“Our family cannot say enough about the benefits that having our son in Karate made.  His attitude change was noticed immediately.  He seemed more at ease and confident and even his school work improved.”

Jon and Sandi Manifold

“Adults stop in their tracks when my daughter informs them that karate is all about discipline and respect.”

Irene Nuzzo

Karate has helped Enrique, our 11 year old son, in many forms as you already know. He started to practice Karate when he was five years old and he really loves his sport.
 
We can mention many benefits that have helped him a lot, namely:

    * He became very well disciplined. Since Karate is a sport that not only requires physical ability, but learning of many moves that gradually turn more difficult and complex, he has learned that the only way that he can make some progress and learn all those moves, is through practice and discipline.
    * Has improved his selfesteem a lot. Being in the black belt program, he has always been challenged and motivated to get one step higher. This has helped him in many ways. He has learned that he has to work hard to reach those short term goals, but he also knows that there are always great rewards after he obtains them.
    * Being diagnosed with ADD when he was two years old, Karate has also helped Enrique to be more focused in many other activities. After all these years, we think that Karate has played a big roll in this. It has not been easy for him and he still needs to improve a lot in this area, but he is doing good progress.
    * Many people think of Karate just as a japanese method of unarmed combat and they forget that it is more about development of many mental abilities that help you control both your mind and body. This has also helped Enrique to be more coordinated and improve his reflexes.
* Finally, I can say that he has developed the good habit of practice a sport that he might continue to do his whole life. You can not say the same of some other sporting activities.

Our family is very happy and greatful that Enrique likes Karate so much, and we also thank your effort and teaching experience to produce this results.
 
 Enrique Guinea

Miko Peled and Martial Arts America has given my son, and so many others like him, the invaluable tools of self-esteem, self-discipline and self-confidence.  My son became stronger, more focused and more centered; he has grown to have a greater sense of respect for himself and for others.  Sensei Miko provides an invaluable service to our community with his karate school.  

Brad Willis

Our son has been taking karate at Martial Arts America for 5 years. He is now more capable of focusing his energy on the task at hand, he applies himself more and is more committed to finishing a task.  He is also more self-assured. These skills are also evident in his school performance. The individual attention he has received form the karate team, especially sensei Miko Peled has been invaluable.

Our son applies himself more and is more self assured. The individual attention he has received form the karate team, especially Sensei Miko Peled has been invaluable

Paul and Ana Dissing

Dear Sensei Miko,

I would like to say thank you to you and the entire staff of our dojo. Marc and I are so proud to be black belts and members of the  wonderful group of people at MAA.

As you know we are a Navy family and moved to Coronado in the summer of 2003.  I knew I wanted to get myself and my sons age 12 and 15 , back to training in the martial arts.  I had no  idea what an incredible experience we were about to begin at MAA.

I have always thought it to be important to spend quality tine with my sons and most especially during the preteen and teen years.  When we joined MAA we started a pattern of being together and enjoying the same activity at the same time.  I  can not say that we are not a little competitive with each other but I have to say it is always fun and very interesting. We have also made many wonderful  friends that share many of the same interests.  Everyone is so friendly and welcoming.

So after three plus years of training in Goju Ryu, I am very proud to say that my son Marc and I are Black Belts and my youngest son Graeson will be a Black Belt in February.

I know this only the beginning of our training and we are looking forward to continuing our training to the next level. Again, we could not have accomplished this lofty goal without the education and encouragement we received from you, Susan, David and William.

Thank you again,  very sincerely

Our son Austin is proof that Sensei Miko and his team of instructors really are an asset to our community and that a black belt is a white belt that never gave up.  Austin started karate at the age of 6 1/2.

After his first class he came home and said, "mom I want to get my first black belt by the time I am 10."  Well Austin turned 10 at the beginning of October and received his first black belt Oct. 28. Watching him  fulfill his goal and receive his black belt was very emotional for us as parents.   After seeing the look on his face and how proud of himself  he was, every minute and yes every dime was well worth it.  He has told everyone that he has come in contact with.  

He wears his black belt with pride.  After the grading he set another goal,  to continue as far as possible with karate and we have no doubt that he will also fulfill that goal.  I know of several adults  whom have not been able to fulfill a goal that they have set.  Rather it be that they cannot focus enough or just haven't had the proper training to focus enough, who knows. 

Not only does karate help Austin with his ability to focus it has helped tremendously with his self esteem.  He came home from school last Friday with an award that was presented by his teacher to him during Spirit Day,  it was an award for RESPECT not just for teachers but toward classmates as well.  Austin did all of this work on his own,  our only job as parents was to make sure he was able to get to class.  We could not be more proud of him,  nor could we ever thank Sensei Miko and all the instructors who have helped Austin get where he is.  As you can tell this is written by very proud karate parents.  Ones who know first hand that karate does help not only physically but emotionally as well.

Chris and Jim O'Brien

Fifty-one years old and starting karate, what was I thinking?  Before answering that, it’s important to see me through my eyes; an ex-athlete, still actively working out 2-3 times a week and hiking/backpacking, stuck in a rut trying to take off the unwanted pounds, loosing the flexibility/balance/coordination that I used to take for granted, and your basic type “A” personality.  I believed that karate would give me an athletic means to correct what I perceived as negative aspects in my life. I was not concerned about progressing along the “Path to Black Belt”.  Was I concerned about being able to keep up with what I thought would be a class of youngsters?  You bet I was. 

That was almost eleven months ago now and what I found was not what I expected.  To begin with; the forty-plus crowd out-numbers the youngsters and there is no pressure to exceed what your body can do (the only push is to do the best you can, in fact, I’ve had Sensei’s ask why I was pushing so hard when I was obviously pushing my physical limits.) 

The class is hard work and I found muscles that I had completely forgotten I had, but they too got on board and toned up.  Through the work my flexibility and coordination have improved and I dropped 14 pounds. Testing for belts took on a life of its own; I’m still at a loss to explain why - probably the positive re-enforcement of the other students. 

Taking karate is more like joining a social club, the other students rapidly became friends that all want each other to succeed.  The bottom line is: I now feel better about myself.