4 Towers Martial Arts

We have joined 4 towers martial arts approximately three years ago. My children’s confidence and their humbleness is amazing. Sensei Butch and Sensei Debbie have created such a great environment for everyone to learn martial arts.

The question is: What do I think?



Well the answer is very simple. The 4 Towers Martial Arts school is a family run business. The family is warm and friendly to each and everyone. Our kids are made to feel as if they are a part of "the family". We, as parent/grandparents, are also made to feel a party of "the family".



I will tell you how it started for us.



Last September (09/2007), we were on our way to the Orlando National Airport for a much anticipated trip to Hawaii. The "we" I refer to is myself, my mother (Trula) and my granddaughter (Ali). We had to catch a plane early in the morning and as we were driving down "27", we saw this big red sign that said "KARATE". My granddaughter and I had been talking about getting her involved in some sort of extracurricular activity. We had discussed some time of martial arts training for self defense. I told Ali as we drove by that when we returned (of course all of our attention was focused on HAWAII!!!) we would check the school out and see what we thought.



When we returned, I took Ali up to the school. I've never been involved in any type of martial arts and am truly a novice at any and everything to do with it. We entered the doorway. When you enter there is a desk to the right of the door and a small area with chairs to the left of the door for parents/grandparents to be able to stay and watch the training.

Sensei Debbie is usually manning the desk, but on this particular day she was not there and Sensei Butch was at the desk. I just wanted to get some information and he basically told me "if you're looking for tournaments and such this is probably not want you want. We try to prepare our students for today's society and teaching them self defense is an important start". That was exactly what I wanted to hear!



Ali received 1 free week as a trial period just to see if it was something she wanted to do and something I wanted for her. That was at the end of September 2007 and we are still there!



The 4 pillars taught at this school are: "Discipline, Courage, Honor and Respect". Those are such important virtues, especially with the way the world is today. So many kids are not taught these things which is why we have gangs and why our prisons are overrun with inmates. These students are not taught to be proud, egotistical, tough. They are taught to be humble, patient, kind.



I have seen some very fine changes with Ali in the (soon to be) year she has been attending 4 Towers Martial Arts. She was not self confident and self assured. She always wanted to make people like her by being funny or comical. She is trying to learn to be herself without being "cutesy" as her Sensei says. Sensei Butch is the teacher for Ali's class (with Sensei Debbie, Nikki, and Josh filling in when he is unable to be there). He is patient and kind with each and every one of his students, but he is also strict. They can play and chat, but when it's time to learn, it's time to learn.



I send out my Kudos to 4 Towers Martial Arts! Thank you for the friendship and kindnesses you have shown. Thank you for teaching Ali a way to protect herself if the need arises. Please stay on her when she deviates from her path (as I will).



Love,



Carla Pollock

Ali's Nana