebrate successes, and provide encouragement when needed for improvement.

KFMA Instructors continually train together on the most recent curriculum changes, and our certified instructors continually recertify (internationally) on their teaching credentials, as well as staying current on the latest improvements in fitness instruction to ensure the long-term health of every student, regardless of age. Our students currently range in age from 4 to 77!

KFMA Teaches Life Skills

Chief Masters Laura and David Kowkabany have dedicated their lives to helping every student at KFMA to recognize their God-given talents, and to learn to develop them to their full potential. As students train at KFMA, they will develop a number of life skills that will help them to find success not only in the martial arts, but also in their academic fields, in their professions, and perhaps most importantly, in their family relationships.

For more information regarding our family martial arts classes, just give us a call at 813-540-5528. KFMA is located at 13910 Monroes Business Park, just two doors down from the Tampa Bay Brewing Company off Racetrack Road.

For a more detailed look at our personal teaching philosophy, please take a look here:

https://teamkowkabany.com/philosophy/

Kowkabany’s Family Martial Arts is chartered with the American Taekwondo Association: https://atamartialarts.com/