Karate Programs
Power Turtles
Power Turtles is the 2 and 3 year old program invented by Barbi McCoy back in 2005 as part of here Psychology and Theology degrees at Eastern University in St. David's Pennsylvania. There were not programs for the very young, and Barbi, with the help of the psychology department, crafted a program for this age group in order to satisfy their learning requirements and the needs of their parents. For nearly a decade, MAK was the ONLY program in the world that was constructed for this age, and we are still the only one that has a program designed from the ground up for their young minds and bodies.
This class is only attended by other children the same age, and the instructors and specially trained to deal with how they learn, their rapid change in mood, and their need to check back in with family members. Out mission is to build visible behaviors of self-discipline and self-respect while maintaining an environment of challenge where they never feel overwhelmed but learn the value of failure on the way to success. The ladder of success is illustrated below, and promotions from belt to belt, if qualified, is every 4 months. We evaluate mostly if not exclusively on attitude improvement based on our mission in addition to a slowly escalating demonstration of taking responsibility for their actions. The highest rank in this program is the Master Turtle which is an optional rank and one earned by performing this cycles form and the last cycles form as well.
Tiny Tigers
Tiny Tiny Tigers is an invention of one of our instructors, Greg Silva, and covers the ages of 4 and 5 years of age, though maturation levels and other family member's needs are always considered when promoting to and from any of our programs. The Tiny Tigers program is based on the older children's program, called Little Dragons, and is altered for their developmental age. The mission for this program is the same as Power Turtles, but we also expect and test for increased self-awareness and the assumption of responsibility for the student's actions.
The program adjusts the curriculum and expectations based on maturation and development level, acknowledging that each child develops at their own rate, and forcing the issue can slow progress, outside of behavioral, attitude, and behavioral issues, which are always addressed. Please inform the instructor if there is particular need that should be addressed based on behavior at home or per-school. We will and always have subordinated our curriculum needs to respect, 
behavior and safety issues presented by parents or guardians. The Highest rank in tiny tigers is Golden Tiger, which is an optional rank that requires the student to perform the curriculum from the current cycle covering 4 months and the previous cycle. The performance of 8 months of curriculum on their own in front of the school at a graduation is an arduous task, and one worthy of this Rank.
Dragons
The dragon program has 2 separate class division referred to as little dragons and advanced dragons covering the ages of 6 and 7, plus those promoted from the Tiny Tigers program mentioned above and adjustments due to maturation, family needs, and ability. Beginner or little dragon's curriculum is based the foundational curriculum based on Greg Silva's original work from the 1980's, modified by MAK's extensive experience over the last 25 plus years, incorporating the basics of American Kenpo in a program originally title Universal Kenpo. Universal Kenpo was also created by Greg Silva.
Little Dragons or Beginner Dragons
The little dragons curriculum is a weak derivative of Mr. Silva's original curriculum and has been substantially buttressed by MAK's expertise. This program is the first place where direct self-defense skills are presented as self-defense and the process of differentiating between threat and emotion is first broached with younger students. The core of the program remains self-respect, taking responsibility for their actions, self-control, respect for others, with the addition of humility and indomitable spirit, supported by an expanded understanding of the acceptance of failure as a stepping stone to excellence and success.
Advanced Dragons
Advanced dragons curriculum is based on Universal Curriculum as used in the Karate Kids classes, and is derivative in nature, designed to prepare the students for Black Dragon, the highest rank in the Dragons program, and to prepare them for the Karate Kids program 
reviewed below. Black Dragon is similar in nature to Golden Tiger and Master Turtle mentioned above, with the added requirement of demonstrating the self defense techniques from the previous 8 months. Not only does the receipt of this rank receive the coveted Black Dragon Belt and Patch, but they also skip the first belt in the karate kids program, being equal in rank to a blue white belt in the Karate Kids program. The Self-discipline expectations for this class are the same as the beginner's phase of the Karate Kids program outlined below.
Karate Kids
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The Karate Kids program is the heart and core of Greg Silva's invention of Universal Kenpo, a direct derivate of the Ed Parker's Kenpo, the found of American Kenpo. The program was designed to account for the developing left-right function in children and the MAK has added it's own experience to assure that the self-defense curriculum is both evaporate for developmental age but also displays MAK's social responsibility to prevent teaching minor children techniques that would cause permanent harm to others. The Karate kids program is divided into 3 phases, Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced, which are explained below. The 7 tenets of MAK's Karate Kid, Teen, and Adult programs are taught in conjunction with the 6 elements of success. The tenets are: Integrity, Concentration, Perseverance, Respect & Obedience, Self-Control, Humility, and Indomitable Spirit. The 6 elements of success are: Speed, Focus, Accuracy, Intensity, Excellence, and Power, and represented by the the 6 stripe test colors the students are tested for at the end of each month. Younger children are introduced to these concepts, but Karate Kids and students in older programs are examined for the demonstration of these in their lives as well as in their training at MAK. This program requires the STARS worksheets to demonstrate the mastery of these concepts at stripe test each month.
