We hold weekly hour-long martial arts/taekwondo classes at DP Martial Arts in Westwood. Our volunteers are high school students and all receive training for safety, proper technique, and appropriate conduct. A trained professional supervises our tae kwon do classes as well. We have taught students between the ages of 6 to 13, but we can accommodate older or younger students.

The focus of these classes is to have a good time, make friends, and experience a new culture! The exercise is low to moderate intensity.

A typical class includes:

• Circle time: We talk about the best thing that happened to us that week, or the kindest thing someone did for us, or our favorite meal we had this week... prompts that encourage reflection, gratitude, and kinship.
• Stretches: We teach students to count in Korean, loud and proud, while we warm up!
• Kicking Lines: We practice front kicks, roundhouse kicks, and axe kicks. Sometimes we incorporate punches or some fun jumping kicks. These techniques are all basics and can be quickly learned. (We NEVER spar or have students use the techniques on each other. It is ALWAYS with a pad held by a trained volunteer.) Sometimes we split up based on skill level.
• Game time: We play a short game - this is usually the part of the class our students are begging to skip to!
• Wrap-up and reward: We congratulate our students on a day of hard work, add a stripe to their belts, and reward them with munchkins!

Guardians are welcome to watch and even participate if they would like! Once or twice a year we hold belt tests - a chance for the students to show off what they have learned and to move up a belt! The more the merrier at these 'tests', a cheering crowd does wonders for a child's encouragement.

We offer the class completely free; everything (the belts, uniforms, equipment) is paid for through fundraisers run by the hard work of our volunteers. You are welcome to participate in a trial class; please use the email address listed ([email protected]) to contact us. Everyone here truly believes in our mission, and we look forward to seeing you at the dojang!

*Please do not contact DP Martial Arts about this program; they generously donate the space to us on Sundays but do not run this program.

Eligibility	Just an openness to learn! Please let us know ahead of time if your student has special needs. *Though we honor Korean tradition (learning how to count in Korean, wearing belts) students need not be familiar with the culture at all! The classes are entirely in English.
Age Groups	Children Adolescents
Community Services	Arts & Recreation Recreation / Social / Sports Education Tutoring / Enrichment Family & Support Services Child Care / After School Youth Groups
Health Services	Crisis / Safety Bullying Child Abuse / Neglect Domestic Violence
Payment Options	Free
Language Spoken	Korean

Last Updated: 08/03/23