I started with the Dragon Gym as a 6 year old child in 1986. Being ambidextrous, I struggled with…read morecoordination, not having a dominant side. At the time, the Karate Kid was popular and my parents had a coupon to the Dragon Gym, They figured, at the least, two weeks free training and a uniform would be a neat experience.
For the next 14 years, the Dragon Gym transformed me into a disciplined, healthy, and focused individual, and helped lay the foundation for spiritual growth and introspection. It's so much more than an activity. It's a way of life.
The current head master, Somnath Sikdar, and his partner, Master Lonnie Beck, came up with me through the ranks. After a 20 year absence from the area, I've returned to find that the current iteration of the gym has maintained what makes the Dragon Gym special, while adding different arts and programs and putting great effort into tailoring progression to fit a child's intellectual,physical, and psychological development.
To sum it up, there's nothing like the integration of body, mind, and spirit coupled with the ability to focus and overcome challenges in your life. I cannot think of a better extracurricular practice for a child to grow into and be prepared for adulthood than becoming part of the Dragon Gym family.