Leadership Training

MAK has three leadership programs for three different levels of leadership education that are also roughly equivalent to age and life experience: Team Zenith, Fuego, and FIST.  Each of these program areas explained below with the procedures for gaining membership in each one.  MTC is a required element for all Leadership Team memberships, except for students in the Dragon Program, which requires BTC membership.  Tigers are permitted to assist in Power Turtle class by invitation but are not eligible for membership on Team Zenith until they are BTC members in the Dragon Program.

Membership in team Zenith requires the permission of the Team Zenith Instructor or a Senior Instructor and is limited to Dragons, Karate Kids, and Teens in the Karate Programs.  The primary requirement, once they are MTC students, is to be teachable and have a heart for helping others.  These two requirements are core elements of all of MAK’s leadership teams.  Team Zenith teaches technique enhancement, teamwork, and introductory demonstration skills in parallel with the necessary leadership and teaching skills, making it a training program for more advanced leadership programs and the demonstration team for children.  Membership is also dependent on attendance to the Saturday Team Zenith training class, as published on the MAK class schedule posted at www.ClassTimes.Ninja.  If you can not attend the training class, please notify your Team Zenith instructor on the Facebook® team page, found at www.facebook.com/groups/MAKZenith/.  (Please do not allow minors to have exclusive membership in ANY MAK groups or pages – if you are a parent or guardian, we request that you also join the group.)  If you have three unexplained absent classes, you may be removed from the team by the team instructor. 
Team members are taught how to assist in classes but are not required to assist in classes.  For advancement through team Zenith ranks, Delta and Storm, supporting in classes is required and should be recorded on team tracking cards to receive credit for promotion within the Zenith Program.  WE STRONGLY ENCOURAGE HELPING OUT AT TWO CLASSES A WEEK, or more, for without facing the needs of another human, and overcoming the fear, difficulty, and risk involved in any service activity.  Without personal sacrifice, leadership skills will not advance nor will the advancement or one’s skill set occur.  MAK’s teaching team members have all been trained in assisting our Zenith members in overcoming these difficulties.

Fuego’s name is emblematic of the Fire of Passion the members bring to the school and are empowered to bring to our students.  Membership in Fuego is BY INVITATION ONLY and is generally limited to older Karate Kids, Black Belt Karate Kids, and Teens.  There is no procedural justice offered for membership selection on either FIST or FUEGO, and the management team makes the only team member selections available.  This attitude toward membership exists because of the importance of Fuego team members to the atmosphere and culture of MAK and their responsibility level in teaching tasks at MAK.  There is little that MAK considers more important than the advancement and wellbeing of their students, and Fuego members have the same or nearly the same impact on student abilities as do instructors.  If you have an interest in Fuego, you should speak to an instructor, to let them know you wish to be considered for membership, but there is NO PROCEDURE for assuring membership selection.  You should also strongly consider membership in Team Zenith and advancement to Delta and Storm ranks.
FUEGO team members can be identified, as can FIST members, by their red jackets, assuring you that they are qualified and personally selected in leadership and teaching skills.

FIST is an acronym for Future Instructor and Student Teachers, and its Membership is also BY INVITATION ONLY and is generally limited to Adults and Fuego members who are also at the Sensei rank or higher.  The class is exclusively dedicated to leadership and teaching techniques that MAK uses to teach students at any level, brand, or program within MAK’s system.  If you are interested in FIST membership, please speak to a management team member or senior instructor (www.MActionKarate.com) but bear in mind that MAK’s FIST and Fuego teams are limited in size, purpose, need, and time.  
FIST members wear a RED top, which can be easily distinguished, guaranteeing for the students and their families that the person assisting, or teaching parts of your class are both qualified and individual trained and selected by the MAK management team.