We brought our almost-4-year-old in for a test assessment. Unfortunately, the experience was…read moreextremely disappointing. TLDR: they do not know how to work with small children.
From the moment we arrived, the interaction felt cold, rigid, and overly abrasive for a nervous preschooler in a brand-new environment. Instructions were delivered very quickly and in a very directive "barking orders" style without any effort to connect with him first, explain the plan, model the expectation, or help him feel comfortable and regulated before expecting immediate compliance. The directions given were too fast and too complex for a small brain to comprehend.
At this age, many children need warmth, modeling, repetition, and time to transition into a new setting, especially when they are excited or overwhelmed. I explained multiple times that he takes a little while to warm up and that we are currently in occupational therapy working on regulation, body awareness, and focus. Instead of adjusting their approach or showing more patience, the response remained very rigid and dismissive.
There did not seem to be any attempt to build rapport, make him feel safe, or set him up for success.
At one point, after I finally helped him complete the task they wanted him to do, we were told that wouldn't count because he followed the directions from me and not the instructor.
After expressing frustration with the instructor, I was then passed to another instructor, and that interaction unfortunately felt even more uncomfortable. His tone, facial expressions, and questioning came across as condescending, smug, and unwilling to help rather than collaborative or supportive.
I completely understand that martial arts requires structure and discipline, and I was not expecting chaos or unlimited flexibility. However, there is a difference between structure and a lack of patience, warmth, and age-appropriate communication. Young children, especially those still developing regulation and body awareness, need instructors who know how to connect with them before expecting perfect compliance.
The overall experience left me feeling deeply uncomfortable. The instructors' demeanor toward my child felt harsh, impatient, and completely lacking in warmth or understanding for his age and developmental stage. I walked away feeling that this was not an environment where my child would be emotionally supported or set up for success.
