Mastery Martial Arts in Troy, Michigan, has spent 34 years teaching children karate. But the school’s leadership program does something most martial arts classes do not: it combines physical skills with public speaking to help create leaders for life. The program is open to children ages 3 to 14.
Denny Strecker, chief instructor, founded the school after working for an organization where he saw all the emphasis placed on physical skills. He knew there was more that children should be offered, so he left and opened his own school. The school has been open for 34 years and continues to thrive.
Parents who want their child to have more discipline, focus, or confidence are the school’s customers. The curriculum is designed to develop children in four areas: emotional, social, intellectual, and physical. One of the school’s offerings is Dojo Genius, a program that teaches pattern recognition and improves cognitive function.
Mastery Martial Arts has partnered with Mastery Martial Arts in Rhode Island to establish a clear brand. The school’s website, kids karate classes in Troy, provides information about its programs.
Strecker said his mission is to help children develop the skills that they need to be successful in life, and that is not a sidekick or a punch. It is their ability to speak, lead, and manage a team of people in whatever career they choose.
The leadership program combines physical skills with public speaking, a combination that sets it apart from typical martial arts instruction. The school’s approach focuses on developing the whole child, not just their physical abilities.
With 34 years in operation, Mastery Martial Arts has built a lasting presence in Troy. The school continues to offer classes that aim to help children grow in all four developmental areas.