Phase 1 - Beginners Karate Kids Class
There are 4 belts in the phase: White, Blue/White, Blue/Orange, and Blue/Green. The class is designed to increase personal responsibility for outcomes from attitude composing 75% of expectations and 25% for physical performance to 50%/50% by the time the are promoted to Phase 2 of the Karate Kids program. If a student fails a stripe test in this phase it is generally attributed to attitude on the floor or from attitude at school or at home that is reported to instructors by the parents or guardians.
Phase 2 - Intermediate Karate Kids Class
The intermediate class continues the delegation of responsibility for advancement with 50% of advancement based on attitude and 50% of physical performance, making the intermediate student subjected to potential failure for poor performance of the techniques for the first real time. MAK believes that failure is an essential element in creating a successful member in the greater society, so we manage the eventual failure(s) so ensure the student eventually becomes proud of the path they have taken, including the failures. In this class you will see the orange stripe, which indicates that the student performed well enough that the teaching team believes with a one to three corrections, the student will pass. Frequently they accomplish those changes before they leave the building. Often, the team member will write the element that needs increased proficiency on the stripe. In addition, if the student earns 3 or 4 colored stripes, described above as elements of success, then they are allowed on failure for the month without risking their ability to graduate at the end of each 4 month cycle. MAK has found that the ability to fail, and recover, can not be under emphasized. This phase also starts teaching self-defense as an element of timing and fear management, which is taught not only in more advanced forms and self-defenses, but in increased contact in sparring, requiring the use of protective sparing gear.
Phase 3 - Advanced Karate Kids Class
The third phase of training, typically starting with the beginning of the third year, has one primary purpose: "to get ready for black belt." To be ready for black belt, a student must no only know three years of curriculum, but must be proficient it its application. In addition there are substantial physical requirement including a 1 mile run in 10 minutes or less without stopping, 100 push-ups, 100 crunches, and 25 finger-tip push-ups. There is also a written and oral component that is designed to test their knowledge of the style and their ability to stand up for what and who they are. All of these components and others are incorporated in class and "fight-club" class, which are included in our standard black belt training program. We encourage little dragons and older to take advantage of the "fight club" class to acclimate to the thrill of competitive karate and to overcome natural hesitancy to hit and be hit. Though we spar in class, always with protective gear, "fight club" is a 20 - 45 minute class dedicated to gaining confidence through advanced instruction an competitive application.
Phase 3 is also known as the delegation phase, where the responsibility for advancement passes primarily to the student, with 75% of the monthly evaluations based on escalating performance and proficiency while only 25% is based on attitude, as attitude is assumed to be fundamental to having made it to phase 3. This is also the phase where we teach students to evaluate their own performance and the performance of others with an eye to improvement and constructive criticism. MAK strongly believes that success and excellence are supported by repetitive failures that have been overcome, giving our students the opportunity to overcome failure and excel. 100% of students who make it this far have failed stripe tests, and many have missed belt graduations, as constructive hardship is a teacher without parallel. Students who advance to MAK's American Kenpo Universal black belt, the mission and purpose of this class, are invited to attend the Teen Class without regard to age. They also tend to begin leadership training, if they have not already done so, in order to help the younger students in the school.
On-line ONLY Membership Offer
If you have an immediate family member, living under your roof, that already trains at MAK, then we offer substantial membership discounts for each additional family member. We are a family school, and many of 300 students are training with or at the same time as their other family members, parents, siblings, and children. Realizing that all things family tend to look good at the outset, we have a 2 week special offer program that allows our family members try out our programs without making a long term commitment. For only $29.95, your additional family member can start right now, and get 2 weeks of karate classes and a free uniform.
BOGO Offer
If you take advantage of the $29.95 offer with the free uniform, and you bring a friend or a second family member, then we have BOGO (Buy one, get one) offer, where you and you friend both get 2 weeks and free uniforms. Offer limited to 2 people only. If you want to bring 2 friends, then bring four, and buy another BOGO offer.
Gift Certificate Offer
You can buy Gift certificates at the school for any occasion, even the BOGO offer. Just call Anne or Barbi at 508.832.4110 or Text MAKGifts to 87365, and we will get back to you.
Contact, Information Request, On-line offer, or BOGO
Become a Black Belt. You don't have the time, but you know you will make the time. Start today. This offer is made Only here.
