When most people think about martial arts, they picture kicks, punches, and belts. But teaching children is about much more than drills or memorized moves. It’s about shaping character, building focus, and giving them tools for life.
That’s why I created The Mentor Method. It’s an original concept I developed after years of teaching and seeing what truly works with children. I found that most approaches fell into one of two extremes — neither of which helped children grow in the right way.
Why Traditional Teaching Falls Short
Too many instructors rely on one of these:
- The authoritative approach — commands are barked, fear drives behavior, and kids shut down.
- The “tippy toe” approach — everything is softened so much that children never learn discipline or resilience.
Both are flawed. One crushes confidence, the other removes accountability.
A Different Way: The Mentor Method
The Mentor Method came from years of trial, reflection, and practice. I built it by focusing on what actually helped children thrive in martial arts and in life.
It’s built around six steps — Measure, Establish, Notice, Test, Observe, Remind.
- Measure – See where a child truly is, not where you assume they should be.
- Establish – Set clear expectations that are simple and achievable.
- Notice – Recognize effort, progress, and attitude in real time.
- Test – Let children try, even if they fail. Resilience grows in these moments.
- Observe – Step back to watch how they apply lessons and make choices.
- Remind – Reinforce lessons consistently so they become habits.
What Parents See
When instructors use the Mentor Method, children change in ways parents can see and feel:
- They learn to focus without constant reminders.
- They gain confidence from real progress, not empty praise.
- They develop discipline because expectations are both clear and consistent.
Beyond Martial Arts
While I created this method for martial arts, it works anywhere children are learning — classrooms, sports, and even at home. The heart of the Mentor Method is meeting children where they are and guiding them toward who they can become.
At Ko Martial Arts, this is the foundation of everything we do. It’s why our students don’t just learn kicks and forms — they learn respect, focus, confidence, and resilience.
